The Four Types of Definition and Description

Not all definitions are equal: Not all definitions are equal. A perfect definition (Hadd Taam) is the gold standard, but sometimes you can only achieve a partial definition or a description.

Know which type you face: Knowing all four types lets you recognise which one you are dealing with.

• Hadd Taam (perfect definition): formula = Jins Qarib + Fasl Qarib. The ideal, the gold standard. It contains the nearest genus and the nearest differentia, and reveals the complete essential nature — nothing missing, nothing extra. Insan = Hayawan (Jins Qarib) + Natiq (Fasl Qarib). It includes all humans — every human is a rational animal; excludes all non-humans — no other animal is rational; and reveals the essence — rationality is what makes us human.
• Hadd Naqis (imperfect definition): formula = Fasl Qarib only, or Jins Ba'id + Fasl. It is missing either the Jins or uses a distant Jins instead of the near one. It partially captures the essence but is incomplete. Insan = Natiq alone (Fasl only, no Jins), or Insan = Jism (Jins Ba'id) + Natiq. It still points correctly to humans, but the full picture is missing.
• Rasm Taam (perfect description): formula = Jins Qarib + Khassah. It uses the exclusive property (Khassah) instead of the Fasl. It correctly identifies the species through its external property, not its inner essence. Insan = Hayawan (Jins Qarib) + Qabil lil-Dahk (Khassah). It points to humans correctly and explains how to recognise them, but not why they are human.
• Rasm Naqis (imperfect description): formula = Khassah only, or Jins Ba'id + Khassah. The weakest type. It is missing the Jins or uses a distant Jins, so it points roughly toward the species but imprecisely. Insan = Qabil lil-Dahk alone, or Insan = Jism (Jins Ba'id) + Qabil lil-Dahk. It still identifies humans, but lacks proper situating in the genus hierarchy.

Example

The hierarchy of quality: The hierarchy of quality is: Hadd Taam (best — essence fully revealed) → Hadd Naqis (good — essence partially revealed) → Rasm Taam (adequate — identified through property) → Rasm Naqis (minimal — rough identification only). Always aim for Hadd Taam.

Key Terms

• Hadd Taam (حد تام) — perfect definition
• Hadd Naqis (حد ناقص) — imperfect definition
• Rasm Taam (رسم تام) — perfect description
• Rasm Naqis (رسم ناقص) — imperfect description

Quran or Hadith

None on this slide. Additional example on the slide: triangle = "Shakl Mustawy" (plane figure) + "Dhu Thalathat Adla'" (three-sided). — to be checked.

Fresh diagram to be drawn: A quality ladder diagram: Hadd Taam at the top, then Hadd Naqis, Rasm Taam, Rasm Naqis at the bottom, each with its formula. To be drawn in Project Desk colours.