Four moods, guaranteed valid: Within Figure 1, four specific combinations of proposition types [A][E][I][O] are guaranteed to produce a valid conclusion. These four moods are the workhorses of all Islamic logical argument — especially Barbara, which underlies every Fiqh ruling.
Notation and Figure 1 structure: Notation: [A] = Kulliyya Mujiba; [E] = Kulliyya Saliba; [I] = Juz'iyya Mujiba; [O] = Juz'iyya Saliba. Figure 1 structure: Kubra has M as subject; Sughra has M as predicate.
- Barbara [A-A-A] — the most important mood. Kubra [A]: "Every M is P". Sughra [A]: "Every S is M". Natijah [A]: "Every S is P". Two universal affirmatives produce a universal affirmative conclusion. Islamic example: Kubra — "Every mushrik (M) is forbidden from Jannah (P)" [A]; Sughra — "Abu Lahab (S) is a mushrik (M)" [A]; Natijah — "Abu Lahab (S) is forbidden from Jannah (P)" [A]. Barbara is the structure of every Fiqh ruling: general principle + identification of case = specific ruling.
- Celarent [E-A-E] — universal negative conclusion. Kubra [E]: "No M is P". Sughra [A]: "Every S is M". Natijah [E]: "No S is P". A universal negative plus a universal affirmative gives a universal negative conclusion. Islamic example: Kubra — "No divine being (P) is created (M)" [E], from Quran 112; Sughra — "All idols (S) are created things (M)" [A]; Natijah — "No idol (S) is divine (P)" [E] — the logical proof of idol refutation. Celarent is the standard tool for refuting false claims.
- Darii [A-I-I] — particular affirmative. Kubra [A]: "Every M is P". Sughra [I]: "Some S is M". Natijah [I]: "Some S is P". When the minor premise is particular, the conclusion must also be particular. Islamic example: Kubra — "Every scholar (M) will be honoured on the Day of Judgement (P)" [A]; Sughra — "Some companions (S) were scholars (M)" [I]; Natijah — "Some companions (S) will be honoured on the Day of Judgement (P)" [I]. Darii is used when the minor case is only partially established.
- Ferio [E-I-O] — particular negative. Kubra [E]: "No M is P". Sughra [I]: "Some S is M". Natijah [O]: "Some S is not P". A universal negative plus a particular affirmative gives a particular negative conclusion. Islamic example: Kubra — "No act of Dhulm (M) is rewardable (P)" [E]; Sughra — "Some acts of Jihad (S) are acts of Dhulm (M)" [I] — in some distorted forms; Natijah — "Some acts of Jihad (S) are not rewardable (P)" [O]. Ferio is used to establish that some members of a class lack a property.
Example
The master rule — use Barbara: The master rule: whenever you want to prove something definitively, use Barbara [A-A-A] in Figure 1. A universal major premise plus a universal minor premise gives a universal conclusion that cannot be denied if the premises are accepted.
The scholar's logical weapon: This is the logical weapon of the scholar.
Key Terms
- Barbara, Celarent, Darii, Ferio — the four valid moods of Figure 1
- Mood (الضرب) — combination of proposition types
Quran or Hadith
Quran 112 (Surah Al-Ikhlas) referenced for the Celarent example. — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: A four-card diagram: each mood with its letter code, its three propositions, and its Islamic example. To be drawn in Project Desk colours.
- Within Figure 1, four specific combinations of proposition types [A][E][I][O] are guaranteed to produce a valid conclusion.
- The master rule: whenever you want to prove something definitively, use Barbara [A-A-A] in Figure 1. A universal major premise plus a universal minor premise gives a universal conclusion that cannot be denied if the premises are accepted.
- Barbara [A-A-A]; Celarent [E-A-E]; Darii [A-I-I]; Ferio [E-I-O].