What does Al-astṭaʿa mean?

Islam > Glossary > Al-astṭaʿa

Discover the meaning of the term Al-astṭaʿa (استطاعة) in Islamic vocabulary.

Definition Al-astṭaʿa

Al-astṭaʿa according to Kitab at-Ta'rifat (Al-Jurjani)

It is an accidental quality (arad) that Allah creates in the animal being (hayawan), by which it performs the acts of choice.

Al-astṭaʿa according to Mu'jam al-Mustalahat al-Fiqhiyya

In language: the ability to do a thing; ability (qudra) is the attribute by which he acts if he wills and does not act if he does not will. In technical usage: in 'al-Ta'rifat' it is said: istita'a, qudra, quwwa, wus' and taqa are close in meaning in language; in the usage of the theologians, it denotes the attribute by which the animal being can act or refrain. He also said: it is an accidental quality Allah creates in the animal being, by which it performs the acts of choice.

Ibn 'Arfa said regarding istita'a in hajj: it is the ability to arrive, according to the famous view; it is said: he added provision for the journey. Al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning Allah's saying: 'whoever is able to make his way to it'.

Al-astṭaʿa according to At-Tawqif (Al-Munawi)

Real ability: the perfect ability with which the occurrence of the act must necessarily ensue, existing therefore only accompanied by the act.

Al-astṭaʿa according to At-Ta'rifat al-Fiqhiyya (Al-Barkati)

It is an accidental quality Allah creates in the animal being, by which it performs the acts of choice; it, ability (qudra), wus' and taqa are close in meaning in language.