Discover the meaning of the term Al-mshakla (مشاكلة) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readIn the terminology of stylistic rhetoric (Al-Badi), it is the mention of a meaning using the term of another due to its occurrence in the company of that other, whether actually or virtually. Example of the first is the statement of Allah تعالى: ﴿ You know what is within myself and I do not know what is within Yourself ﴾. Where the term soul (nafs) was applied to the Essence of Allah تعالى.
If it is objected: the soul is sometimes used to mean the Essence, and sometimes used to mean the heart, and stylistic conformity (mushakala) is only conceivable with the second meaning and not the first, for the Essence may be attributed to Allah تعالى. We say: the application of the term soul in any sense to Allah تعالى is not literal, as stated in the commentary of Al-Miftah, and the Imamite pole said: the verification of this is in our marginal notes on the commentary.
Mentioning a thing with the term of another due to its occurrence in its company, actually or virtually.