A Linguistic Analysis of the Term 'the Abandoned Child': A Semantic and Applied Study

Authors

  • Niebal Moh'd Al Etoum

    Department of Fiqh and Its Foundations, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21110, Jordan
  • Mahdi Ali Khatatbeh

    Department of Fiqh and Its Foundations, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21110, Jordan
  • Osama Adnan Al Ghneimin

    Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Directorate of Awqaf of Al-Koura, Amman 11118, Jordan
  • Faten Mazin Haddad

    Department of Fiqh and Its Foundations, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21110, Jordan
  • Mahmoud Ali Rababah

    Jadara Research Center, Jadara University, Irbid 21110, Jordan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.10952
Received: 8 July 2025 | Revised: 28 July 2025 | Accepted: 28 August 2025 | Published Online: 23 October 2025

Abstract

This study investigates the term al-manbūdh (the abandoned child) which is one of the significant linguistic and jurisprudential terms. It is essential for understanding the objectives of Islamic law in preserving life and safeguarding human dignity. The study traces the linguistic roots of the term in Arabic lexicons. The term is associated with meanings such as casting away, abandonment, and exclusion. The study then explores the term's usage in the Qur'an and Sunnah, identifying the contexts in which it appears and the meanings it conveys. The study further analyzes the jurisprudential concept of al-manbūdh across the four major Islamic schools of law. It highlights the differences among jurists. It particularly differentiates between those who equate al-manbūdh with a foundling (laqīṭ) or the illegitimate child, and other scholars who define al-manbūdh as a child abandoned by his family out of fear of shame or poverty. The study concludes that the Ḥanafī definition aligns most closely with the maqāṣid of Islamic law. The study also emphasizes jurisprudential rulings related to al-manbūdh, such as the obligation (or recommendation, in the absence of harm) to take in the child, and the necessity of formal testimony upon doing so to protect his lineage. The importance of the study lies in its revival of a rarely examined term in modern Islamic legal scholarship, and its illumination of the term' s humanitarian and social dimensions. This contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of Islamic jurisprudence as it pertains to marginalized members of society.

Keywords:

Al-Manbūdh; Jurisprudential Terms; Linguistic Meaning; Islamic Jurisprudence

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How to Cite

Al Etoum, N. M., Khatatbeh, M. A., Al Ghneimin, O. A., Haddad, F. M., & Ali Rababah, M. (2025). A Linguistic Analysis of the Term ’the Abandoned Child’: A Semantic and Applied Study. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(11), 980–990. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.10952

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Vol. 7 , Iss. 11 (November 2025): In progress

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Copyright © 2025 Niebal Moh'd Al Etoum, Mahdi Ali Khatatbeh, Osama Adnan Al Ghneimin, Faten Mazin Haddad, Mahmoud Ali Rababah

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