Definite and Indefinite Articles — Meanings of Al and Its Absence
balagha
Level: advanced
tasriih
blg-014
وَسۡـَٔلُواْ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦٓ
— النساء 32
Definite (al): Indicates prior knowledge, totality (all of the genus), or generic use.
Indefinite: Indicates magnification, belittlement, multiplicity, or deliberate ambiguity.
Precise Quranic examples: "Taught man what he did not know" — "al-insan" = all of humanity. "Ask Allah of His bounty" (4:32) — indefinite "fadl" indicating immeasurable, indescribable bounty. "Bismillah" — "Allah" is the specific proper name; "Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim" are definite attributes indicating perfection.
Source: Al-Zarkashi (3/370); Al-Suyuti (3/250); Al-Zamakhshari
Question: Why is "fadlihi" indefinite in "ask Allah of His bounty"?
Answer: Indefinite for magnification — a bounty too great to count, define, or describe; better than "al-fadl" which might imply limitation.