المعنى الاصطلاحي

A person who can know the lineage of a person based on resemblance and examination of the parts of the body.

الشرح المختصر

"Qiyāfah" (lineage tracing) is a valid branch of knowledge, part of human perception, and a peculiar result of knowledge. It is distinct from divination and higher in rank than astrology. Its nature is based on tracing resemblance to identify lineage by examining the parts of the body. This enables the "qā’if" (lineage tracer) to know the resemblance between children and their fathers. Based on this, the "qā’if" will then inform the people that this child belongs to so-and-so or so-and-so. This knowledge is not limited to a specific tribe.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Qā’if": a person who can identify and follow the traces and knows the resemblance between a man and his brother and his father. The word "qā’if" is a partially reversed form of "qāfi".

التعريف

One who can discern lineage by careful looking at the new-born’s features.