Explanation of the sixth verse, which is his saying: “And by his precedence, he has earned a deserved praise from the beautiful pair.”
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The Shaykh :“And by his precedence, he has earned a deserved praise” means that by his being ahead of me and composing the *Alfiyyah* in grammar, he has the merit. For whoever establishes a good practice in Islam, he receives its reward and the reward of everyone who acts upon it until the Day of Resurrection. Thus, by this precedence, he is superior to Ibn Malik in terms of precedence. This is part of Ibn Malik’s (may Allah have mercy on him) fairness.
“Deserving the praise of the beautiful pair”: This is the state of scholars among themselves; some praise others for what they deserve, without diminishing their status or praising them beyond their worth. They give them what is good, and merit is in the hand of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Do not think that if you praise a scholar who deserves praise, this will stand between you and success. Rather, this is part of the success that is decreed for you to receive; otherwise, would it not be so?
It is not covering up the virtues and merits of people that elevates you, neither in the sight of Allah nor in the sight of people. What truly elevates you is clarifying the truth wherever it is. In any place, at any time, and in any person, if the truth is present, you must clarify it. As long as you are sincere and advising the Muslim community, it is obligatory for you to rejoice when the truth comes from you, or otherwise from someone else. It is true that a person would like the truth to come from him so that he may be ahead in good deeds and beneficial to the servants of Allah. But that does not mean he should prevent people from the truth in order to divert people’s attention to himself; this is not permissible. Yes, the result is that Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) praised Ibn Ma’i. Yes, he said: “And by his precedence, he has earned a deserved praise from the beautiful pair”. So he praised him beautifully (may Allah have mercy on him) for his precedence in this path that he opened for people. Then al-Suyuti came and composed an *Alfiyyah* and said in it: “Surpassing Ibn Malik’s *Alfiyyah* *** Because its paths are clear”. Yes, and his *Alfiyyah* is in our possession in my handwriting, but in reality, it did not surpass Ibn Malik’s *Alfiyyah*. When you read it, you find anxiety in it, and it tires one... And someone came after al-Suyuti and composed an *Alfiyyah* and said: “Surpassing al-Suyuti’s *Alfiyyah*”. Yes, no... In the future, one might say, in any case, merit is in the hand of Allah. And what happened to Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding the lack of acceptance of his work during his life, Allah made it so that after his death, people turned to his books. Yes.
“Deserving the praise of the beautiful pair”: This is the state of scholars among themselves; some praise others for what they deserve, without diminishing their status or praising them beyond their worth. They give them what is good, and merit is in the hand of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Do not think that if you praise a scholar who deserves praise, this will stand between you and success. Rather, this is part of the success that is decreed for you to receive; otherwise, would it not be so?
It is not covering up the virtues and merits of people that elevates you, neither in the sight of Allah nor in the sight of people. What truly elevates you is clarifying the truth wherever it is. In any place, at any time, and in any person, if the truth is present, you must clarify it. As long as you are sincere and advising the Muslim community, it is obligatory for you to rejoice when the truth comes from you, or otherwise from someone else. It is true that a person would like the truth to come from him so that he may be ahead in good deeds and beneficial to the servants of Allah. But that does not mean he should prevent people from the truth in order to divert people’s attention to himself; this is not permissible. Yes, the result is that Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) praised Ibn Ma’i. Yes, he said: “And by his precedence, he has earned a deserved praise from the beautiful pair”. So he praised him beautifully (may Allah have mercy on him) for his precedence in this path that he opened for people. Then al-Suyuti came and composed an *Alfiyyah* and said in it: “Surpassing Ibn Malik’s *Alfiyyah* *** Because its paths are clear”. Yes, and his *Alfiyyah* is in our possession in my handwriting, but in reality, it did not surpass Ibn Malik’s *Alfiyyah*. When you read it, you find anxiety in it, and it tires one... And someone came after al-Suyuti and composed an *Alfiyyah* and said: “Surpassing al-Suyuti’s *Alfiyyah*”. Yes, no... In the future, one might say, in any case, merit is in the hand of Allah. And what happened to Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding the lack of acceptance of his work during his life, Allah made it so that after his death, people turned to his books. Yes.