Explanation of the words of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): The Indefinite and the Definite
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh :"The Indefinite and the Definite" The Indefinite and the Definite are two opposing terms. The indefinite is the opposite of the known. Allah the Exalted said: [Hud 11:70] meaning: They found them strange and did not recognize them. The definite is what is known. The indefinite is of the category of the absolute, while the definite contains what indicates specification and what indicates generality, but it is not of the category of the absolute.
The difference between the absolute and the general is that the absolute encompasses all its individuals by way of substitution, whereas the general encompasses all its individuals by way of generality, not by way of substitution.
So if you say, "Honor a man," it encompasses every man by way of substitution. You cannot honor two men if you said, "Honor a man." Why? Answer: Because the absolute encompasses all its individuals by way of substitution, meaning one in place of one. As for the general, it encompasses all its individuals by way of generality.
So if you say, "Do not honor a lazy person," and you refrain from honoring one lazy person but honor another, have you complied?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : No, because "a lazy person" here is for generality. All right.
And if you say, "Honor a diligent person"—meaning a hardworking person—and you honor two, you have not complied, because the absolute encompasses all its individuals by way of substitution. The indefinite is of this type. The indefinite is a name common to all its individuals, but by way of substitution. The definite is a name that specifies its referent, either with a restriction or without a restriction, as will come if Allah wills.
So the indefinite is every name common to its genus. Every name common to its genus that is not specific to one individual over another is an indefinite, such as "man," "sun," "moon." Correct, "sun" and "moon."
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Indefinite, indefinite, but it is specified by the particular sun, due to the absence of any other, and likewise the moon. Otherwise, it is originally an indefinite. "Star," "rain," "house," "person," "human being"—all of these are indefinite because they are names common to their genus, not specific to one individual over another. And the fact that it is specific to a particular thing due to the absence of any other does not take it out of being an indefinite. As for the marker of the indefinite, the author explained it by saying:
But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them
فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْThe difference between the absolute and the general is that the absolute encompasses all its individuals by way of substitution, whereas the general encompasses all its individuals by way of generality, not by way of substitution.
So if you say, "Honor a man," it encompasses every man by way of substitution. You cannot honor two men if you said, "Honor a man." Why? Answer: Because the absolute encompasses all its individuals by way of substitution, meaning one in place of one. As for the general, it encompasses all its individuals by way of generality.
So if you say, "Do not honor a lazy person," and you refrain from honoring one lazy person but honor another, have you complied?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : No, because "a lazy person" here is for generality. All right.
And if you say, "Honor a diligent person"—meaning a hardworking person—and you honor two, you have not complied, because the absolute encompasses all its individuals by way of substitution. The indefinite is of this type. The indefinite is a name common to all its individuals, but by way of substitution. The definite is a name that specifies its referent, either with a restriction or without a restriction, as will come if Allah wills.
So the indefinite is every name common to its genus. Every name common to its genus that is not specific to one individual over another is an indefinite, such as "man," "sun," "moon." Correct, "sun" and "moon."
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Indefinite, indefinite, but it is specified by the particular sun, due to the absence of any other, and likewise the moon. Otherwise, it is originally an indefinite. "Star," "rain," "house," "person," "human being"—all of these are indefinite because they are names common to their genus, not specific to one individual over another. And the fact that it is specific to a particular thing due to the absence of any other does not take it out of being an indefinite. As for the marker of the indefinite, the author explained it by saying: