Explanation of the words of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "And in the unity of rank, you must separate *** And the absent may permit connection therein."
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The Shaykh : Then he said: "And in the unity of rank, you must separate *** And the absent may permit connection therein"
"In the unity of rank": This means that if the two pronouns are in the same rank, separation is obligatory, so that two connected pronouns do not come together in a single word, because connected pronouns attach to the governing verb, and this is linguistically ugly, so you must separate them. An example of this is if a slave says to his master: "You made me my own master" (malakani iyya), "You made me my own master" (malakani iyya); this is correct, the rank is the same, both are first-person pronouns, so we must separate and say: "You made me my own master" (malakani iyya). If he said: "You made me my own master" (malakaniyya), we would say: this is prohibited, because if he says: "You made me my own master" (malakaniyya), it means that two connected pronouns have come together with the unity of rank. Good. And likewise, if they were for the absent, if they were for the absent, such as if the master says to his slave: "I made you your own master" (malaktuka iyyaka), meaning I made you your own master, addressing him, yes, addressing him. So here it is not permissible for me to say: "I made you your own master" (malaktukka), because it is heavy. What is required?
The student: To separate.
The Shaykh : That I separate and say: "I made you your own master" (malaktuka iyyaka). Likewise, in the case of the absent: "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhu iyyahu), "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhu iyyahu); it is not permissible for me to say: "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhuhu) except according to his saying: "And the absent may permit connection therein": This means that two pronouns for the absent may come together in the same rank and be connected. The summary of the author's statement is: if two connected pronouns come together in different ranks, what is required? The more specific one must be placed first. If they are separated, it is permissible to place the more specific one last. If they are in the same rank, separation is obligatory, separation is obligatory, and connection is not permissible except if it is for the absent, "And the absent may permit connection therein", so he says: "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhu iyyahu) and "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhuhu), "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhuhu) is this connection. It is now clear that if two different pronouns in rank come together, what is the ruling?
The student: Placing the more specific one first.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory to place the more specific one first, if they are connected. And if two separated pronouns in different ranks come together?
The student: Place whichever you wish.
The Shaykh : Place whichever you wish; it is permissible to place the more specific one first or last. And if they are in the same rank? Separation is obligatory and connection is prohibited, except if the rank is for the absent, in which case both separation and connection are permissible, "And the absent may permit connection therein". Good.
"In the unity of rank": This means that if the two pronouns are in the same rank, separation is obligatory, so that two connected pronouns do not come together in a single word, because connected pronouns attach to the governing verb, and this is linguistically ugly, so you must separate them. An example of this is if a slave says to his master: "You made me my own master" (malakani iyya), "You made me my own master" (malakani iyya); this is correct, the rank is the same, both are first-person pronouns, so we must separate and say: "You made me my own master" (malakani iyya). If he said: "You made me my own master" (malakaniyya), we would say: this is prohibited, because if he says: "You made me my own master" (malakaniyya), it means that two connected pronouns have come together with the unity of rank. Good. And likewise, if they were for the absent, if they were for the absent, such as if the master says to his slave: "I made you your own master" (malaktuka iyyaka), meaning I made you your own master, addressing him, yes, addressing him. So here it is not permissible for me to say: "I made you your own master" (malaktukka), because it is heavy. What is required?
The student: To separate.
The Shaykh : That I separate and say: "I made you your own master" (malaktuka iyyaka). Likewise, in the case of the absent: "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhu iyyahu), "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhu iyyahu); it is not permissible for me to say: "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhuhu) except according to his saying: "And the absent may permit connection therein": This means that two pronouns for the absent may come together in the same rank and be connected. The summary of the author's statement is: if two connected pronouns come together in different ranks, what is required? The more specific one must be placed first. If they are separated, it is permissible to place the more specific one last. If they are in the same rank, separation is obligatory, separation is obligatory, and connection is not permissible except if it is for the absent, "And the absent may permit connection therein", so he says: "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhu iyyahu) and "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhuhu), "I gave it to him" (a'taytuhuhu) is this connection. It is now clear that if two different pronouns in rank come together, what is the ruling?
The student: Placing the more specific one first.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory to place the more specific one first, if they are connected. And if two separated pronouns in different ranks come together?
The student: Place whichever you wish.
The Shaykh : Place whichever you wish; it is permissible to place the more specific one first or last. And if they are in the same rank? Separation is obligatory and connection is prohibited, except if the rank is for the absent, in which case both separation and connection are permissible, "And the absent may permit connection therein". Good.