Explanation of the saying of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "And for necessity, like Banat al-Ubar *** Thus I found peace of mind, O Qays al-Sari."
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The Shaykh : Then he said: Second, it is added for necessity. What is necessity? It is poetic necessity, because poetry compels the poet to depart from the rules. Al-Hariri, in *al-Mu'allaqat*, says:
"And it is permissible in the craft of poetry, the frivolous one, *** That the poet should decline what is not declined",
The point of this is his saying: "al-Salf," *salf*. Poetry is that which forces you to add a word, delete a word, change a form, or do something similar.
"For necessity, like Banat al-Ubar":
Banat al-Ubar: Its original form is Banat Ubar, Banat Ubar. So what is Banat Ubar? Is Ubar the name of a man who has daughters, yes, or what?! No, Banat Ubar is the name of a type of truffle, and the truffle is what the common people among us call: "al-Fuq'". They call it *fuq'* because it bursts the earth. It is a known plant that appears during days of heavy rain. It has three categories: the worst of them is Banat Ubar. Therefore, the poet says to his addressee:
"And I have gathered for you truffles and esaqil, *** And I have forbidden you from Banat al-Ubar"
Because Banat Ubar is poor quality, its taste is bad, it has much earth in it, and it is also small. This is not gathered, because it tires the person, and its benefit is little. So the point is his saying:
"And I have forbidden you from Banat al-Ubar".
And it is without necessity, what is it?
The student: Banat Ubar.
The Shaykh : Banat Ubar, but for necessity, the poet added to it. Now, if a person wanted to add to it now, we would say: No, because you are not an Arab, and it is not a language such that we would tell you: choose whatever you wish from the languages of the Arabs. It is for necessity, "and necessity is measured by its extent". But if this poet said: Are they not men? We would say to him: Yes. He says: And I?
The student: A man.
The Shaykh : A man. So if their poetry compels them to contradict the Arabic language in the eyes of people, then so am I. If he wanted to argue with us, we would say: Do whatever you wish. Fine.
"Thus I found peace of mind, O Qays al-Sari":
"I found peace of mind": "I found peace of mind, O Qays" also refers to a verse of necessity, in which the poet says:
"I saw you when you recognized our faces, *** You turned away and found peace of mind, O Qays, from 'Amr"
"I saw you when you recognized our faces, *** You turned away and found peace of mind, O Qays, from 'Amr"
"Nafs" (soul/self): Here it is a *tamyiz* (specification) converted from the subject. Its original form is: "And your soul found peace." The *tamyiz*, according to the majority of grammarians, must be indefinite and it is not permissible for it to be definite. So when this verse is presented to them, they say: This is a necessity. It is extra, because it entered upon a word that must be indefinite.
"And it is permissible in the craft of poetry, the frivolous one, *** That the poet should decline what is not declined",
The point of this is his saying: "al-Salf," *salf*. Poetry is that which forces you to add a word, delete a word, change a form, or do something similar.
"For necessity, like Banat al-Ubar":
Banat al-Ubar: Its original form is Banat Ubar, Banat Ubar. So what is Banat Ubar? Is Ubar the name of a man who has daughters, yes, or what?! No, Banat Ubar is the name of a type of truffle, and the truffle is what the common people among us call: "al-Fuq'". They call it *fuq'* because it bursts the earth. It is a known plant that appears during days of heavy rain. It has three categories: the worst of them is Banat Ubar. Therefore, the poet says to his addressee:
"And I have gathered for you truffles and esaqil, *** And I have forbidden you from Banat al-Ubar"
Because Banat Ubar is poor quality, its taste is bad, it has much earth in it, and it is also small. This is not gathered, because it tires the person, and its benefit is little. So the point is his saying:
"And I have forbidden you from Banat al-Ubar".
And it is without necessity, what is it?
The student: Banat Ubar.
The Shaykh : Banat Ubar, but for necessity, the poet added to it. Now, if a person wanted to add to it now, we would say: No, because you are not an Arab, and it is not a language such that we would tell you: choose whatever you wish from the languages of the Arabs. It is for necessity, "and necessity is measured by its extent". But if this poet said: Are they not men? We would say to him: Yes. He says: And I?
The student: A man.
The Shaykh : A man. So if their poetry compels them to contradict the Arabic language in the eyes of people, then so am I. If he wanted to argue with us, we would say: Do whatever you wish. Fine.
"Thus I found peace of mind, O Qays al-Sari":
"I found peace of mind": "I found peace of mind, O Qays" also refers to a verse of necessity, in which the poet says:
"I saw you when you recognized our faces, *** You turned away and found peace of mind, O Qays, from 'Amr"
"I saw you when you recognized our faces, *** You turned away and found peace of mind, O Qays, from 'Amr"
"Nafs" (soul/self): Here it is a *tamyiz* (specification) converted from the subject. Its original form is: "And your soul found peace." The *tamyiz*, according to the majority of grammarians, must be indefinite and it is not permissible for it to be definite. So when this verse is presented to them, they say: This is a necessity. It is extra, because it entered upon a word that must be indefinite.