Continuation of the explanation of Ibn Malik’s (may Allah have mercy on him) saying: “And the substitute for a preposition or a source *** or a preposition is a substitute for the nominative.”
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : So the word *Subhan* (Glory be to Allah), they say, is always in the accusative case, either as a source (masdar) or as an absolute object (maf'ul mutlaq), so it cannot serve as a substitute for the subject (fa'il), because it does not change from one state to another. So if you were to say, for example, “*Subbiha Subhan Allah* (Glory be to Allah was glorified),” this would not be permissible, meaning: *Subhan* does not change from being a source or an absolute object. Now, if you were to say, “*Shuriba shurbun kathir* (Much drinking was drunk),” this is a source; is this permissible or not?
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: It changes.
The Shaykh : Because *shurb* (drinking) changes from being a source to being a subject, or an object, or a genitive, or a nominative subject, but *Subhan* cannot change from what it is. Likewise, prepositions: some prepositions do not change from their state, such as the prepositions of oath. So the noun governed by the prepositions of oath cannot serve as a substitute for the subject, because it is restricted to the oath, so it cannot serve as a substitute for the subject. So if you were to say, “*Hulifa wa Allah* (It was sworn by Allah),” this would not be acceptable. Why? Because it does not change from the oath. But if you were to say, “*Murr bi-Zayd* (It was passed by Zayd),” can the preposition and its governed noun serve as a substitute for the subject?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because it changes from this form, to the extent that they say: if the preposition were deleted, it would be in the accusative case, similar to the saying of the poet: “They pass by the dwellings and do not return” or “You pass by the dwellings and do not return”.
The student: The time is up, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And Allah knows best.
The student: O Shaykh, some people said that the preposition and the source...
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: It changes.
The Shaykh : Because *shurb* (drinking) changes from being a source to being a subject, or an object, or a genitive, or a nominative subject, but *Subhan* cannot change from what it is. Likewise, prepositions: some prepositions do not change from their state, such as the prepositions of oath. So the noun governed by the prepositions of oath cannot serve as a substitute for the subject, because it is restricted to the oath, so it cannot serve as a substitute for the subject. So if you were to say, “*Hulifa wa Allah* (It was sworn by Allah),” this would not be acceptable. Why? Because it does not change from the oath. But if you were to say, “*Murr bi-Zayd* (It was passed by Zayd),” can the preposition and its governed noun serve as a substitute for the subject?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because it changes from this form, to the extent that they say: if the preposition were deleted, it would be in the accusative case, similar to the saying of the poet: “They pass by the dwellings and do not return” or “You pass by the dwellings and do not return”.
The student: The time is up, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And Allah knows best.
The student: O Shaykh, some people said that the preposition and the source...