Explanation of the statement of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): The State (Hal)
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The State (Hal)"
The State (Hal) in its original sense is the condition in which a thing is. It is masculine in form but feminine in meaning. So, for example, you say "the first state" (al-hal al-awla), and you say "he has two states" (la-hu halan) or "he is in two states" (ala halayn). Do you understand? You do not say "the first state" (al-halat al-awla) or "he has two states" (halatayn) or "he is in two states" (halatayn).
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is masculine in form but feminine in meaning. When you describe the state, what is the form of the word? Do you say "the first state" (al-hal al-awla) or "the first" (al-awwal)?
The student: The first one.
Another student: The first state (al-hal al-awwal).
The Shaykh : It is "the first state" (al-hal al-awla) because it is masculine in form but feminine in meaning. You say "the first state" (al-hal al-awla). And do you say "the straight state" (al-hal al-mustaqim) or "the straight state" (al-hal al-mustaqimah)?
The student: The straight state (al-mustaqimah).
The Shaykh : It is "the straight state" (al-mustaqimah) because it is feminine in meaning. This is the most eloquent usage, contrary to what most people express today. You find them feminizing it, saying "this is his state" (hadhihi halatuhu) and "it is not adornment" (ma hiya bi-zinah). Yes, "he has two states" (la-hu halatayn), and this is incorrect. The correct way is to say "this is his state" (hadhihi haluhu) and "he has two states" (la-hu halan). Now, regarding the definition of the State (Hal) in language, I said that it is the condition in which a thing is. As for the technical definition, the author said:
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The State (Hal)"
The State (Hal) in its original sense is the condition in which a thing is. It is masculine in form but feminine in meaning. So, for example, you say "the first state" (al-hal al-awla), and you say "he has two states" (la-hu halan) or "he is in two states" (ala halayn). Do you understand? You do not say "the first state" (al-halat al-awla) or "he has two states" (halatayn) or "he is in two states" (halatayn).
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is masculine in form but feminine in meaning. When you describe the state, what is the form of the word? Do you say "the first state" (al-hal al-awla) or "the first" (al-awwal)?
The student: The first one.
Another student: The first state (al-hal al-awwal).
The Shaykh : It is "the first state" (al-hal al-awla) because it is masculine in form but feminine in meaning. You say "the first state" (al-hal al-awla). And do you say "the straight state" (al-hal al-mustaqim) or "the straight state" (al-hal al-mustaqimah)?
The student: The straight state (al-mustaqimah).
The Shaykh : It is "the straight state" (al-mustaqimah) because it is feminine in meaning. This is the most eloquent usage, contrary to what most people express today. You find them feminizing it, saying "this is his state" (hadhihi halatuhu) and "it is not adornment" (ma hiya bi-zinah). Yes, "he has two states" (la-hu halatayn), and this is incorrect. The correct way is to say "this is his state" (hadhihi haluhu) and "he has two states" (la-hu halan). Now, regarding the definition of the State (Hal) in language, I said that it is the condition in which a thing is. As for the technical definition, the author said: