Explanation of the words of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "The ḥāl is a description, its excellence is in being in the accusative case *** clarifying in a state, like 'ardha' (I have gone)."
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The Shaykh :"The ḥāl is a description"
A description, and description means: state or condition. So it is a description and not a static noun. A description.
"Its excellence" and not its essence. So by our saying "description," we exclude what is not a description, as if you said: "Zayd is your brother." "Your brother" is not a ḥāl, because it is not a description. And by our saying "excellence," we exclude what is the essence, as in your saying: "Zayd was standing." So "standing" is a description of Zayd, but is it?
The student: Essential.
The Shaykh : The essence, because it is the predicate of the subject, and the predicate of the subject is the essence. And by our saying "in the accusative case," we exclude what is not in the accusative case, like if you said: "Zayd the nobleman came." So "the nobleman" is in reality a description, but it is in the nominative case. And a description that is excellence is not the essence, since the adjective is not the essence in the sentence. And with that, it is in the nominative case, so it is not a ḥāl. If someone says: This definition is refuted if you said: "This is a man I saw, a nobleman." So "nobleman" is a description, not a description or not?
The student: Description.
The Shaykh : Fine, is it excellence?
The student: Superfluous.
The Shaykh : Is it in the accusative case?
A description, and description means: state or condition. So it is a description and not a static noun. A description.
"Its excellence" and not its essence. So by our saying "description," we exclude what is not a description, as if you said: "Zayd is your brother." "Your brother" is not a ḥāl, because it is not a description. And by our saying "excellence," we exclude what is the essence, as in your saying: "Zayd was standing." So "standing" is a description of Zayd, but is it?
The student: Essential.
The Shaykh : The essence, because it is the predicate of the subject, and the predicate of the subject is the essence. And by our saying "in the accusative case," we exclude what is not in the accusative case, like if you said: "Zayd the nobleman came." So "the nobleman" is in reality a description, but it is in the nominative case. And a description that is excellence is not the essence, since the adjective is not the essence in the sentence. And with that, it is in the nominative case, so it is not a ḥāl. If someone says: This definition is refuted if you said: "This is a man I saw, a nobleman." So "nobleman" is a description, not a description or not?
The student: Description.
The Shaykh : Fine, is it excellence?
The student: Superfluous.
The Shaykh : Is it in the accusative case?