Explanation of the words of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "And decline with 'min' if you wish, other than that of the number *** and the nominative in meaning, like 'Tibb nafsā' (Be well) which you seek."
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The Shaykh : He said:
"And decline with 'min'"
"And decline": imperative verb; "with 'min'": preposition and its object, attached to the verb.
"If you wish" "In" is a conditional particle, and "wish" is the verb of the condition and its subject. Yes.
"And other than that of the number" is the object of "wish." And "decline"? "And decline with 'min' if you wish other than that of the number" "Decline" is the object of "decline," and his saying: "other than that of the number" means: other than the specifier of the number, the specifier of the number. Yes, the specifier that is not a specifier of a number is permissible to decline with "min." —Lower your voices, O brothers— Where is the answer to the condition "in"?
The student: It is omitted.
The Shaykh : There are two opinions: one opinion is that it is omitted, indicated by what came before it, "And decline with 'min' if you wish" so decline. Yes. And the second opinion is that such a construction does not require an answer. This latter opinion is more correct, because it is clearer in meaning and safer from estimation, and the principle is to avoid estimation. And his saying: "other than that of the number" means: the specifier of the number is not declined with "min," but it is made accusative.
"And other than the nominative in meaning"
What is the nominative in meaning? It means: and decline other than the nominative in meaning. What is the nominative in meaning? The specifier that comes as a nominative in meaning was mentioned to us before, and it is his saying:
"And the nominative in meaning, make accusative with 'af'ala *** as a preferred one"
So the nominative in meaning is not declined with "min," meaning you do not say: "I have more wealth than you," but you say: "I have more wealth than you." I am stronger in body than you; you do not say: "I am stronger in body than you." The nominative in meaning is not declined with "min," and the rest of the specifiers are permissible. So the rule is: every specifier is permissible to decline with "min," except two: the specifier of the number, and the nominative in meaning. The nominative in meaning, look at the nominative in meaning. Okay, and the one that is in the meaning of the object, is it permissible to decline it or not?
The student: It is declined.
The Shaykh : It is permissible to decline it, permissible. The one after what necessitates wonder?
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : It is permissible; whenever it is a specifier, it is permissible to decline it with "min," except what?
The student: The number.
The Shaykh : Except the specifier of the number, and the specifier that is a nominative in meaning. Its example in the nominative in meaning is:
"Tibb nafsā"
So "Tibb" is an imperative verb, and its subject is hidden and obligatory, estimated as "you." And "nafsā" is a specifier converted from the nominative, because its original form is "Tābat nafsuhu" (His soul was well). Is it permissible to say: "Tibb min nafs"?
The student: It is not permissible.
The Shaykh : No, "tufad" means: you are given benefit. Yes. Okay, now let us take exercises on this rule. You say, for example: "I bought a span of land," is it permissible?
The student: Of land.
The Shaykh : A span of land, and a third aspect is permissible: "A span of land" as mentioned before.
"And after that which has a 'waw' and its like, decline it if *** you add them"
Okay, "Lillahi darahu fārisan" (May Allah reward him, a horseman), is that right?
The student: Of a horseman.
The Shaykh : It is permissible, "Lillahi darahu min fāris" (May Allah reward him, of a horseman). Okay, I have twenty books, is that right?
The student: It is not declined.
The Shaykh : It is not declined?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : "I have twenty of a book" is not correct, but it is permissible to say: "I have twenty of the books," and in that case it is not a specifier. In that case, it is not a specifier, because the specifier of the number is singular. Clear?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, you say, for example: "The man ate two min of dates," is that right? Is it not permissible grammatically or not permissible in reality?
The student: In reality.
The Shaykh : Okay, how much do we say? Two kilos, is that possible?
The student: That is possible.
The Shaykh : It is possible, two kilos is possible. Does he eat dates or not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : No, not more than once. Once is possible for him to eat. So, two kilos of dates, is that correct?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, is "two kilos of dates" permissible?
The student: No, because it is not with a number.
Another student: It is correct.
The Shaykh : Two kilos of dates! It is correct, and "two kilos of dates" by addition is permissible, because that is not with a number. Okay, here.
The student: By addition.
The Shaykh : Except "two kilos and a half of dates," yes, you omit it.
The student: Is it Arabic, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : By Allah, it does not appear to be Arabic; it appears to be non-Arabic.
"And decline with 'min'"
"And decline": imperative verb; "with 'min'": preposition and its object, attached to the verb.
"If you wish" "In" is a conditional particle, and "wish" is the verb of the condition and its subject. Yes.
"And other than that of the number" is the object of "wish." And "decline"? "And decline with 'min' if you wish other than that of the number" "Decline" is the object of "decline," and his saying: "other than that of the number" means: other than the specifier of the number, the specifier of the number. Yes, the specifier that is not a specifier of a number is permissible to decline with "min." —Lower your voices, O brothers— Where is the answer to the condition "in"?
The student: It is omitted.
The Shaykh : There are two opinions: one opinion is that it is omitted, indicated by what came before it, "And decline with 'min' if you wish" so decline. Yes. And the second opinion is that such a construction does not require an answer. This latter opinion is more correct, because it is clearer in meaning and safer from estimation, and the principle is to avoid estimation. And his saying: "other than that of the number" means: the specifier of the number is not declined with "min," but it is made accusative.
"And other than the nominative in meaning"
What is the nominative in meaning? It means: and decline other than the nominative in meaning. What is the nominative in meaning? The specifier that comes as a nominative in meaning was mentioned to us before, and it is his saying:
"And the nominative in meaning, make accusative with 'af'ala *** as a preferred one"
So the nominative in meaning is not declined with "min," meaning you do not say: "I have more wealth than you," but you say: "I have more wealth than you." I am stronger in body than you; you do not say: "I am stronger in body than you." The nominative in meaning is not declined with "min," and the rest of the specifiers are permissible. So the rule is: every specifier is permissible to decline with "min," except two: the specifier of the number, and the nominative in meaning. The nominative in meaning, look at the nominative in meaning. Okay, and the one that is in the meaning of the object, is it permissible to decline it or not?
The student: It is declined.
The Shaykh : It is permissible to decline it, permissible. The one after what necessitates wonder?
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : It is permissible; whenever it is a specifier, it is permissible to decline it with "min," except what?
The student: The number.
The Shaykh : Except the specifier of the number, and the specifier that is a nominative in meaning. Its example in the nominative in meaning is:
"Tibb nafsā"
So "Tibb" is an imperative verb, and its subject is hidden and obligatory, estimated as "you." And "nafsā" is a specifier converted from the nominative, because its original form is "Tābat nafsuhu" (His soul was well). Is it permissible to say: "Tibb min nafs"?
The student: It is not permissible.
The Shaykh : No, "tufad" means: you are given benefit. Yes. Okay, now let us take exercises on this rule. You say, for example: "I bought a span of land," is it permissible?
The student: Of land.
The Shaykh : A span of land, and a third aspect is permissible: "A span of land" as mentioned before.
"And after that which has a 'waw' and its like, decline it if *** you add them"
Okay, "Lillahi darahu fārisan" (May Allah reward him, a horseman), is that right?
The student: Of a horseman.
The Shaykh : It is permissible, "Lillahi darahu min fāris" (May Allah reward him, of a horseman). Okay, I have twenty books, is that right?
The student: It is not declined.
The Shaykh : It is not declined?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : "I have twenty of a book" is not correct, but it is permissible to say: "I have twenty of the books," and in that case it is not a specifier. In that case, it is not a specifier, because the specifier of the number is singular. Clear?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, you say, for example: "The man ate two min of dates," is that right? Is it not permissible grammatically or not permissible in reality?
The student: In reality.
The Shaykh : Okay, how much do we say? Two kilos, is that possible?
The student: That is possible.
The Shaykh : It is possible, two kilos is possible. Does he eat dates or not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : No, not more than once. Once is possible for him to eat. So, two kilos of dates, is that correct?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, is "two kilos of dates" permissible?
The student: No, because it is not with a number.
Another student: It is correct.
The Shaykh : Two kilos of dates! It is correct, and "two kilos of dates" by addition is permissible, because that is not with a number. Okay, here.
The student: By addition.
The Shaykh : Except "two kilos and a half of dates," yes, you omit it.
The student: Is it Arabic, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : By Allah, it does not appear to be Arabic; it appears to be non-Arabic.