Explanation of the author's statement: "The Chapter on the Obligatory Acts of Ablution and Its Manner."
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The Shaykh : Then the author said "The Chapter on the Obligatory Acts of Ablution and Its Manner". The Chapter on the Obligatory Acts of Ablution and Its Manner means, and the chapter on its manner. "Furud" is the plural of "fard," and it is pluralized even though the rule among grammarians is that a verbal noun is not pluralized or dualized. However, it was pluralized here considering its multiplicity. So he said "The Chapter on the Obligatory Acts of Ablution", and it is the plural of "fard." In language, "fard" indicates meanings whose root is "haz" (cutting) and "qat'" (severing). Do you know what "haz" is?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What is "haz"? "Fard" and "fard" is "haz," and "haz" is "fard." That doesn't work!
The questioner : That which is less than the "fard."
The Shaykh : Ah, meaning it signifies cutting without separation, and "qat'" is "haz" with separation. Clear? Good. As for in the Shari'ah, "fard" is synonymous with "wajib" according to the majority of scholars. The meaning of being synonymous is that it is by its meaning, so their meanings are one: that which is commanded by way of obligation, meaning by action. That is, Allah commanded us, obliging us to do it. Do you understand? And its ruling is that its doer is rewarded, and its leaver?
The questioner : Is punished.
The Shaykh : Wrong! Its leaver is deserving of punishment, because Allah may forgive him. That is its ruling. And according to Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him), "fard" is that which is established by definitive evidence, and "wajib" is that which is established by probable evidence. So whatever is established by definitive evidence, meaning definitive in its establishment and indication, is "fard," and whatever is established by probable evidence in its establishment or indication is "wajib." Clear? And based on this, they gave an example for it, saying: Reciting something from the Qur'an is "fard," "fard" in prayer. They meant by this His saying[Al-Muzzammil 73:20], and reciting al-Fatihah is "wajib," because reciting al-Fatihah is from the reports of the Ahad (singular narrators). And according to many people, among the usuliyyun (scholars of principles) and others, reports of the Ahad do not yield anything but probability. So they said, for example, reciting al-Fatihah is from the category of "wajib," and reciting whatever is easy from the Qur'an is from the category of "fard." But the majority of scholars differ with them on this, saying that "fard" and "wajib" are synonyms. And with this, we return to our chapter in which we are, and we say that the intended meaning of "the obligatory acts of ablution" here is the pillars of ablution. The intended meaning is its pillars. And by this, we know that the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) may vary their expressions, making "furud" (obligatory acts) mean "pillars." And what indicates that the intended meaning of "furud" here is "pillars" is that these "furud" are those from which the essence of ablution is composed, and no other. And all statements or actions from which the essence of a worship is composed are pillars, because the essence of ablution is composed of these four things. If you were asked, "What is ablution?" what would you say? It is washing the face and the hands, wiping the head, and washing the feet. So the intended meaning of "the obligatory acts of ablution" is its pillars. And "wudu" in language is derived from "wada'ah" (beauty), which is cleanliness and beauty. And in the Shari'ah, it is worshipping Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by washing the four limbs in a specific manner. Worshipping Allah the Exalted by washing the four limbs in a specific manner. What is it, Abdul Rahman? What is "wudu" in language?
The questioner : "Wudu" is in language...
The Shaykh : No, let him answer, because he is close to me and his mind is wandering. It is derived from this in language. And in technical terminology, it is worshipping Allah by washing the four limbs in a specific manner. If you say this definition is not correct because you said "by washing the limbs," and the head is not washed, the answer is that this is from the category of predominance (taghlib). And his saying "and its manner" is conjoined to "furud" (obligatory acts) and not conjoined to "wudu" (ablution). That is, and the chapter on the manner of ablution. And "manner" (sifah) is the way in which something is done. And ablution has two manners: a mandatory manner and a recommended manner.
The questioner : Abu Hanifah agreed with us in this issue, meaning he and his companions in their naming of "the obligatory acts of ablution" and "its wajib." Is the naming counted?
The Shaykh : Yes, no, but this is outside the pillars.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What is "haz"? "Fard" and "fard" is "haz," and "haz" is "fard." That doesn't work!
The questioner : That which is less than the "fard."
The Shaykh : Ah, meaning it signifies cutting without separation, and "qat'" is "haz" with separation. Clear? Good. As for in the Shari'ah, "fard" is synonymous with "wajib" according to the majority of scholars. The meaning of being synonymous is that it is by its meaning, so their meanings are one: that which is commanded by way of obligation, meaning by action. That is, Allah commanded us, obliging us to do it. Do you understand? And its ruling is that its doer is rewarded, and its leaver?
The questioner : Is punished.
The Shaykh : Wrong! Its leaver is deserving of punishment, because Allah may forgive him. That is its ruling. And according to Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him), "fard" is that which is established by definitive evidence, and "wajib" is that which is established by probable evidence. So whatever is established by definitive evidence, meaning definitive in its establishment and indication, is "fard," and whatever is established by probable evidence in its establishment or indication is "wajib." Clear? And based on this, they gave an example for it, saying: Reciting something from the Qur'an is "fard," "fard" in prayer. They meant by this His saying
so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an
فاقرؤوا ما تيسر من القرآنThe questioner : "Wudu" is in language...
The Shaykh : No, let him answer, because he is close to me and his mind is wandering. It is derived from this in language. And in technical terminology, it is worshipping Allah by washing the four limbs in a specific manner. If you say this definition is not correct because you said "by washing the limbs," and the head is not washed, the answer is that this is from the category of predominance (taghlib). And his saying "and its manner" is conjoined to "furud" (obligatory acts) and not conjoined to "wudu" (ablution). That is, and the chapter on the manner of ablution. And "manner" (sifah) is the way in which something is done. And ablution has two manners: a mandatory manner and a recommended manner.
The questioner : Abu Hanifah agreed with us in this issue, meaning he and his companions in their naming of "the obligatory acts of ablution" and "its wajib." Is the naming counted?
The Shaykh : Yes, no, but this is outside the pillars.