Continuation of the Explanation of the Chapter on Actions
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The Shaykh : And I think you know the difference between the genus and the species. What is valid to be predicated of the other, but not vice versa, is the genus. This is the rule. And what is not valid to be predicated of the other is what? The species. What is valid to be predicated of the other is the genus, and what is not valid is the species. Now, "generosity is love." Which one is the genus?
The student: Generosity.
The Shaykh : There is no god but Allah.
The student: Love.
The Shaykh : Generosity is love.
The student: Love is the genus.
The Shaykh : Love is the genus because it is valid to predicate it of generosity. If I said, "Love is generosity," love is generosity.
The student: Error
The Shaykh : This is incorrect. It is not valid to predicate it, because if you said, "Love is generosity," someone would ask you, "What are its examples?" You would say, "I have love, but it is not generosity." Is that correct or not? Clear? Clear, Adam? Good?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Ah. I say: The criterion is that what is valid to be predicated of the other is the genus, and what is not valid is the species. Is that right or not? Good. Gold is currency. Gold is currency.
The student: Currency is the genus.
The Shaykh : Currency is the genus. If you said, "Currency is gold," that is incorrect, because currency includes gold and silver. Is that right or not? Man is an animal.
The student: Animal is the genus.
The Shaykh : The genus of animal is man. That is not valid. The mosque is a house. Is that valid?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the house is the genus. The house is a mosque. That is not valid. So, we say: The author used the singular form of "action" at the beginning of the book because the intended meaning is the genus, and he used the plural form here because the intended meaning is the species. So, the species of actions are three.
The student: Generosity.
The Shaykh : There is no god but Allah.
The student: Love.
The Shaykh : Generosity is love.
The student: Love is the genus.
The Shaykh : Love is the genus because it is valid to predicate it of generosity. If I said, "Love is generosity," love is generosity.
The student: Error
The Shaykh : This is incorrect. It is not valid to predicate it, because if you said, "Love is generosity," someone would ask you, "What are its examples?" You would say, "I have love, but it is not generosity." Is that correct or not? Clear? Clear, Adam? Good?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Ah. I say: The criterion is that what is valid to be predicated of the other is the genus, and what is not valid is the species. Is that right or not? Good. Gold is currency. Gold is currency.
The student: Currency is the genus.
The Shaykh : Currency is the genus. If you said, "Currency is gold," that is incorrect, because currency includes gold and silver. Is that right or not? Man is an animal.
The student: Animal is the genus.
The Shaykh : The genus of animal is man. That is not valid. The mosque is a house. Is that valid?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the house is the genus. The house is a mosque. That is not valid. So, we say: The author used the singular form of "action" at the beginning of the book because the intended meaning is the genus, and he used the plural form here because the intended meaning is the species. So, the species of actions are three.