Explanation of the words of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "And I seek help from Allah in an alfiyyah *** whose purpose is to encompass the objectives of grammar"
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The Shaykh : Then he said: "And I seek help from Allah in an alfiyyah" Here, it is more appropriate to use the explicit name in the place where the pronoun would be used, because the chapter of supplication requires elaboration, and he did not say "And I seek help from Him in an alfiyyah." Also, since the interval between his saying "I praise my Lord" and "I seek help from Allah" was long, it was good to use the explicit name in the place where the pronoun would be used.
Then a third point: When he said: "praying upon the Prophet", if he had said "and I seek help," a person might mistakenly think that he is seeking help from whom? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). For these three reasons, he (may Allah have mercy on him) used the explicit name and said: "I seek help from Allah" and did not say "I seek help from Him."
The meaning of "I seek help" is "I ask for assistance," just as a person says "I seek forgiveness from Allah," meaning "I ask for forgiveness."
"And I seek help from Allah in an alfiyyah" and so on. What the author (may Allah have mercy on him) intended by beginning this work with seeking help from Allah is in complete accordance with the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 2664 Sahih Muslim 2664 So the author, with his high ambition, composed the alfiyyah, striving for what benefits him, but he did not limit himself to that; rather, he said: "And I seek help from Allah in an alfiyyah". Whoever seeks help from Allah, turning to Him sincerely in his intention, Allah the Exalted will help him, if He (Glorified and Exalted is He) has commanded assistance for those who seek it. You are a created being, so His helping those who seek His help is, what? It is even more so, even more so. But be sincere to Allah, be sincere to Allah that you are truly seeking His help. Most of us ask Allah to treat us with His forgiveness, relying on the strength Allah has given us, and we forget death, we forget death. And perhaps we speak words that indicate our self-admiration, and I seek refuge in Allah, saying: "I did this and I did that and I did that," and so on. But the true believer is the one who strives for what benefits him and does what he is able to, but with seeking help from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). The time is up. Good.
"And I seek help from Allah in an alfiyyah" meaning: in its composition, in the composition of the alfiyyah. It is named after the thousand (verses). This poem does not exceed one thousand verses by more than two verses, just two verses. And the Arabs forgive such a slight excess. However, if you examine it, you will find that it does not actually exceed, because he cited a verse from another poet within it, which is excluded, making it one thousand and one. The first verse is the opening of the alfiyyah: "Said Muhammad, he is Ibn Malik". Up to now, the speaker of the saying has not appeared, so it is accurate to call it an alfiyyah that does not increase or decrease; it is exactly one thousand verses, neither more nor less. The matter is easy in this regard; meaning, if we assume it were one thousand and five or one thousand and ten, the slight excess is always either corrected or ignored among the Arabs; it is either corrected or ignored.
"The objectives of grammar, encompassed by it". "Objectives of grammar" is the plural of "objective," meaning that the objectives of grammar have been encompassed by this alfiyyah. The meaning of "encompassed" is "collected." Then he clarified that this alfiyyah, despite its comprehensiveness and collection of the objectives of grammar, is easy.
Then a third point: When he said: "praying upon the Prophet", if he had said "and I seek help," a person might mistakenly think that he is seeking help from whom? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). For these three reasons, he (may Allah have mercy on him) used the explicit name and said: "I seek help from Allah" and did not say "I seek help from Him."
The meaning of "I seek help" is "I ask for assistance," just as a person says "I seek forgiveness from Allah," meaning "I ask for forgiveness."
"And I seek help from Allah in an alfiyyah" and so on. What the author (may Allah have mercy on him) intended by beginning this work with seeking help from Allah is in complete accordance with the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart
احرص على ما ينفعك واستعن بالله ولا تعجزcherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart
احرص على ما ينفعك واستعن بالله ولا تعجز"And I seek help from Allah in an alfiyyah" meaning: in its composition, in the composition of the alfiyyah. It is named after the thousand (verses). This poem does not exceed one thousand verses by more than two verses, just two verses. And the Arabs forgive such a slight excess. However, if you examine it, you will find that it does not actually exceed, because he cited a verse from another poet within it, which is excluded, making it one thousand and one. The first verse is the opening of the alfiyyah: "Said Muhammad, he is Ibn Malik". Up to now, the speaker of the saying has not appeared, so it is accurate to call it an alfiyyah that does not increase or decrease; it is exactly one thousand verses, neither more nor less. The matter is easy in this regard; meaning, if we assume it were one thousand and five or one thousand and ten, the slight excess is always either corrected or ignored among the Arabs; it is either corrected or ignored.
"The objectives of grammar, encompassed by it". "Objectives of grammar" is the plural of "objective," meaning that the objectives of grammar have been encompassed by this alfiyyah. The meaning of "encompassed" is "collected." Then he clarified that this alfiyyah, despite its comprehensiveness and collection of the objectives of grammar, is easy.