Explanation of the saying of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "And decline what follows what is declined, and whoever *** considers the grammatical case in following, it is good."
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The Shaykh :"And decline what follows what is declined, and whoever *** considers the grammatical case in following, it is good"
If it is declined, then what follows it... the one who follows the declined word has two options: the first is to consider the form, and if we consider the form, the follower becomes declined. The second is to consider the meaning, i.e., the grammatical case, in which case it would be nominative or accusative; it would be nominative or accusative. Now, you say: "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar." "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" — right now, 'Umar is the object of the verb "strike." "Strike" is a noun in the genitive case, and Zayd is the genitive attribute to it. Is it an attribute to the doer or to the object?
The student: To the doer.
The Shaykh : To the doer. The doer's original grammatical case is nominative, but now it is declined in form due to the genitive attribute. The word "tall" now — does one say: "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (with genitive) or "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (with nominative)?
The student: Both are permissible.
The Shaykh : Both options are permissible. It is permissible to say "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (nominative), and it is permissible to say "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (genitive). Which is better?
The student: Considering the form.
The Shaykh : Meaning, considering the form. Yes, that is the better one, unless there is ambiguity. If I said: "I was surprised by Zayd's strong striking of 'Umar." If "strong" here is declined, or if you decline it and say: "I was surprised by Zayd's strong striking of 'Umar," if you decline "strong," it could be a description of the striking, or a description of the striker, or not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is possible that the striking is the strong one, or that the striker is the strong one. In that case, which is preferred?
The student: The position.
The Shaykh : Considering the grammatical case. So we say: "I was surprised by Zayd's strong striking of 'Umar" (nominative). So now, if he asks: Which is better, to consider the form or to consider the grammatical case? We say: The original rule is to consider the form, but if there is ambiguity, it is better to consider the grammatical case. For this reason, he said: "Whoever considers the grammatical case in following, it is good." Meaning, whoever considers the grammatical case in following, it is good. He did not say "it is the best." He said "it is good," meaning he made it good. Then it may be better, and sometimes it becomes obligatory. When does it become obligatory?
The student: When there is ambiguity.
The Shaykh : If ambiguity is feared, then considering the grammatical case becomes obligatory. And I think, if Allah wills, the brothers Ghanim, Rashid, Abdullah, Husayn, and Jum'a are all understanding this point, right?
The student: I have ambiguity.
The Shaykh : You have ambiguity? No, you have clothing, right?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: I don't know how it came back.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : It appears that the reason for that is that you did not... it is difficult at first, you make it difficult.
The student: Perhaps because I did not come from the beginning.
The Shaykh : No, but if a person finds something difficult now, he stops at the foot of a mountain and says, "By Allah, this is high," near the wall. He does not find it, he does not find it, because from the start he knows that he is not a mountain climber. But if he says, "It is easy, I will walk a little at a time, sometimes on my feet, and sometimes on my feet and hands, yes, until I arrive, and sometimes I will ease up until I arrive," he walked.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Ah.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, specifically grammar.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Grammar, grammar. You say "the tall" (nominative) as a description of Zayd considering the grammatical case. And this is the meaning of his saying: "And whoever considers following the grammatical case, it is good". Now, then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) said.
If it is declined, then what follows it... the one who follows the declined word has two options: the first is to consider the form, and if we consider the form, the follower becomes declined. The second is to consider the meaning, i.e., the grammatical case, in which case it would be nominative or accusative; it would be nominative or accusative. Now, you say: "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar." "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" — right now, 'Umar is the object of the verb "strike." "Strike" is a noun in the genitive case, and Zayd is the genitive attribute to it. Is it an attribute to the doer or to the object?
The student: To the doer.
The Shaykh : To the doer. The doer's original grammatical case is nominative, but now it is declined in form due to the genitive attribute. The word "tall" now — does one say: "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (with genitive) or "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (with nominative)?
The student: Both are permissible.
The Shaykh : Both options are permissible. It is permissible to say "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (nominative), and it is permissible to say "I was surprised by Zayd's striking of the tall 'Umar" (genitive). Which is better?
The student: Considering the form.
The Shaykh : Meaning, considering the form. Yes, that is the better one, unless there is ambiguity. If I said: "I was surprised by Zayd's strong striking of 'Umar." If "strong" here is declined, or if you decline it and say: "I was surprised by Zayd's strong striking of 'Umar," if you decline "strong," it could be a description of the striking, or a description of the striker, or not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is possible that the striking is the strong one, or that the striker is the strong one. In that case, which is preferred?
The student: The position.
The Shaykh : Considering the grammatical case. So we say: "I was surprised by Zayd's strong striking of 'Umar" (nominative). So now, if he asks: Which is better, to consider the form or to consider the grammatical case? We say: The original rule is to consider the form, but if there is ambiguity, it is better to consider the grammatical case. For this reason, he said: "Whoever considers the grammatical case in following, it is good." Meaning, whoever considers the grammatical case in following, it is good. He did not say "it is the best." He said "it is good," meaning he made it good. Then it may be better, and sometimes it becomes obligatory. When does it become obligatory?
The student: When there is ambiguity.
The Shaykh : If ambiguity is feared, then considering the grammatical case becomes obligatory. And I think, if Allah wills, the brothers Ghanim, Rashid, Abdullah, Husayn, and Jum'a are all understanding this point, right?
The student: I have ambiguity.
The Shaykh : You have ambiguity? No, you have clothing, right?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: I don't know how it came back.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : It appears that the reason for that is that you did not... it is difficult at first, you make it difficult.
The student: Perhaps because I did not come from the beginning.
The Shaykh : No, but if a person finds something difficult now, he stops at the foot of a mountain and says, "By Allah, this is high," near the wall. He does not find it, he does not find it, because from the start he knows that he is not a mountain climber. But if he says, "It is easy, I will walk a little at a time, sometimes on my feet, and sometimes on my feet and hands, yes, until I arrive, and sometimes I will ease up until I arrive," he walked.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Ah.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, specifically grammar.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Grammar, grammar. You say "the tall" (nominative) as a description of Zayd considering the grammatical case. And this is the meaning of his saying: "And whoever considers following the grammatical case, it is good". Now, then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) said.