Explanation of the words of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): The Superlative Form
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Superlative Form".
The Superlative Form: This means the form of "af'ala" intended to express superiority. It falls under the category of adding a thing to its type. This is because "af'ala" is sometimes an adjective, such as "a'raj" (lame), "abyad" (whiter), "ahmar" (redder), and the like. Sometimes it is a verb, such as "aqdam" (bolder), "ahjam" (more hesitant), "akram" (more generous), and the like. So the author is saying: "Af'ala" of what? Of superiority: meaning the form intended to express superiority. Therefore, it is from the category of adding a thing to its type.
The Superlative Form is: "Every noun indicating a difference in degree between two things, either in something praiseworthy or in something blameworthy". Did you understand? It indicates a difference in degree between two things, either in something praiseworthy or something blameworthy. Do not assume that the Superlative Form is from "fadl" (excess) which is kindness and good, but rather from "tafdil" (superiority) which is an increase in ugliness or beauty. So if I say: "This is better than this," hmm?
The student: For the praiseworthy.
The Shaykh : Then it is superiority in something praiseworthy. And if I say: "This is uglier than this"?
The student: For the blameworthy.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: For the blameworthy.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: Ugly.
The Shaykh : Yes, so this is superiority in something blameworthy, in a blameworthy thing. The author is not concerned with the issue of meaning; he is concerned with the form.
The Superlative Form: This means the form of "af'ala" intended to express superiority. It falls under the category of adding a thing to its type. This is because "af'ala" is sometimes an adjective, such as "a'raj" (lame), "abyad" (whiter), "ahmar" (redder), and the like. Sometimes it is a verb, such as "aqdam" (bolder), "ahjam" (more hesitant), "akram" (more generous), and the like. So the author is saying: "Af'ala" of what? Of superiority: meaning the form intended to express superiority. Therefore, it is from the category of adding a thing to its type.
The Superlative Form is: "Every noun indicating a difference in degree between two things, either in something praiseworthy or in something blameworthy". Did you understand? It indicates a difference in degree between two things, either in something praiseworthy or something blameworthy. Do not assume that the Superlative Form is from "fadl" (excess) which is kindness and good, but rather from "tafdil" (superiority) which is an increase in ugliness or beauty. So if I say: "This is better than this," hmm?
The student: For the praiseworthy.
The Shaykh : Then it is superiority in something praiseworthy. And if I say: "This is uglier than this"?
The student: For the blameworthy.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: For the blameworthy.
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: Ugly.
The Shaykh : Yes, so this is superiority in something blameworthy, in a blameworthy thing. The author is not concerned with the issue of meaning; he is concerned with the form.