Explanation of the words of Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him): "And it is recommended to use the relative pronoun with that which is famous, like the well of Zamzam, woe to the one who dug it."
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The Shaykh :"And it is recommended to use the relative pronoun with that which is famous"
Meaning: with that which is famous for it. So the relative pronoun that is famous for its modifier is excluded from the indefinite. It is recommended because if it is famous for its modifier, the indefiniteness in it is removed; otherwise, how would it be removed here?
The student: It disappears.
The Shaykh : Okay, the indefiniteness is removed. An example of this is if I say: "Honor the one who concealed the alif," "Honor the one who concealed the alif," and you all conceal it. Is this indefinite or not?
The student: Indefinite.
The Shaykh : Indefinite?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : If I say "Honor the one who concealed the alif," and only one person concealed it?
The student: It is specified.
The Shaykh : It is specified now. It is specified, even though the form is a form of indefiniteness, but it is known that there is only one person, right? Okay, you say: "May Allah reward the one who lit the path for us with good," "May Allah reward the one who lit the path for us with good," and we know that the one who lit the path is so-and-so only, there is no one else. Does it become specified or not?
The student: Specified.
The Shaykh : It becomes specified. So if the relative pronoun is famous for its modifier, it is permissible to recommend it because it is specified, the indefiniteness in it is removed. For this reason, he said:
"And it is recommended to use the relative pronoun with that which is famous *** Like the well of Zamzam, woe to the one who dug it"
The well of Zamzam is mentioned now, but he placed it at the end, because he said:
"Woe to the one who dug it"
So you say: "Woe to the one who dug the well of Zamzam," "Woe to the one who dug the well of Zamzam." This is a relative pronoun, and it is true that we do not know who dug the well of Zamzam, right or not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not specified because it is not known to be specified. But we know that the one who dug the well of Zamzam was 'Abd al-Muttalib. So our saying "Woe to the one who dug the well of Zamzam" is like saying "Woe to 'Abd al-Muttalib," like saying "Woe to 'Abd al-Muttalib." And the reason?
The student: Because it is specified.
The Shaykh : Because it is known and famous, known and famous. Did you understand now?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, if we say: "Woe to the one who crossed the Euphrates river to fight the Persians," "Woe to the one who crossed the Tigris river, I think?"
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : The Tigris river to fight the Persians.
The student: This is indefinite, intended to be specified.
The Shaykh : Is this famous or not famous?
The student: Famous.
The Shaykh : Who is he?
The student: Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas.
The Shaykh : Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas. Is it permissible to recommend it here or not?
The student: It is valid.
The Shaykh : It is permissible.
The student: During his lifetime.
The Shaykh : It is permissible, why? Because it is famous, because it is famous. And we are now speaking only about the form of recommendation (nadba). As for the analysis and prohibition, we know that we do not recommend the dead... Yes.
Meaning: with that which is famous for it. So the relative pronoun that is famous for its modifier is excluded from the indefinite. It is recommended because if it is famous for its modifier, the indefiniteness in it is removed; otherwise, how would it be removed here?
The student: It disappears.
The Shaykh : Okay, the indefiniteness is removed. An example of this is if I say: "Honor the one who concealed the alif," "Honor the one who concealed the alif," and you all conceal it. Is this indefinite or not?
The student: Indefinite.
The Shaykh : Indefinite?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : If I say "Honor the one who concealed the alif," and only one person concealed it?
The student: It is specified.
The Shaykh : It is specified now. It is specified, even though the form is a form of indefiniteness, but it is known that there is only one person, right? Okay, you say: "May Allah reward the one who lit the path for us with good," "May Allah reward the one who lit the path for us with good," and we know that the one who lit the path is so-and-so only, there is no one else. Does it become specified or not?
The student: Specified.
The Shaykh : It becomes specified. So if the relative pronoun is famous for its modifier, it is permissible to recommend it because it is specified, the indefiniteness in it is removed. For this reason, he said:
"And it is recommended to use the relative pronoun with that which is famous *** Like the well of Zamzam, woe to the one who dug it"
The well of Zamzam is mentioned now, but he placed it at the end, because he said:
"Woe to the one who dug it"
So you say: "Woe to the one who dug the well of Zamzam," "Woe to the one who dug the well of Zamzam." This is a relative pronoun, and it is true that we do not know who dug the well of Zamzam, right or not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not specified because it is not known to be specified. But we know that the one who dug the well of Zamzam was 'Abd al-Muttalib. So our saying "Woe to the one who dug the well of Zamzam" is like saying "Woe to 'Abd al-Muttalib," like saying "Woe to 'Abd al-Muttalib." And the reason?
The student: Because it is specified.
The Shaykh : Because it is known and famous, known and famous. Did you understand now?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, if we say: "Woe to the one who crossed the Euphrates river to fight the Persians," "Woe to the one who crossed the Tigris river, I think?"
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : The Tigris river to fight the Persians.
The student: This is indefinite, intended to be specified.
The Shaykh : Is this famous or not famous?
The student: Famous.
The Shaykh : Who is he?
The student: Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas.
The Shaykh : Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas. Is it permissible to recommend it here or not?
The student: It is valid.
The Shaykh : It is permissible.
The student: During his lifetime.
The Shaykh : It is permissible, why? Because it is famous, because it is famous. And we are now speaking only about the form of recommendation (nadba). As for the analysis and prohibition, we know that we do not recommend the dead... Yes.