Al-Waadih Fee Usool ul-Fiqh by Muhammad Hussein Abdullah

Al-Kalaam (speech) is letters that have sounds coming out from the furthest part of the throat to the end of the mouth and the lips. There are 28 letters (Huroof) and from these letters the Arabs constructed or composed speech (Kalaam) that contains meaning. It can consist of a letter (harf) like the Harf Al-Jarr ‘Al-Baa’u’ from two letters like ‘Min’ (and ‘Kam’ from three letters like ‘Rajul‘and ‘Ilm’ from four Huroof (letters) like ‘ Samaa’un’ and ‘Dahraja’ and from five letters like ‘Julmood‘ and ‘Isbakara' They did not set or provide an original word that was above 5 letters and words would only increase through adding a letter or two or three upon the original letters of the words (to provide extra meanings). They made these additional letters restricted to ten which are all found within the word ’ (Sa’altumoonihaa) (meaning: You (pl.) asked me it). So for example the word 'ا سْتِصْحا ب ‘ is from the origin of ‘صحب ‘whilst the rest of the letters are an addition to that and not from its root or origin. In respect to the word: ‘افُتِتَاح ‘it is taken from the word ‘ فُتَحَ' whilst the rest of the letters are additional.

1 – Al-Mufrad: It is made up of and consists of one Kalimah (word).

This is divided into: The Harf (preposition), the F’il (verb) and the Ism (noun).

2 – The Murakkab: It is what is made up of or consists of two words or more.

This is divided into a number of types:

A – Al-Murakkab Al-Isnaadiy (Attributing composition): This refers to attributing a matter or thing to another matter or thing like attributing ‘Tool’ (length) to ‘Al-Qalam’ (pen) when you say: Qalam Taweel (A long pen).

The Murakkab Al-Isnaadiy is of two types: Khabar and Inshaa’.

The ‘Khabar’ is the Hukm (judgement) upon a thing or matter with a (particular) meaning from amongst the meanings. This is like what happens in the ‘Jumlah Al-Fi’liyah’ (Verbal sentence) like if you said: ‘Jaa’a Sa’eed’ (Sa’eed came). In this example the coming has been attributed to Sa’eed and it was informed about (i.e. Khabar (news) was provided) within the sentence ‘Jaa’a Sa’eed’.

It is also like what occurs in respect to the Jumlah Al-Ismiyah (Sentence beginning with a noun) like in the statement: ‘Sa’eed Mujtahid’ (Sa’eed is hardworking). Here the Ijtihaad (hard work/diligence) is attributed to Sa’eed in the sentence: ‘Sa’eed Mijtahid’.

As for the Inshaa’, it is the sentence in which the one speaking demands the arising of a matter that is not present (yet). This is like the command (Amr) in the statement: ‘Itaqqi-llah’ (fear Allah) or like the Tarajiy (hope) in the statement: ‘La’alla-llaha ya’tiy Bil-Faraj’ (Hopefully Allah will come with an escape/release/way out i.e. from a trial, hardship etc…). It is also like the question (Su’aal) and the Nidaa’ (calling address) like in the statement: ‘Maadhaa Taf’alu Yaa Muhammad?!’ (What are you doing O Muhammad?!’.

B – Al-Murakkab Al-Mujziy and Al-Idaafiy: This is when it consists of two words or more except that it indicates one single meaning (Madlool) and some have considered this to fall under the category of the ‘Mufrad’ (singular word). So for example, from amongst the names of people there are those which are from the type of the Murakkab Al-Idaafiy like ‘Abdullah’ and ‘Abdur Rahman’ and ‘Zaid ul-Khail’ whilst examples of the Murakkab Al-Mujziy include: Ba’labakk and Jaad ul-Haqq