ʿIllah ni Baa'ith (sababu, kichocheo) cha kutungwa kwa hukmu, ilhali Sabab ni kile kinachoashiria uwepo wa hukmu ndani ya uhalisia. Sabab haihusiani na kutungwa kwa hukmu ili kushughulikia uhalisia.

The ‘Illah is the Baa’ith (reason, motive) for the legislation whilst the Sabab is that which notifies of the presence of the Hukm within the reality. It (the Sabab) is not related to the legislation of the Hukm in order to treat the reality.

Mfano:

Example:

Allah Ta'ala amesema:

Allah Ta’Aalaa said:

Kupungua kwa jua ndiyo sababu ya kuwepo kwa swala ya Dhuhr, na "dulūk" ya jua ni pale linapopungua kutoka katikati ya anga kama ishara ya kutambulisha kuwepo kwa Salaat uzh-Zhohr.

The decline of the sun is the Sabab for the presence of the Zhohr prayer and the ‘Dulook’ of the sun is when it declines from the centre of the sky as a sign to identify the presence of Salaat uzh-Zhohr.

Hii ni kwa sababu ‘Illah ni sababu au kichocheo cha kuwekwa kwa Hukm, lakini si Sabab (chanzo) cha kuwepo kwake katika uhalisia. Kwa mfano, Sabab ya kuwepo kwa Salaat ul-Jumu’ah ni kupinda kwa jua kutoka katikati ya anga, ilhali ‘Al-Ilhaa’ (kuvurugwa kwa akili) ni ‘Illah ya katazo la kufanya biashara wakati wa Swalah.

This is whilst the ‘Illah is the reason or motive for the legislation of the Hukm and it is not a Sabab (cause) for its existence (in the reality). For example, the Sabab for the existence of Salaat ul-Jumu’ah is the decline of the sun from the centre of the sky whilst ‘Al-Ilhaa’’ (distraction) is the ‘Illah for the prohibition of conducting trade at the time of the Salaah.

Kwa hiyo, Sabab ndilo lililoleta swala ya Ijumaa katika uhalisia. Kwa upande wa 'Illah, ndiyo iliyoleta Hukm inayohusiana na swala hiyo katika uhalisia.

Consequently, the Sabab brought Jumu’ah prayer into being. As for the ‘Illah then it brought the Hukm that is related to the prayer into being.

Miongoni mwa maana za ‘As-Sabab’ ni ifuatayo:

From amongst the definitions of ‘As-Sabab’ is the following:

Ni kile kinachofanya kuwepo kwake kulazimu kuwepo kwa (Hukm), na kutokuwepo kwake kulazimu kutokuwepo kwa (Hukm). Kwa hiyo, ikiwa Zawaal (kupinduka kwa jua kutoka kilele chake cha mbinguni) imetokea basi Hukm imetokea (yaani imekuwepo), na ikiwa haijatokea basi (wajibu wa)

It is that which necessitates from its existence the existence (of the Hukm) and necessitates through its absence the absence (of the Hukm). Consequently, if the Zawaal (decline of the sun from the meridian) has taken place then the Hukm has taken place (i.e. come into being) and if it hasn’t occurred then the (obligation of the)

Swala halijatokea.

Salaah has not occurred.