because it became static and the letter before it carried a kasrah.
As for the word “qāla,” its root form is “qawala”; the wāw was changed into an alif because it was vowelled while the preceding consonant bore a fatḥah. These two verbs are treated as nouns, and their fatḥah has been kept to indicate their original forms. Both are also transmitted with nunation; in that case they function as verbal nouns, and the purpose is to censure the habit of endlessly retailing what people say.
• “Excessive questioning”: this refers first to begging for money from those whom one is not permitted to ask. It likewise covers posing questions about issues that have not yet arisen and for which no research is required, contrived or tricky problems, or asking people for their property simply to amass more of it.
• “Squandering wealth”: Arabic says ḍāʿa al-shayʾ, yaḍīʿu ḍayʿan wa-ḍiyāʿan—“it was lost, destroyed, ruined, or left neglected.” The prohibition, therefore, is against spending wealth on impermissible avenues, leaving it without safeguarding so that it is lost, letting it spoil, or throwing it away when it is small in amount out of arrogance at stooping to pick it up. These are illustrations of the forbidden wastefulness.
What is learned from the ḥadith
- The report contains a number of rulings regarding matters Allah has declared unlawful:
First: “Being undutiful to mothers.” Allah the Exalted says: “Thank Me and your parents—unto Me is the final return.” (31:14) And He says: “We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents.” (46:15)
Al-Bukhārī (5971) and Muslim (2548) narrate from Abū Hurayrah that a man asked, “Messenger of Allah, who has the greatest right to my good companionship?” He replied, “Your mother.” The man asked, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked again, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked a fourth time, “Then who?” He answered, “Your father.”
Al-Bukhārī (2654) and Muslim (87) also record from Abū Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Shall I inform you of the gravest of major sins? Associating partners with Allah, and being undutiful to one’s parents…”