Nasb-and-the-Nawasib

The author of Ḥirz al-Amānī has alluded to the difference of views in this regard
in the following stanza:
فإبداله من همزة هاء أصلها
وقد قال بعض الناس من أبدل
The Hā’ which is its root letter was changed to a Hamzah. And some have suggested
that it was a waw which was changed to a Hamzah. 1
As for the literal meaning of Āl, it is the family of a person. It also includes his
followers and his associates. 2
Probably the initial meaning of Āl was the family of a person and his relatives.
Thereafter, due to the similarity between the followers and the relatives in terms
of their dependence upon him and his dependence upon them, its purport was
broadened to include his followers as well. 3
Likewise, the root letters A, W, L in all their different forms and conjugations give
one meaning: ‘uniting and gathering’. 4
Furthermore, the word Āl is only used to refer to people of stature and dignity;
hence the bearers of the Qurʾān are known as the Āl of Allah E, and the
household of Nabī H is known as the Āl of Muḥammad H. But
expressions like Āl of the barber or the Āl of the tailor are not used. 5
The Technical Meaning of Āl
The scholars have differed regarding the technical meaning of Āl. The reason for
their difference is the broad meaning of the word in the Arabic language which
includes the household of a person, his relatives, his followers and his associates.
1 Ḥirz al-Amānī p. 29.
2 Maqāyīs al-Lughah p. 95; al-Fāʾiq 1/67; Lisān al-ʿArab 11/31; al-Qāmūs al-Muḥīṭ p. 1245.
3 Khaṣāʾiṣ Āl al-Bayt p. 35.
4 Al-Qawl al-Badīʿ p. 48; Maqāyīs al-Lughah 1/158.
5 Lisān al-ʿArab 11/30; Jilāʾ al-Afhām p. 205; al-Qāmūs al-Muḥīṭ p. 1245; al-Qawl al-Badīʿ p. 191.
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