Kalaam, speech, according to the grammarians is any spoken word which is beneficial.
الكلام لفظٌ مفيدٌ
Kalaam is a spoken word which is beneficial.
Lafz is that which is spoken by man. This negates those things which may be a substitute for it, such as;
- Indication – one may indicate for someone to leave. This is not considered lafz.
- Writing – it is beneficial just as a spoken word is beneficial, but it is not lafz.
Mufeed – that which is beneficial, such that the one being addressed may remain silent upon what has been spoken.
For example if it said;
أذَّنَ المؤذِّنُ
The mua’zzin did azan.
There is no need for any further clarification as to what the sentence means.
However if it was said;
إنْ أذَّنَ المؤذِّنُ
If the mua’zzin did azan…
This is not a complete sentence, and therefore it is not beneficial. The one being addressed will have a question as to what will happen if the mua’zzin does azan. Therefore it will not be correct for the one being adressed to remain silent.
Therefore kalaam is every spoken word which is beneficial.