بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين In the previous lesson, we studied that العالمين is in the جر case because it is مضاف إليه to the previous word, and the مضاف إليه is always in the جر case. Up till now we have said that a word that is مَجْرُور (in the جر case) will express itself with either a kasrah or a kasratayn. However, this is strictly true only for nouns that are singular. Grammatical cases such as the رَفَع (nominative) and the جَرّ (genitive) will express themselves with one of the vowels i.e. a dammah or a kasrah on their last letter when the noun is singular. However, if the noun is either dual or plural, then nouns will express themselves with suffixes other than the three base vowels. In this lesson, we are going to explore the dual and plural nouns. In order to fully understand this topic, we need to introduce the third and final grammatical case of nouns. This is the نَصَب (accusative) case. A noun that is نَصَب will be called مَنْصُوب and it will express itself with a fathah or a fathatayn. I know we haven’t formally come across this grammatical case in the Quran yet, but we need to bring it into this discussion to fully understand this topic. Therefore, we have three grammatical states that nouns can be rendered into: 1. The رَفَع case 2. The نَصَب case 3. The جَرّ case If a noun is rendered into anyone of these grammatical cases, it will express itself with either a dammah in the رفع case, a fathah in the نَصَب case and a kasrah in the جَرّ case. The fathah, dammah or kasrah will be applied to the last letter of the noun. Let’s try this with an example using the word مُسْلِم: 1. The رَفَع case – مسالمٌ (A Muslim) 2. The نَصَب case - مسلمًا (A Muslim) 3. The جَرّ case – مسلمٍ (A Muslim) Ok, so there are two things we need to clarify. I know you’re probably thinking, how comes in the نصب case the noun takes an extra alif in the end? This is because it is part of the script, every time you add a fathatayn, only a fathatayn, to a noun, then you will also add an alif. Just consider the alif as part of the fathatayn. Secondly, you’re probably wondering, how or when is a noun rendered into one of these cases. Well we have already discussed a couple of them. For example, if a noun is in the position of مبتدأ (subject) or خبر (predicate) then it will be in the رفع case; such as in محمدٌ رسولٌ. And if a noun is preceded by a حرف جرّ (genitive particle) or is مضاف إليه then the noun will be in the جرّ case; such as in فِيْ المسجدِ (in the mosque) or قلمُ زيدٍ (the pen of Zaid). We will look at examples of the نَصَب when we come across them in the Quran. Thus, we learn that by placing a noun in a particular grammatical position, it will be rendered into a specific grammatical case, and thus will express itself with a particular vowel, either a dammah, fathah or kasrah. Let’s break this down with some more examples: Now, a noun that is singular will either take a dammah, fathah or kasrah depending on which grammatical case it is rendered into. But, if the noun is either dual or plural, well then, it’s a different story altogether. The dual noun If a noun is dual, and yes in Arabic nouns can be either dual or plural, then it will be suffixed with either of the following two: An alif & a nun preceded by a fathah: ـَانِ – if the noun is in the رفع case. Or, a yaa & a nun preceded by a fathah: ـَيْنِ – if the noun is either in the نصب or جر case. Now let’s try this with the noun مُسْلِم: The رفع case: مسلمَانِ (two Muslims) The نصب or جَرّ case: مسلمَيْنِ (two Muslims) Notice that when a noun is made dual it will no longer express itself with a simple fathah, kasrah or dammah, rather it will express itself with specific letters. Also, note that the meaning doesn’t change if you take one dual over the other. The sound plural noun This noun is called the sound masculine plural in order to differentiate it from the broken plural (الجمع المكسر) which is something we will explore when it pops up in the Quran. If a noun is a sound masculine plural, then it will be suffixed with either of the following two: A waw & a nun preceded by a dammah: ـُوْنَ – if the noun is in the رفع case. Or, a yaa & a nun preceded by a kasrah: ـِيْنِ – if the noun is either in the نصب or جر case. Now let’s try this with the noun مُسْلِم: The رفع case: مسلمُوْنَ (many Muslims) The نصب or جَرّ case: مسلمِيْنِ (many Muslims) The sound feminine plural If a noun is a sound feminine plural, then it will be suffixed with either of the following two: An alif preceded by a fathah and a taa with a dammah/dammatayn: ـَاتٌ – if the noun is in the رفع case. An alif preceded by a fathah and a taa with a kasrah/kasratayn: ـَاتٍ – if the noun is either in the نصب or جر case. Now let’s try this with the noun مُسْلِم: The رفع case: مسلمَاتٌ (many Muslim women) The نصب or جَرّ case: مسلمَاتٍ (many Muslim women) Note, if a feminine noun is made into a sound feminine plural and it has a taa marbuta (ة) then the taa marbuta will be completely dropped and replaced with the ات. For example, the word سَاعَة (clock) will be ساعاتٌ or ساعاتٍ. Memorise the following table as a summary: Now with regards to العَالَمِين. It is مجرور because it is مضاف إليه, and since it is a sound masculine plural noun, it will not take a kasrah, rather it will take the suffix ـِيْنِ.
Finally, we have managed to cover the Arabic grammar of the first verse of Surah al-Fatihah: الحمد لله رب العالمين “All praise is due for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds [1:1].” Hope that was beneficial. May Allah the Exalted accept it from you and I both.
2 Comments
Rehana
21/11/2022 01:31:18 pm
Very helpful for learn Quranic Arabic
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