Nahw - The Followers - التوابع

There are numerous instances in Arabic Language where an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ is followed by another ﺍﹺﺳﻢ. The idea is to build sentences like “tall boy“, or “The student has a book and a pen“, or “Zaid and Amr both are sick” etc. In such cases the ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which comes later is called ﺗﹷﺎﺑﹻﻊﹾ (the follower) and the one which it follows is called ﻣﹷﺘﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻉ (the followed one). The ﺇﹺﻋﹿﺮﺍﺏ of ﺗﹷﺎﺑﹻﻊﹾ are in accordance with its ﻣﹷﺘﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻉ

The ﺗﹷﻮﹶﺍﺑﹻﻊ are of 5 kinds:

• ﺻﹻﻔﹿﺖ or the Adjective
• ﻋﹷﻄﹷﻒﹾ or the Conjunction
• ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪ or Emphasis
• ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝ or the Substitution
• ﻋﹷﻄﹿﻒﹺﺑﹷﻴﹷﺎﻥ or the Explanatory Attachment

ﺻﹻﻔﹿﺖ : In Arabic the ﺻﹻﻔﹿﺖ follows its ﻣﹷﻮﺻﹹﻮﻑ and agrees with it in

1. Grammatical State
2. Definitiveness
3. Number
4. Gender

Examples of this kind of structure are ﺭﹶﺟﹹﻞﹲﻛﹷﺮﹺﻳﹿﻢﹲ (a noble man), ﻋﹷﻠﻰٰ ﺻﹻﺮﹶﺍﻃﹴﻣﹹﺴﹿﺘﹷﻘﹻﻴﹿﻢ (upon the right path) or ﺍﻟﻂﳲﺎﻟﹻﺒﹷﺎﻥﹺﻗﹷﺎﺭﹺﺋﹷﺘﹷﺎﻥﹺﻛﹻﺘﹷﺎﺑﹷﻴﹿﻦﹺﻣﹹﻔﹻﻴﹿﺪﹶﻳﹿﻦﹺ (Two students are reading two beneficial books)

ﻋﹷﻄﹷﻒﹾ or the Conjunction, as it is called in English, is used to connect two ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which are in the same ruling. The ﺍﹺﺳﻢ occurring before the ﺣﹷﺮﹾﻑﹺ ﻋﹷﻄﹷﻒﹾ (i.e. the ﻣﹷﺘﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻉ ) is called ﻣﹷﻌﹿﻄﹹﻮﹾﻑ ﻋﹷﻠﹷﻴﻪ and the one following it (i.e. the ﻣﹷﺘﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻉ) is called ﻣﹷﻌﹿﻄﹹﻮﹾﻑ . Some of the commonly used ﺣﹷﺮﹸﻭﻑﹺ ﻋﹷﻄﹷﻒﹾ are:

• ﻭ (and): This is used to join two independent words or sentences e.g.

ﺳﹷﻌﹿﺪﹲ ﻭ ﹶﻋﹷﻠﹻﻰﹲ ﺻﹷﺤﹷﺎﺑﹻﻴﳲﺎﻥﹺ (Sa’ad and Ali are Sahabi). If ﻭ is connecting two sentences and the second one is a ﺟﹹﻤﹿﻠﹷﺔ ﺍﹺﺳﻤﹻﻴﳲﺔ then ﻭ takes on the meaning of while and such a sentence introduced by the ﻭ is called ﺟﹹﻤﹿﻠﹷﺔ ﺣﹷﺎﻟﹻﻴﳲﺔ. For example, ﻗﹷﺎﻡﹶ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ ﻭﹶ ﻫﹹﻮﹶﻳﹷﺒﹿﻜﹻﻲﹾ (Zaid stood up [while] weeping)

• ﻓ (and so, and then, and consequently): This is sometimes used to join words but is more generally used to join sentences where it indicates a development in the narrative. Thus, when joining two clauses, it shows either that the latter is immediately subsequent to the former in time, or that it is connected with it by some internal link, like cause and effect: for example,

ﺗﹷﺮﹾﻣﹻﻴﹿﻬﹻﻢﹾﺑﹻﺤﹻﺠﹷﺎﺭﹶﺓﹴﻣﹻﻦﹾﺳﹻﺠﳴﻴﻞﹾ ﻓﹷﺠﹷﻌﹷﻠﹷﻬﹹﻢﹾ ﻛﹷﻌﹷﺼﹿﻒﹴ ﻣﹷﺎﹾﻛﹹﻮﻝﹾ (Casting against them stones of baked clay, So He rendered them like straw eaten up)

• ﺛﹹﻢﱠ (then): This conjunction is used to imply succession at an interval. E.g.

ﻓﹷﺘﹷﻮﹶﻟﳲﻰٰ ﻓﹻﺮﹾﻋﹷﻮﻥ ﹸ ﻓﹷﺠﹷﻤﹷﻊﹶ ﻛﹷﻴﹿﺪﹶﻩﹸ ﺛﹹﻢﱠ ﺃﹶﺗﻰٰ (Then Pharaoh withdrew and concerted his plan and then came to the place of appointment)

• ﺃﹶﻭﹾ(or): For example:

ﻭﹶ ﻗﺎﻟﹹﻮﹾ ﻟﹷﻦﹾ ﻧﹹﻮﹾﻣﹻﻦﹶ ﻟﹷﻚﹶ ﺣﹷﺘﳲﻰٰ ﺗﹷﻔﹿﺠﹹﺮﹶﻟﹷﻨﺎ ﻣﹻﻦﹶ ﺍﻷﹶﺭﹾﺽﹺ ﻳﹷﻨﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻋﺎﹰ ﺃﹶﻭﹾ ﺗﹷﻜﹹﻮﹾﻥﹶ ﻟﹷﻚﹶ ﺟﹷﻨﳲﺔﹲ (They say, “We will not believe you unless you cause a spring to gush out of the ground or you have a garden…)

• ﺃﹶﻡﹾ (or): This is used in interrogative structures, for example:

ﺃﹶﻡﹾ ﻟﹷﻜﹹﻢﹾ ﺑﹷﺮﹶﺃﺓﹲ ﻓﹷﹻﻰ ﺍﹶﻟﺰﱡﺑﹹﺮﹺ (is there an exemption for you in the scriptures?)

• ﺑﹷﻞﹾ (rather): For example, ﺑﹷﻞﹾ ﻫﹹﻮﹶ ﻛﹷﺬﱠﺍﺏﹲ ﺃﹶﺷﹻﺮ (rather he is an insolent liar)

ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪ This class of ﺗﹷﻮﹶﺍﺑﹻﻊ is used for the purposes of emphasis either by using certain specific words or by employing repitition . It is subdivided in two sub-classes:

1. ﺍﹶﻟﺘﳲﻮﹾﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪﹸﺍﻟﹿﻤﹷﻌﹿﻨﹷﻮﹺﻯﹲ : There are certain words in the Arabic Language that are used to strengthen the idea of totality or self already contained in the ﻣﹷﺘﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻉ . These are grouped together under the sub-class of ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪ called ﺍﹶﻟﺘﳲﻮﹾﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪﹸﺍﻟﹿﻤﹷﻌﹿﻨﹷﻮﹺﻯﹲ i.e. corroboration in meaning. Some examples of these words are ﻛﹹﻞﹲ or ﺟﹷﻤﹻﻴﹿﻊﹲ or ﻧﹷﻔﹿﺲﹲ. For example: ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻮﹶﺯﹺﻳﹿﺮﹸ ﺫﹶﺍﻫﹻﺐﹲ ﻧﹷﻔﹿﺴﹹﻪﹸ (The minister himself is going) or
   ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ ﻭﹶﺑﹷﻜﹿﺮﹲ ﻛﹻﻼﹶﻫﹹﻤﹷﺎ ﻣﹷﺮﹺﻳﹿﻀﹷﺎﻥﹺ (Zaid and Bakr both are sick). Note that, to use ﺍﹶﻟﺘﳲﻮﹾﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪﹸﺍﻟﹿﻤﹷﻌﹿﻨﹷﻮﹺﻯﹲ , you have to use the corresponding pronoun with the ﺗﹷﺎﺑﹻﻊﹾ
2. ﺍﹶﻟﺘﳲﻮﹾﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪﹸ ﺍﻟﻠﳲﻔﹿﻆﹻﻰﹲ : The other sub-class of ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪ is called ﺍﹶﻟﺘﳲﻮﹾﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪﹸ ﺍﻟﻠﳲﻔﹿﻆﹻﻰﹲ i.e. the verbal corroboration, which consists of repitition by means of words. For example: ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻌﹻﻠﹿﻢﹸ ﻧﹷﺎﻓﹻﻊﹲ ﻧﹷﺎﻓﹻﻊﹲ (Knowledge is beneficial, beneficial) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻚﹶ ﺑﹻﻚﹶ (I passed by you, by you)

ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝ is the kind of ﺗﹷﺎﺑﹻﻊﹾ before which another ﺍﹺﺳﻢ is used merely to introduce the ﺗﹷﺎﺑﹻﻊﹾ. For example:ﺃﹶﺧﹹﻮﹾ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹴ ﺣﹷﺴﹷﻦﹲ ﺣﹷﺎﺿﹻﺮﹲ (Zaid’s brother, Hassan, is here). Here ﺣﹷﺴﹷﻦ, the ﺗﹷﺎﺑﹻﻊﹾ, is called ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝ andﺃﹶﺧﹹﻮﹾ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹴ, the ﻣﹷﺘﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻉ, is called ﻣﹹﺒﹿﺪﹶﻝﹾ ﻣﹻﻨﹿﻪﹸ. There are four kinds of ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝ :

1. ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝﹸ ﺍﻟﹿﻜﹹﻞﱢ where both the ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝ and the ﻣﹹﺒﹿﺪﹶﻝﹾ ﻣﹻﻨﹿﻪﹸ denote the same ﺍﹺﺳﻢ. For example:
   ﺟﹷﺂﻧﹻﻰ ﻗﹷﻮﹾﻡﹸ ﺍﻟﹿﻤﹷﺪﹺﻳﹿﻨﹷﺔﹺ ﻛﹹﺒﹿﺮﹶﺁﻭﹸﻫﹹﻢﹾ ﻭﹶ ﺿﹹﻌﹷﻔﹷﺂﻭﹸﻫﹹﻢﹾ (The people of the city, the great and the small, came to me)
2. ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝﹸ ﺍﻟﹿﺒﹷﻌﹿﺾﹺ or the substitution of the part for the whole. For example: ﺿﹷﺮﹶﺑﹿﺖﹸ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﺍﹰ ﺭﹶﺃﺳﹷﻪﹸ (I hit Zaid, on his head) or ﺃﹶﻛﹷﻠﹿﺖﹸﺍﻟﺮﱠﻏﹻﻴﹿﻒﹶ ﺛﹹﻠﹹﺜﹷﻪﹸ (I ate the loaf, the third part of it)
3. ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝﹸﺍﻻﹺﺷﹿﺘﹻﻤﹷﺎﻝﹾ where the ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝ is not part of the ﻣﹹﺒﹿﺪﹶﻝﹾ ﻣﹻﻨﹿﻪﹸ but is rather related to it. For example,
   ﺃﹶﻋﹿﺠﹷﺒﹷﻨﹻﻰ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ ﻋﹻﻠﹿﻤﹹﻪﹸ (Zaid, his learning filled me with surprise) or ﻓﹻﻰ ﻳﹷﺪﹺ ﺍﻟﹿﻄﳲﺎﻟﹻﺐﹺ ﺍﻟﹿﻜﹻﺘﹷﺎﺏﹸ ﻏﹻﻼﹶﻓﹹﻪﹸ (The student has the book cover in his hand)
4. ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝﹸ ﺍﻟﹿﻐﹷﻠﹷﻄﹾ is the ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝ which is mentioned after an error. For example,
   ﺇﹺﺷﹿﺘﹷﺮﹶﻳﹿﺖﹸ ﻓﹷﺮﹶﺳﹷﺎﹰ ﺣﹻﻤﹷﺎﺭﺍﹰ (I bought a horse - no, a donkey)

Note that in both ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝﹸ ﺍﻟﹿﺒﹷﻌﹿﺾﹺ and ﺑﹷﺪﹶﻝﹸﺍﻻﹺﺷﹿﺘﹻﻤﹷﺎﻝﹾ a pronoun has to be brought in with the ﻣﹹﺒﹿﺪﹶﻝﹾ ﻣﹻﻨﹿﻪﹸ

ﻋﹷﻄﹿﻒﹺﺑﹷﻴﹷﺎﻥ is the ﺗﹷﺎﺑﹻﻊﹾ which is used to more clearly define its ﻣﹷﺘﹿﺒﹹﻮﹾﻉ. For example,

ﺟﹷﻌﹷﻞﹶ ﺍﻟﻠﳲﻪﹸ ﻛﹷﻌﹿﺒﹷﺔﹶ ﺍﻟﹿﺒﹷﻴﹿﺖﹶ ﺍﻟﹿﺤﹷﺮﹶﺍﻡﹶ (Allah has ordained Ka’ba - the Sacred House - as sanctified) or

ﻳﹹﻮﹾﻗﹷﺪﹸ ﻣﹻﻦﹾ ﺷﹷﺠﹷﺮﹶﺓﹴ ﻣﹹﺒﹷﺎﺭﹶﻛﹷﺔﹴ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺘﹹﻮﹾﻧﹷﺔﹴ ([which] is lighted [with oil of] a blessed tree, an olive)

This wraps up our discussion of ﺗﹷﻮﹶﺍﺑﹻﻊ . Hopefully, this post will be helpful for those planning to delve a little deep into the technicalities of Classical Arabic Grammar, Insha Allah.

Nahw - Let us hit a hitting or rejoice a rejoicing - المَفعُول المُطلق

In the Arabic Language a verb may take its ﻣﹷﺼﹿﺪﹶﺭ to express:

1. Emphasis or magnification of action
2. Manner of action
3. Number of times the action occurred

Note: The ﻣﹷﺼﹿﺪﹶﺭ (also known as the verbal noun) is a word that indicates the occurrence of an action and is free of tense e.g.ﻧﹷﺼﹿﺮﹲ (to assist)

The ﻣﹷﺼﹿﺪﹶﺭ, when used as such, is known as ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹷﻔﹿﻌﹹﻮﻝ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹹﻄﹿﻠﹷﻖﹾ (or the absolute object) and is always in the state of ﻧﺼﺐ.

An example of first kind of ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹷﻔﹿﻌﹹﻮﻝ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹹﻄﹿﻠﹷﻖﹾ is ﺍﹺﺫﺍ ﺭﹸﺟﳲﺖﹺﺍﻻﹶﺭﹾﺽﹸ ﺭﹶﺟﳲﺎﹰ (when the earth will be shaken with a shaking) i.e. shaken violently. Here the verb shake is being emphasized. This structure is also called ﺍﹶﻟﺘﳲﺎﻛﹻﻴﹿﺪ. For still greater emphasis the ﻣﹷﺼﹿﺪﹶﺭ may be reproduced a third time e.g. ﺇﹺﺫﺍ ﺩﹸﻛﳲﺖﹺﺍﻻﹶﺭﹾﺽﹸ ﺩﹶﻛﳲﴼ ﺩﹶﻛﳲﴼ (when the earth will be crushed a crushing, crushing)

The second kind of ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹷﻔﹿﻌﹹﻮﻝ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹹﻄﹿﻠﹷﻖﹾ can be exemplified by the sentence

ﺟﹷﻠﹷﺴﹿﺖﹸ ﺟﹻﻠﹿﺴﹷﺔﹶ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻘﹷﺎﺭﹺﻯﹾ (I sat like a Qari would sit) where the manner of sitting is being described. This structure is also called ﺍﹶﻟﻨﳲﻮﹾﻉ

Finally the third kind of ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹷﻔﹿﻌﹹﻮﻝ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹹﻄﹿﻠﹷﻖﹾ can be depicted by the phrase ﺩﹶﻗﳲﺖﹺﺍﻟﺴﳲﺎﻋﹷﺔﹸ ﺩﹶﻗﳲﺘﹷﻴﹿﻦﹺ (the clock struck two strikings) i.e. the clock struck twice. This structure is also called ﺍﹶﻟﺘﳲﻤﹻﻴﹿﺬﹾ

Sometimes the adjective alone is expressed and the ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹷﻔﹿﻌﹹﻮﻝ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹹﻄﹿﻠﹷﻖﹾ is understood e.g. ﺿﹷﺮﹶﺏﹶ ﺷﹷﺪﹺﻳﹿﺪﺍﹰ (he struck violently) which was actually ﺿﹷﺮﹶﺏﹶ ﺿﹷﺮﹾﺑﹷﴼ ﺷﹷﺪﹺﻳﹿﺪﺍﹰ.

Some very interesting usage of the ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹷﻔﹿﻌﹹﻮﻝ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹹﻄﹿﻠﹷﻖﹾ can be seen in everyday phrases like ﺳﹷﻌﹿﺪﹶﻳﹿﻚﹶ which was originally ﺍﹸﺳﹿﻌﹻﺪﹸﻙﹶ ﺍﹺﺳﹿﻌﹷﺎﺩﹶﻳﹿﻦ (I am here to help) i.e. I am here to help not one, but two times. Similarly, ﻣﹷﻌﹷﺎﺫﹶ ﺍﹶﻟﻠﹽٰﻪﹺ was originally ﺃﹶﻋﹹﻮﺫﹸ ﻣﹷﻌﹷﺎﺫﹶ ﺍﹶﻟﻠﹽٰﻪﹺ (I seek the refuge of Allah) i.e. Allah forbid!. Another example of this usage is ﺧﹷﻴﹿﺮﹶ ﻣﹷﻘﹿﺪﹶﻡﹴ which was actually ﻗﹷﺪﹺﻣﹿﺖﹶ ﻗﹹﺪﹸﻭﻣﹷﴼ ﺧﹷﻴﹿﺮﹶ ﻣﹷﻘﹿﺪﹶﻡﹴ (you came a blessed coming) i.e. Welcome!

Insha Allah this introduction to the concept of ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹷﻔﹿﻌﹹﻮﻝ ﺍﹶﻟﹿﻤﹹﻄﹿﻠﹷﻖﹾ will go a long way in helping the students of Classical Arabic towards a better understanding of Arabic Grammar.

Nahw - The concept of حال and ذُوالحال

The concept of ﺣﹷﺎﻝ in ﻧﹷﺤﹿﻮ is used to answer the question “How” or “in what condition”. Thus, ﺣﹷﺎﻝ is the adjective which describes the state of the ﻓﺎﻋﹻﻞ or ﻣﻔﻌﻮﻝ or both. It is always in the state of ﻧﺼﺐ . Additionally, the one being described by the condition is called ﺫﹸﻭﺍﻟﹿﺤﹷﺎﻝ .

Some examples of this kind of structure are:

• ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ ﺭﹶﺍﻛﹻﺒﹷﺎﹰ (Zaid came riding) Here ﺭﹶﺍﻛﹻﺒﹷﺎﹰ is ﺣﹷﺎﻝ for ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ which is the ﻓﺎﻋﹻﻞ
• ﺟﹻﺌﹿﺖﹸ ﺯﻳﹿﺪﺍﹰ ﻧﹷﺎﺋﹻﻤﺎﹰ (I came to Zaid while he was sleeping). Here the word ﻧﹷﺎﺋﹻﻤﺎﹰ is the ﺣﹷﺎﻝ for the ﻣﻔﻌﻮﻝ , which is ﺯﻳﹿﺪﺍﹰ
• ﻛﹷﻠﳲﻤﹿﺖﹸ ﺯﻳﹿﺪﺍﹰ ﺟﺎﻟﹻﺴﹷﻴﹿﻦﹺ (I talked to Zaid while we were both sitting). Here the word ﺟﺎﻟﹻﺴﹷﻴﹿﻦﹺ is the ﺣﹷﺎﻝ for both the ﻓﺎﻋﹻﻞ and the ﻣﻔﻌﻮﻝ

Notes on the usage of ﺣﹷﺎﻝ and ﺫﹸﻭﺍﻟﹿﺤﹷﺎﻝ

It is essential to have a connector between the ﺣﹷﺎﻝ and the ﺫﹸﻭﺍﻟﹿﺤﹷﺎﻝ. Sometimes this connector is depicted by using a ﻭ and at other times it is simply the ﺿﹷﻤﹻﻴﺮﹾ hidden within the verb. For example, we can say ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ ﻳﹷﻀﹿﺤﹷﻚﹸ or

 ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ ﻭﹶ ﻫﹹﻮﹶ ﻳﹷﻀﹿﺤﹷﻚﹸ . In both the cases it means Zaid came laughing. However, the first sentence is the case where the connector is the hidden ﻫﹹﻮﹶ inside the verb whereas in the second sentence the connector is apparent.

ﺣﹷﺎﻝ has to be ﻧﹷﻜﹻﺮﻩ, it cannot be ﻣﻌﹿﺮﹺﻓﻪ. On the other hand, even though ﺫﹸﻭﺍﻟﹿﺤﹷﺎﻝ is usually ﻣﻌﹿﺮﹺﻓﻪ but if it has to come as ﻧﹷﻜﹻﺮﻩ then the structure has to change and the ﺣﹷﺎﻝ has to come beofre the ﺫﹸﻭﺍﻟﹿﺤﹷﺎﻝ i.e.

 ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶﻧﻲﹾ ﺭﹶﺍﻛﹻﺒﹷﺎﹰ ﺭﹶﺟﹹﻞﹲ (a man came to me riding).

Also, ﺣﹷﺎﻝ can be a sentence as well: If it is a ﺟﹹﻤﻠﻪ ﺍﹺﺳﻤﹻﻴﳲﻪ then a ﻭ is added to give the meaning of condition e.g.

 ﻻﹶ ﺗﹷﻘﹿﺮﹶﺑﹹﻮﹾﺍ ﺍﻟﺼﳲﻠٰﻮﺓﹶ ﻭﹶ ﺍﹶﻧﹿﺘﹹﻢﹾ ﺳﹹﻜٰﺮﻯٰ (Do not come near the prayers when you are intoxicated); if it is a ﺟﹹﻤﻠﺔ ﻓﹻﻌﹿﻠﹻﻴﹽﺔ and the ﻓﹻﻌﹿﻞ is in ﻣﹷﺎﺿﹻﻰ then a ﻗﹷﺪﹾ has to appear before the ﻓﹻﻌﹿﻞ e.g. ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶ ﺯﹶﻳﹿﺪﹲ ﻭﹶ ﻗﹷﺪﹾ ﺧﹷﺮﹶﺝﹶﻏﹹﻼﹶﻣﹹﻪﹸ (Zaid came while his servant went)

Hopefully this very brief introduction to the concept of ﺣﹷﺎﻝ will be sufficient for the students of Classical Arabic as a starting point, Insha Allah.

Nahw - Methods of reflection for the مُضارع verb

We have already learned that an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ can have three grammatical states which will determine whether it is the subject or object in a sentence or whether it exists in a possessive structure. At that time we had also learned that the verb also experiences three grammatical states, the first two being ﺭﻓﻊ and ﻧﺼﺐ and the third one being ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ. Also, we know that it is only the ﻣﹹﻀﺎﺭﹺﻉ which experiences these states, the ﻣﺎﺿﻰ being ﻣﹷﺒﹿﻨﻰ on either ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ or ﺳﹹﻜﹹﻮﻥ or ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ

Note the following for ﻣﺎﺿﻰ and ﺍﻣﹷﺮ :

• 3^rd conjugation of ﻣﺎﺿﻰ is ﻣﹷﺒﹿﻨﻰ on ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ ; the 4 ﻣﺎﺿﻰ conjugations (1,2,4, and 5) are ﻣﹷﺒﹿﻨﻰ on ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ; and the rest are ﻣﹷﺒﹿﻨﻰ on ﺳﹹﻜﹹﻮﻥ
• ﺍﻣﹷﺮ is ﻣﹷﺒﹿﻨﻰ on the sign of ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ
  • For singular conjugations this sign is ﺳﹹﻜﹹﻮﻥ e.g. ﺍﹺﻓﹿﻌﹷﻞﹾ (You do!)
  • For dual conjugations this sign is denoted by the omission of ﻥ e.g. ﺍﹺﻓﹿﻌﹷﻼﹶ (You [two males] do!)

It is interesting to note that a verb can never become subject or object in a sentence; it describes the actions being done by or upon an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ but never does an action itself and is never acted upon. Thus, the concept of grammatical states for a verb is quite different from that for an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ. In this post, Insha Allah, I will try to explain what exactly is meant by the grammatical states of a verb and how this concept is useful in the Arabic Language.

As with ﺍﹺﺳﻢ, the goal of having grammatical states for verbs is to remove confusion, but in a different sense. For ﺍﹺﺳﻢ confusion will occur if do not know which one is subject and which one is object and the process of ﺇﹺﻋﹿﺮﺍﺏ is used to remove this confusion. For a verb the change in grammatical state will change the description of the action: in one state the action may be negated and restricted to future tense (as is the case with لن ); in another state the action will be negated and also rendered to the past tense (as is the case with لم ). Also, there is the case where the grammatical states will determine which actions are allowed and which are not in sentences where two or more verbs come one after the other. In such a situation, grammatical state of a verb may turn the final meaning of the sentence into one depicting :

• ﻧﹷﻬﻰ from doing both actions
• ﻧﹷﻬﻰ from doing first action only
• ﻧﹷﻬﻰ from gathering both actions wherein doing each action separately is permissible

As an example of this, consider the following sentence:

ﻻ ﺗﹷﺸﹿﺮﹶﺏﹺﺍﻟﳲﺒﹷﻦﹶ ﻭﹶ ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹹﻞﹺﺍﻟﺴﳲﻤﹷﻚﹶ (Don’t drink milk and don’t eat fish)

The first and second verbs are both in the state of ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ because of ﻻ and this sentence is an example of one which gives the not doing both meaning i.e. Don’t ever drink milk and eat fish.

However, look at the same sentence with a slight variation:
ﻻ ﺗﹷﺸﹿﺮﹶﺏﹺﺍﻟﳲﺒﹷﻦﹶ ﻭﹶ ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹹﻞﹶ ﺍﻟﺴﳲﻤﹷﻚﹶ (Don’t drink milk while eating fish).

Notice the change of ﺇﹺﻋﹿﺮﺍﺏ on ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹹﻞ: The first verb, ﺗﹷﺸﹿﺮﹶﺏ, is still in the state of ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ , whereas the second verb, ﺗﹷﺎﻛﹹﻞ, is now in the state of ﻧﺼﺐ , and the meaning changes entirely in this case. The following table details out the different combinations for the scenario where two verbs occur in the same sentence:

Grammatical state of first verb	Grammatical state of second verb	Meaning
ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ	ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ	Prohibition from both actions i.e. don’t do either
ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ	ﺭﻓﻊ	Prohibition from first action but permission for second action
ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ	ﻧﺼﺐ	Prohibition from first action while the second action is being done

After having established the importance of grammatical states for the ﻣﹹﻀﺎﺭﹺﻉ verb we will now go into more details and see how each grammatical state is reflected on different conjugations.

Out of the 14 conjugations for the ﻣﹹﻀﺎﺭﹺﻉ , the two feminine plurals are not considered since these are ﻣﹷﺒﹿﻨﻰ : their ending is ﻥﹶ (i.e. ﻥ with a ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ) which is a pronoun and it never changes e.g. ﻳﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹿﻦﹶ or ﻟﹷﻢ ﻳﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹿﻦﹶ or ﻟﹷﻦﹾ ﻳﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹿﻦﹶ

The rest of the 12, which are معرب, are broken up into:

• Group of 5 verbs which look the same and all are singulars except one (conjugations 1, 4,7,13, and 14). These 5 could have:
  • regular last letter e.g. ﻳﹷﻨﹿﺼﹹﺮﹸ or ﻳﹷﻀﹿﺮﹺﺏﹸ , in which case the verb is called ﻣﹹﻔﹿﺮﹺﺩ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ
  • a ﻭ as last letter e.g. ﻳﹷﺪﹾﻋﹹﻮﹾ , in which case it is called ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﻭﺍﻭﻯ
  • a ﻱ as last letter e.g. ﻳﹷﺮﹾﻣﹻﻰ , in which case it is called ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﻳﺎﻱ
  • an ﺍ as last letter e.g. ﻳﹷﺮﹾﺿﻰٰ , in which case it is called ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﺍﻟﹿﻔﻰ

• Group of 7 which have a ﻥ at its end (the 4 duals and conjugations 3, 9, and 10)
  • ﻳﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻼﹶﻥﹺ
  • ﻳﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹹﻮﻥﹶ
  • ﺗﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻼﹶﻥﹺ , which occurs 3 times
  • ﺗﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹻﻴﻦﹶ
  • ﺗﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹹﻮﻥﹶ

The following table details out the method of reflection for these categories:

Type of Verb	ﺭﻓﻊ	ﻧﺼﺐ	ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ
ﻣﹹﻔﹿﺮﹺﺩ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ	ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ	ﺳﹹﻜﹹﻮﻥ
ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﻭﺍﻭﻯ or ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﻳﺎﻱ	Assumed ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	Real ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ	Drop of ﻻﻡ position
ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﺍﻟﹿﻔﻰ	Assumed ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	Assumed ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ	Drop of ﻻﻡ position
Group of 7	Presence of ﻥ	Omission of ﻥ	Omission of ﻥ

Examples of ﻣﹹﻔﹿﺮﹺﺩ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ :

1. ﻳﹷﻨﹿﺼﹹﺮﹸ (he helps) for ﺭﻓﻊ
2. ﻟﹷﻦﹾ ﻳﹷﻨﹿﺼﹹﺮﹶ (he will never help) for ﻧﺼﺐ
3. ﻟﹷﻢ ﻳﹷﻨﹿﺼﹹﺮﹾ (he did not help) for ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ

 Examples of ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﻳﺎﻱ or ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﻭﺍﻭﻯ :
ﻳﹷﻐﹿﺰﹸﻭﹾ ﻭﹶ ﻳﹷﺮﹾﻣﹻﻰ (he fights and he throws) for ﺭﻓﻊ - Assumed ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ
ﻟﹷﻦﹾ ﻳﹷﻐﹿﺰﹸﻭﹶ ﻭﹶ ﻳﹷﺮﹾﻣﹻﻰﹶ (he will never fight and never throw) for ﻧﺼﺐ - Real ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ

ﻟﹷﻢ ﻳﹷﻐﹿﺰﹸ ﻭﹶ ﻟﹷﻢ ﻳﹷﺮﹾﻡﹺ (he did not fight and he did not throw) for ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ - Drop of ﻻﻡ position

Examples of ﻧﹷﺎﻗﹻﺺﹾ ﺍﻟﹿﻔﻰ :

ﻳﹷﺮﹾﺿﻰٰ for ﺭﻓﻊ - (Assumed ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ)

ﻟﹷﻦﹾ ﻳﹷﺮﹾﺿﻰٰ for ﻧﺼﺐ - (Assumed ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ)
ﻟﹷﻢ ﻳﹷﺮﹾﺽﹶ for ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ - (Drop of ﻻﻡ position)

Examples of Group of 7 with ﻥ:

ﻳﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹹﻮﻥﹶ, ﻳﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻼﹶﻥﹺ, ﺗﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹻﻴﻦﹶ for ﺭﻓﻊ - (Presence of ﻥ )

ﻟﹷﻦﹾ ﺗﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻼﹶ (you will never do) for ﻧﺼﺐ - ( Omission of ﻥ )
ﻟﹷﻢﹾ ﺗﹷﻔﹿﻌﹷﻠﹹﻮﹾﺍ (you did not do) for ﺟﹷﺰﹶﻡﹾ - ( Omission of ﻥ )

Hopefully this brief introduction to the grammatical states of verbs in the Arabic Language will be sufficient as the first stepping stone for the students of Nahw, Insha Allah.

Nahw - Methods of reflection of an اِسم

Up until now we have learned that an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which is ﻣﹹﻌﺮﹶﺏ will show its grammatical states using a ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ for ﺭﻓﻊ, a ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ for ﻧﺼﺐ , or a ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ for ﺟﺮ (or the corresponding ﺗﹷﻨﻮﹺﻳﻦ). However, there are situations in Arabic Language where it is not possible to show the grammatical states using either of these three methods. As an example take a look at :

1. ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﻣﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ Musa came
2. ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﻣﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ I saw Musa
3. ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻤﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ I passed by Musa

In the first sentence ﻣﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ is the subject (i.e. in the state of ﺭﻓﻊ), in the second it is the object (i.e the state of ﻧﺼﺐ) , and in the third it is in the state of ﺟﺮ because of the ﺣﹷﺮﹾﻑ , i.e. ﺑﹻ , in front of it. Yet, in none of the examples the grammatical states are shown using the usual signs of a ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ , or a ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ , or a ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ. This is because the noun ﻣﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ is incapable of showing these signs. This leads us to the fact that variations can occur in the way grammatical states are reflected on an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ . For our purposes we will divide ﺍﹺﺳﻢ in 16 different categories and will see how each category will show its grammatical state in its own unique way. These 16 categories and their corresponding methods of reflection are listed in the table below and each category is then further explained in detail with examples. You can also click on any category to jump to its explanation:

#	Type of ﺍﹺﺳﻢ	ﺭﻓﻊ	ﻧﺼﺐ	ﺟﺮ
1	ﻣﹹﻔﹿﺮﹺﺩ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ	ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ	ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ
2	ﻣﹹﻔﹿﺮﹺﺩ ﻗﹷﺎﺋﻢ ﻣﻘﹷﺎﻡ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ	ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ	ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ
3	ﺟﹷﻤﹿﻊ ﻣﹹﻜﺴﳲﺮ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ	ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ	ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ
4	ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﻮﻧﹷﺚ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ	ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ	ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ
5	ﻏﹷﻴﺮ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ	ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ	ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ	ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ
6	6 Special Nouns	ﻭ	ﺍ	ﻯ
7	ﺍﻟﹿﻤﹹﺜﹷﻨﹽٰﻰ	ﺍ	ﻯ	ﻯ
8	ﻛﹻﻼ ﻭ ﻛﹻﻠﹿﺘﺎ	ﺍ	ﻯ	ﻯ
9	ﺍﹺﺛﹿﻨﹷﺎﻥﹺ ﻭ ﺍﹺﺛﹿﻨﹷﺘﹷﺎﻥﹺ	ﺍ	ﻯ	ﻯ
10	ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ	ﻭ	ﻯ	ﻯ
11	All exceptions which do not fall in under the definition of ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ but are reflected in the same manner	ﻭ	ﻯ	ﻯ
12	ﻋﹻﺸﹿﺮﹸﻭﻥﹶ  to ﺗﹻﺴﹿﻌﹹﻮﻥﹶ i.e. multiple of 10 up to 90	ﻭ	ﻯ	ﻯ
13	ﺍﹺﺳﻢ ﻣﹷﻘﹿﺼﹹﻮﺭ	Assumed	Assumed	Assumed
14	Any ﺍﹺﺳﻢ other than ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ which is مضاف towards ﻯ	Assumed	Assumed	Assumed
15	ﺍﹺﺳﻢ ﻣﹷﻨﹿﻘﹹﻮﺹ	Assumed	Explicit	Assumed
16	ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ which is مضاف towards ﻯ	Assumed  ﻭ	Explicit ﻯ	Explicit ﻯ

Category 1: (ﻣﹹﻔﹿﺮﹺﺩ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ) This category can be titled in English as Singular-Fully Declinable - No Weak Letters. This is the category which we had discussed earlier as the one which shows its grammatical states in the usual manner. Examples:

• ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﺯﹶﻳﺪﹲ (Zaid came)
• ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺯﹶﻳﺪﺍﹰ (I saw Zaid)
• ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﺰﹶﻳﺪﹴ (I passed by Zaid)

Category 2: (ﻣﹹﻔﹿﺮﹺﺩ ﻗﹷﺎﺋﻢ ﻣﻘﹷﺎﻡ ﺻﺤﻴﺢ) This category consists of any ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which ends in a ﻭ or ﻯ preceded by a ﺳﹹﻜﹹﻮﻥ, e.g. ﺩﹶﻟﹿﻮﹲ (a bucket) or ﻇﹷﺒﹿﻲﹲ (a deer). Examples:

• ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﻇﹷﺒﹿﻲﹲ (a deer came)
• ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﻇﹷﺒﹿﻲﹰ (I saw a deer)
• ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻈﹷﺒﹿﻲﹴ (I passed by a deer)

Category 3: (ﺟﹷﻤﹿﻊ ﻣﹹﻜﺴﳲﺮ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ) or the Fully Declinable Broken Plural. As the name implies, this category consists of the declinable broken plural. Examples:

• ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﺭﹺﺟﹷﺎﻝﹲ (A man came)
• ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺭﹺﺟﹷﺎﻻﹰ (I saw a man)
• ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﺮﹺﺟﹷﺎﻝﹴ (I passed by a man)

Category 4: (ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﻮﻧﹷﺚ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ) or The Sound Feminine Plural. This has already been taken care of here. I will repeat the examples, though:

• ﺟﺎﺀﹶﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﹹﺴﻠﹻﻤﺎﺕﹸ (The Muslim women came)
• ﺭﹶﺍﻳﺖﹸ ﺍﻟﻤﹹﺴﻠﹻﻤﺎﺕﹺ (I saw the Muslim women )
• ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﺎﻟﹿﻤﹹﺴﻠﹻﻤﺎﺕﹺ (I passed by the Muslim women)

Category 5: (ﻏﹷﻴﺮ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ). This is an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which contains either 2 of the 9 causes of change-restriction or 1 powerful cause which stands in the place of 2 causes. Some of the salient points regarding this category are:

• This category never gets a ﺗﹷﻨﻮﹺﻳﻦ or a ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ
• All feminine names fall into this category
• Most masculine names are not in this category, except those ending in a ﺓ
• Names rhyming with ﺍﹶﻓﹿﻌﹷﻞﹾ fall in this category
• Adjectives rhyming with ﺍﹶﻓﹿﻌﹷﻞﹾ (e.g. the colors) fall in this category

Below, I list the 9 reasons, the presence of which (either two reasons or one powerful one) can cause an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ to become ﻏﹷﻴﺮ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ:

1. Transgression: A word leaves it original pattern and adopts a new one because of excessive usage. An example of this is the name ﻋﹹﻤﹷﺮ which used to be ﻋﹷﺎﻣﹻﺮ but left its pattern to become ﻋﹹﻤﹷﺮ
2. Be an adjective: This is a property which needs to exist within the medium of a body and cannot exist without it. Thus, this has to be a quality like beautiful or lazy. Examples will include colors like ﺍﹶﺣﻤﹷﺮ (red) or ﺍﹶﺳﹿﻮﹶﺩ (black)
3. Be feminine: The following four reasons cause am ﺍﹺﺳﻢ to be feminine:
   • if there is a ﺓ at the end. Note that even though ﻃﹷﻠﹿﺤﺔ is a man’s name, yet the word is feminine since it has a ﺓ at its end
   • if there is an ﺍﹶﻟﹻﻒ ﻣﹷﻘﹿﺼﹹﻮﺭﺓ i.e. final ﺍﹶﻟﹻﻒ not followed by a ﺀ , for example: ﺣﹹﺒﹿﻠﻰٰ (pregnant) or ﻛﹹﺒﺮﻯٰ(the big one). This is a powerful reason so it alone will cause an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ to become ﻏﹷﻴﺮ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ
   • if there is an ﺍﹶﻟﹻﻒ ﻣﹷﻤﹿﺪﹸﻭﺩﺓ i.e. final ﺍﹶﻟﹻﻒ followed by a ﺀ , for example: ﻋﹹﻠﹷﻤﹷﺄﹸ (men of knowledge) or ﺑﹷﻴﹿﻀﺄﹸ (the white one). This is a powerful reason so it alone will cause an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ to become ﻏﹷﻴﺮ ﻣﹹﻨﹿﺼﹷﺮﹺﻑ
   • if it is an understood feminine for example, ﺯﹶﻳﻨﹷﺐ ,which is the name of a girl
4. Be a name
5. Be plural
6. Be of foreign origin like ﺍﹺﺑﹿﺮﺍﻫﹻﻴﻢ or ﺍﹺﺳﹿﺤﹷﺎﻕ or ﻳﹷﻌﹿﻘﹹﻮﺏ
7. Be compound (two words linking together to become a name) like ﺣﹷﻀﹿﺮﹶﻣﹷﻮﺕ , which is a place in Yemen, or ﺳﹻﺒﹷﻮﹶﻳﻪ who was an Arabic grammarian
8. Be on the pattern of a verb. For example, ﺍﹶﻛﹿﺒﹷﺮ or ﺍﹶﺣﹿﻤﹷﺪ , both of which are on the pattern of ﺍﹶﻓﹿﻌﹷﻞﹾ
9. Extra ﺍ and ﻥ at the end. Examples are ﻋﹹﺜﹿﻤﹷﺎﻥ or ﻧﹹﻌﹿﻤﹷﺎﻥ. Thus, in Hadith literature we will see ﻋﹷﻦﹾ ﻋﹹﺜﹿﻤﹷﺎﻥﹶ ﺍﺑﹿﻦﹺ with a ﻓﹷﺘﹿﺤﺔ on ﻋﹹﺜﹿﻤﹷﺎﻥ although there is a preposition, ﻋﹷﻦﹾ , in front of it

Category 6: This category is composed of 6 special nouns

1. ﺍﹶﺏﹲ (a father)
2. ﺍﹶﺥﹲ (a brother)
3. ﺣﹷﻢﹲ (a father-in-law)
4. ﻓﹷﻢﹲ (a mouth)
5. ﻫﹷﻦﹲ (a thing)
6. ﺫﹸﻭ (a possessor). This is always followed by a noun

These will show their grammatical states according to type 6 under the conditions that they have to be singular (dual will be dealt with in category 7 and plural has already been dealt with in category 3) and they cannot be مضاف towards ﻯ (which case will be dealt with in category 16).

Some examples are: ﺫﹶﻫﹷﺐﹶ ﺃﹶﺧﹹﻮ ﻣﹷﺎﺟﹻﺪﹴ (Majid’s brother went) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺃﹶﺧﹷﺎ ﻣﹷﺎﺟﹻﺪﹴ (I saw Majid’s brother) orﺫﹶﻫﹷﺒﹿﺖﹸ ﻣﹷﻊﹶ ﺃﹶﺧﻲ ﻣﹷﺎﺟﹻﺪﹴ (I went with Majid’s brother). Examples using ﺫﹸﻭ would be:ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﺫﹸﻭ ﻣﹷﺎﻝﹴ (a possessor of wealth came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺫﺍ ﻣﹷﺎﻝﹴ (I saw a possessor of wealth) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﺬﻯ ﻣﹷﺎﻝﹴ (I passed by a possessor of wealth) or ﻭﹶ ﻓﹷﻮﻕﹶ ﻛﹹﻞﱢ ﺫﹺﻯ ﻋﹻﻠﹿﻢﹴ ﻋﹷﻠﻴﻢ (above every possessor of knowledge is the All Knowing)

Category 7: This deals with ﺍﻟﹿﻤﹹﺜﹷﻨﹽٰﻰ or the dual. This is an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ to the end of which is attached either an ﺍ and a ﻥ or a ﻱ and a ﻥ to indicate that with it is another like it. An example would be ﻛﹷﺘﹷﺐ ﺍﻟﹿﺮﱡﺟﹹﻼﹶﻥﹺ ﻣﹷﻜﹿﺘﹹﻮﺑﹷﻴﻦﹺ ﺇﻟﻰٰ ﺍﻟﹿﻤﹷﺮﹾﺃﺗﹷﻴﻦﹺ(the two men wrote two letters to the two women)
There are some other words in the Arabic Language which are treated like duals e.g. ﺍﹶﺑﹷﻮﺍﻥﹺ meaning father and mother or ﻗﹷﻤﹷﺮﹶﺍﻥﹺ meaning moon and sun (and not two fathers or two moons) which follow the same method of reflection as this category

Category 8: This includes two words ﻛﹻﻼ and ﻛﹻﻠﹿﺘﺎ meaning both (masculine and feminine, respectively). Examples are : ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﺭﹶﺟﹹﻼﹶﻥﹺﻛﹻﻼﹶﻫﹹﻤﺎ (both men came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺭﹶﺟﹹﻠﹷﻴﻦﹺﻛﹻﻠﻴﹿﻬﹻﻤﹷﺎ (I saw both men) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﺮﺟﹹﻠﹷﻴﻦﹺ ﻛﹻﻠﻴﹿﻬﹻﻤﹷﺎ (I passed by both men)

Category 9: This includes ﺍﹺﺛﹿﻨﹷﺎﻥﹺ and ﺍﹺﺛﹿﻨﹷﺘﹷﺎﻥﹺ which means two (masculine and feminine, respectively). For example:ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﺍﹺﺛﹿﻨﹷﺎﻥﹺ (two [masculine objects] came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺍﹺﺛﹿﻨﻴﹿﻦﹺ (I saw two [masculine objects]) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﺎﺛﹿﻨﻴﹿﻦﹺ (I passed by two [masculine objects])

Category 10: The Sound Masculine Plural or ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ has already been dealt with here. I will give the usual examples, though: ﺟﺎﺀﹶ ﺍﻟﹿﻤﹹﺴﻠﹻﻤﹹﻮﻥﹶ (The Muslim men came) or ﺭﹶﺍﻳﺖﹸ ﺍﻟﹿﻤﹹﺴﻠﹻﻤﹻﻴﻦﹶ (I saw the Muslim men) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﺎﺍﻟﹿﻤﹹﺴﻠﹻﻤﹻﻴﻦﹶ (I passed by the Muslim men)

Category 11: This category consists of those ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which are reflected the same way as Category 10 but do not fall under the ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ category. Examples of such ﺍﹺﺳﻢ are ﺍﹸﻭﻟﹹﻮﹾ and its sisters. The reflection of this category is shown by the following examples:ﻫﹹﻢﹾ ﺃﹸﻭﻟﹹﻮ ﺍﻷﻟﹿﺒﹷﺎﺏﹺ (They are people of intelligence) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺃﹸﻭﻟﹻﻲ ﺍﻷﻟﹿﺒﹷﺎﺏﹺ ﻋﹻﻨﹿﺪﹶ ﺃﹸﻭﻟﹻﻲ ﺍﻷﻟﹿﺒﹷﺎﺏﹺ (I saw the people of intelligence by the people of intelligence). Other words which fall in this category are ﺍﻫﹿﻞﹲ (people of) and ﻋﹻﻠﳴﻴﻴﻦ (the highest places)

Category 12: This category constitutes multiples of 10 starting from 20 and going up to 90 (ﻋﹻﺸﹿﺮﹸﻭﻥﹶ toﺗﹻﺴﹿﻌﹹﻮﻥﹶ ) and are reflected using the same method as Category 10 and 11. Examples:ﺟﺎﺀﹶ ﻋﹻﺸﹿﺮﹸﻭﻥﹶ ﺭﹶﺟﹹﻼﹰ (twenty men came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﻋﹻﺸﹿﺮﹺﻳﻦﹶ ﺭﹶﺟﹹﻼﹰ (I saw twenty men) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻌﹻﺸﹿﺮﹺﻳﻦﹶ ﺭﹶﺟﹹﻼﹰ (I passed by twenty men)

Category 13: This category consists of ﺍﹺﺳﻢ of the form ﻣﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ or ﻋﹻﻴﺴﻰٰ i.e. an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ having an ﺍﹶﻟﹻﻒ ﻣﹷﻘﹿﺼﹹﻮﺭﹶﺓ at its end. Such ﺍﹺﺳﻢ are incapable of showing any ﺇﹺﻋﹿﺮﹶﺍﺏ and thus they are categorized as having assumed reflection. Examples are:

ﺟﹷﺎﺀ ﻣﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ (Musa came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﻣﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ (I saw Musa) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻤﹹﻮﺳﻰٰ (I passed by Musa). Antoher set of examples would be: ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶ ﻋﹷﺼﺎﹰ (a staff came) or  ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﻋﹷﺼﺎﹰ  (I saw a staff) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻌﹷﺼﺎﹰ (I passed by a staff)

Category 14: This category consists of ﺍﹺﺳﻢ other than ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ i.e. sound masculine plural, which is مضاف towards ﻯ of first person, for example,  ﻏﹹﻼﹶﻣﹻﻲﹾ (my servant) or ﺑﹷﻴﹿﺘﹻﻲﹾ (my house). Examples in this categories will be:ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶ ﻏﹹﻼﹶﻣﹻﻲﹾ (my servant came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﻏﹹﻼﹶﻣﹻﻲﹾ (I saw my servant) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻐﹹﻼﹶﻣﹻﻲﹾ (I passed by my servant)

Category 15: This category consists of ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which are called ﺍﹺﺳﻢ ﻣﹷﻨﹿﻘﹹﻮﺹ i.e. they have a ﻱ preceded by a  ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ at their end. Only the state of ﻧﺼﺐ is reflected on them; the other two are assumed. Examples are: ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶﺍﻟﹿﻘﹷﺎﺿﹻﻲﹾ (The Judge came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﺍﻟﹿﻘﹷﺎﺿﹻﻲﹶ (I saw the Judge) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﺎﻟﹿﻘﹷﺎﺿﹻﻲﹾ (I passed by the Judge)

Category 16: This category consists of ﺍﹺﺳﻢ which are ﺟﹷﻤﻊ ﻣﹹﺬﹶﻛﳲﺮ ﺳﹷﺎﻟﹻﻢ and are مضاف towards ﻯ of first person. An example would be ﻣﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﹻﻲﱠ (my muslims). For the ﺭﻓﻊ case this was originally ﻣﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﻮﹸﻰﹶ but the ﻭ becomes ﺳﹷﺎﻛﹻﻦﹾ since it is appearing with a ﻯ. In the second step the ﻭ is changed to a ﻯ giving us ﻣﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﹹﻴﻰﹶ and the ﺿﹷﻤﳲﺔ is changed to ﻛﹷﺴﹿﺮﹶﺓ ( for pronunciation reasons) to give us ﻣﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﹻﻲﱠ. However, the originals for the ﻧﺼﺐ  and ﺟﺮ case were already ﻣﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﹻﻲﱠ. The set of examples in this category, then,  would be:ﺟﹷﺎﺀﹶ ﻣﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﹻﻲﱠ (my Muslims came) or ﺭﹶﺍﺋﻴﺖﹸ ﻣﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﹻﻲﱠ (I saw my Muslims) or ﻣﹷﺮﹶﺭﹾﺕﹸ ﺑﹻﻤﹹﺴﹿﻠﹻﻤﹻﻲﱠ (I passed by my Muslims)

I hope this detailed introduction to methods of reflection for an ﺍﹺﺳﻢ will go a long way towards understanding this key concept in Arabic Language, Insha Allah.