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Sarf in Short
Sarf in Short
in
Short
بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم
الصرف
(b) االسِم
ْ ص ْرف
َ (Morphology of the Noun) and
1
(c) ًاالسِم َمعا ِ
ْ ص ْرف ا ْلف ْع ِل َو
َ (Morphology of the Verb and Noun together), also
called "شتََرك
ْ الص ْرف ا ْل ُم
َّ " (Shared Morphology i.e. the Morphology common
to the Verb and Noun).
2
ص ْرف ا ْل ِف ْع ِل
َ
(c) the presence or absence of َح ُرف ِعلَّ ٍة ْ ( أweak letters, namely: the ا ْل َواو,
the األَِلفand the ) ا ْل َياءamong the root letters
(6) The first perspective: the time of the occurrence of the action
3
(b) اع ّي ِ الرب ِ
َ ُّ (quadriliteral), which is a ف ْعلcomprising four root letters, like: "
"د ْح َر َج
َ (rolled)
(NB! For more details see the Appendix 1 at the end of the book)
(8) The third perspective: the presence or absence of َح ُرف ِعلَّ ٍة ْ ( أweak
letters, namely: the ا ْل َواو, the األَِلفand the ) ا ْل َياءamong the root
letters
(a) الص ِح ْيحَّ (sound / strong), which is a ِف ْعلwhose root letters are free from
َح ُرف ِعلَّ ٍة
ْ ( أweak letters), and consists of three types:
4
(ii) اعف
َ ض َ الص ِح ْيح ا ْل ُم
َ ا ْل ُم/ ض َّعف َّ (doubled strong), which is a ص ِح ْيح َ that has two
identical root letters, like: "َّ"مد َ (extended, lengthened), ""ز ْل َز َل
َ (quaked,
shook), etc.
(b) ( ا ْل ُم ْعتَ ّلweak), which is a ِف ْعلwhose root form constitutes at least one of
the three َح ُرف ا ْل ِعلَّ ِة
ْ أand comprises four types:
(i) ( ا ْل ِمثَالquasi-sound), which is a ُم ْعتَ ّلwhose first root letter is a َح ْرف ِعلَّ ٍة
(weak letter), like: "ص َل َ "و
َ (reached, arrived), "س َ "ي ِب
َ (was dried), etc.
ْ ( األhollow), which is a ُم ْعتَ ّلwhose second root letter is a َح ْرف ِعلَّ ٍة,
(ii) َج َوف
like: "( "قَا َلsaid), "اع
َ "ب
َ (sold), etc.
(iv) ( اللَّ ِف ْيفtwo-folded), which is a ُم ْعتَ ّلwhose first and third root letters or
second and third root letters are from the َح ُرف ا ْل ِعلَّ ِة ْ أ, like: ""وقَى
َ (protected,
safeguarded), ""و َعى
َ (comprehended, fathomed), "( " َن َوىintended), ""ر َوى
َ
(reported, narrated), etc.
(a) ( الالَّ ِزمintransitive), which is a ِف ْعلwhose action is confined to the اعل ِ َا ْلف
(doer / subject of a verbal sentence) and not transferred directly onto a
( َم ْف ُع ْول ِب ِهdirect object), like: "( "فَ ِر َحwas happy), "س
َ َ"جل
َ (sat), etc.
(b) ِّي ِ
ْ ( ا ْل ُمتَ َعدtransitive), which is a ف ْعلwhose action is not confined to the
ِ َ ا ْلفbut is transferred directly onto a م ْفعول ِب ِه, and further comprises
اعل ُْ َ
three types:
5
(i) اح ٍد
ِ ( ا ْلمتَعدِّي إِلَى م ْفعو ٍل وtransitive to one direct object only i.e. singly
َ ُْ َ ْ َ ُ
transitive), like: " " َكتَ َبin for example: "سالَ َة
َ الر
ِّ ( " َكتَ َب َز ْي ٌدZayd wrote the
letter),
ِ َ( ا ْلمتَعدِّي إِلَى ثَالَثَ ِة مفtransitive to three direct objects, i.e. triply
(iii) اع ْي َل َ ْ َ ُ
transitive), like: "َعلَ َم ْ "أin for example: "ًَعلَ َم َعِل ٌّي َز ْيداً َخ ِالداً َك ِر ْيما
ْ ( "أAli informed
ِ
Zayd that Khalid is noble / generous), and " "أ ََرىin " سأَلَ َة ْ س الطَّال َب ا ْل َم
ُ أ ََرى ا ْل ُم َدِّر
"س ْهلَ ًة
َ (The teacher made the student see the problem as being easy)
Some scholars add a third category, namely: that which is neither الَ ِزم
nor ُمتَ َع ٍّد, and comprises verbs such as "ان
َ " َكand its sisters and "اد
َ " َكand
its sisters.
ِ َا ْلف
(10) The fifth perspective: the presence or absence of the اعل
(doer / subject of the verbal sentence)
(a) صِّرف
َ َ( ا ْل ُمتflexible), which is of two types:
ِ ا ْلم
اض ْي ِض
ارع َ ا ْل ُم األ َْمر Meaning
َ
َكتَ َب ب
ُ َُي ْكت اُ ْكتُ ْب to write, record
ضَر َب
َ ُ ض ِر
ب ْ َي ض ِر ْبْ ِا To hit, beat, strike
ِ ا ْلم
اض ْي ِض
ارع َ ا ْل ُم األ َْمر Meaning
َ
اد
َ َك اد
ُ َي َك to be on the verge, almost,
nearly
ال
َ (ما) َز
َ (ما) َي َزا ُل
َ
to continue
ِ ا ْلم
اض ْي ِض
ارع َ ا ْل ُم األ َْمر Meaning
َ
س
َ لَ ْي
not
سى
َ َع
hopefully
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(12) The seventh perspective: intensification or non-intensification
(a) ( ا ْل ُم َؤ َّكدcorroborated), which is a ِف ْعلthat has either the ُن ْون التَّْو ِك ْي ِد الثَّ ِق ْيلَة
(emphatic الن ْون ُّ of corroboration) or the ( ُن ْون التَّْو ِك ْي ِد ا ْل َخ ِف ْيفَةnon-emphatic الن ْون
ُّ
of corroboration) suffixed to it.
(b) ( َغ ْير ا ْل ُم َؤ َّك ِدnon-corroborated), which is a ِف ْعلthat does not have the
ُن ْون التَّْو ِك ْي ِد الثَّ ِق ْيلَةor the W ُن ْون التَّْو ِك ْي ِد ا ْل َخ ِف ْيفَةsuffixed to it.
In the case of the األ َْمرthe suffixing of the ُن ْون التَّْو ِك ْي ِدis optional, like: "اع ُب َد َّن
ْ َو
َّك
َ "رب
َ [Worship your Lord (in the emphatic sense)], "َّك َ اع ُب ْد َرب
ْ [ " َوWorship
your Lord (in the non-emphatic sense)], etc.
ِض
In the case of the ارع َ ا ْل ُمthe suffixing of the ُن ْون التَّْو ِك ْي ِدis either:
(i) necessary, which is when the ارع ِض َ ا ْل ُمdenotes the future and is in the
affirmative in an oath construction with the سِم َ َ الالم( الَم ا ْلقof oath) not being
separated from it, like: "ام ِة ِ ِ
َ ( " َواهلل لَ ُن ْب َعثَ َّن َي ْو َم ا ْلق َيBy Allah! We will be raised on
the Day of Resurrection), ﴿ام ُك ْم ِ ِ
َ َص َنْ ( ﴾تَاهلل أَل َك ْي َد َّن أBy Allah! I will play a trick on
your idols), or
ِض
(iii) often, which is when the ارع َ ا ْل ُمis preceded by an طلَ ٍب َ ( أ ََداةparticle of
request such as command, prohibition, supplication, gentle or urgent
request, wishing, inquiring), like: ﴿افالً َع َّما َي ْع َم ُل الظَّ ِال ُم ْو َن
ِ ( ﴾والَ تَ ْحسب َّن اهلل َغDo not
َ ََ َ
think that Allah is unmindful of what the wrongdoers are doing)
(iv) rare, which is when the ارع ِضَ ا ْل ُمis preceded by the negative "َ "الor the
additional ""ما َّ ظلَ ُم ْوا ِم ْن ُك ْم َخ
َ , like: ﴿اص ًة َ ص ْي َب َّن الَِّذ ْي َن
ِ ُ ِفتْ َن ًة الَ تW( ﴾واتَّقُواAnd guard
ْ َ
8
yourselves against a severe punishment which will not only afflict the
wrongdoers …)
(v) very rare, which is when the ارع ِض ٍ أ ََداة ج َز
َ ا ْل ُمis preceded by " "لَ ْمor an اء َ
(conditional word) other than "( "إِ َّماand it makes no difference whether it
َّ or الش ْر ِط
is in the position the الش ْرط َّ ) َج َوابand is found mostly in poetry,
like:
ِش
اف ْي َ أ ََبداً َوقَ ْت ُل َب ِن ْي قُتَ ْي َب َة * ِ م ْن تَثْقَفَ ْن ِم ْنهم َفلَ ْيس ِب
آئ ٍب َ ُْ َ
Whosoever you find of them will not return - ever - and killing
Banu Qutaybah is a healing
(vi) disallowed, which is when one of the conditions for the necessary
corroboration is violated, like: "اهلل الَ ي ْفِل ُح الظَّ ِال ُم ْو َن
ِ ( "وBy Allah! The
َ
wrongdoers will not be successful)
االسِم
ْ ص ْرف
َ
(13) االسِم
ْ ص ْرف
َ investigates the االسم
ْ also from seven perspectives:
(e) number
(f) diminution
The االسم
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:
9
(a) ( ا ْل ُم َج َّردnaked or divested), which is an اسم
ْ divested and stripped of
any additional letters and comprises three types:
ِ الرب
(ii) اع ّي ِ
َ ُّ ( ا ْل ُم َج َّردquadriliteral naked), like: ""ج ْعفَر
َ (Ja’far, brooklet), ""د ْر َهم
(dirham), etc.
10
The Increased / Augmented Root Form Additional Letter(s)
Form
Triliteral
Root
ِ َ( فsomeone understanding)
اهم فَ ْهم the األلف
ض ُر ْوب
ْ ( َمbeaten, coined) ض ْرب
َ the الميمand الواو
س ِهل
ْ َستْ ( ُمsomeone finding س ْهل
َ the السين, الميمand التاء
something easy)
س ِت ْخ َراج ِ
ْ ( اextracting, taking out) خرج the , السين, همزة الوصل
التاءand األلف
Quadriliter
al Root
( ُم َد ْح ِرجsomeone rolling َد ْح َرج the الميم
something)
( ُمتَ َد ْح ِرجsomething being rolled) َد ْح َرج the الميمand التاء
( ِا ْح ِر ْن َجامgathering, assembling) َح ْر َجم the النون, همزة الوصل,
and األلف
Quinquelite
ral Root
س ِب ْيل
َ س ْل
َ (the of a well in Jannah) سَبل
َ س ْل
َ the الياء
( َز ْي َزفُ ْونjujube, linden tree) َز ْي َزفَن the الواو
( َز ْن َج ِب ْيلginger) َز ْن َجَبل the الياء
The االسم
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:
ِ الذ
(i) ات َّ اسمor ( اسم ا ْلع ْي ِنconcrete noun), which is an اسمthat is not only non-
ْ َ ْ ْ
derivative but also none of the derived nouns is derived from it, and
refers to an entity or essence the nature of which is that it can be
11
qualified and described by highlighting a quality or attribute in it, like: "
"ر ُجل
َ (man), "( "فََرسhorse, mare), and
(b) ق
ّ َشت
ْ ( ا ْل ُمderivative), which is an اسم
ْ that is formed from the ص َدر
ْ ا ْل َمon a
specific pattern or patterns to indicate the particular manner in which the
quality, state or action is related to someone or something (i.e. a vague
entity or essence), and comprises seven types:
12
indicated by the ص َدرْ ا ْل َمand is not confined to any particular tense but
rather stretches from the past into the continuous present, like: ""ج ِم ْي ٌل
َ
(beautiful), "س ٌن
َ "ح
َ (good), "( "أ َْب َيضwhite), "ض َبان
ْ ( " َغangry), etc.
(vii) اسم اآللَ ِة ْ (noun of tool or instrument), which is an ق ّ َشتْ اسم ُم
ْ formed from
the ص َدر ِ ِ ِ
ْ ا ْل َمon the patterns of " "م ْف َعلَة, " "م ْف َعلor " "م ْف َعالto indicate the tool or
instrument with which the action indicated by the ص َدر ْ ا ْل َمis accomplished,
ِ (file), ""م ْك َنسة
like: ""م ْب َرد ِ (broom), ""م ْفتَاح ِ (key), etc.
َ
The االسم
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:
13
having been used as ُم َؤ َّنثby the ancient Arabs it has acquired the status
of ُم َؤ َّنث, like: "ش ْمس
َ " (sun), "( "أ َْرضearth), ""ع ْين
َ (eye, spring), etc.
ِ
(iii) يّ ( لَ ْفظ ّي َو َم ْع َن ِوfeminine in both form and meaning), which is an اسم ْ that
is ُم َؤ َّنثin both form and meaning, like: "اط َمة ِ َ( "فFatimah), "( "س ْلمىSalma), "
َ َ
َس َماء
ْ ( "أAsma), etc.
(ii) the األَِلف, which is either ص ْو َرة ُ ( َم ْقshortened), like: "س َنى
ْ "ح
ُ (Husna), "
"س ْل َمى
َ (Salma), etc. or ( َم ْم ُد ْو َدةlengthened), like: "س َناءْ "ح
َ (Hasna), "َس َماء
ْ "أ
(Asma), etc.
14
(17) The fourth perspective: the type of ending
The االسم
ْ from this perspective is divided into five categories:
(a) ( ا ْل َم ْنقُ ْوصdefective), which is any declinable اسم ْ that terminates in a َياء
preceded by a س َرة ِ ِ
ْ ( َكi.e. "-ِ"ي
ْ ), like: "( "ا ْلقَاض ْيthe judge), "( "ا ْل َماض ْيthe past),
etc.
(b) ص ْور ِ
ُ ( ا ْل َم ْقshortened), which is any declinable اسم ْ that terminates in an أَل
( فwhether it is written as an actual أَِلفor a dot-less ) َياءpreceded by a
( فَتْ َحةi.e. "-َ "اor "-َ)"ى, like: "صا
َ ( "ا ْل َعstick), "( "ا ْلفَتَىthe young lad), etc.
The االسم
ْ from this perspective is divided into three categories:
(b) ( ا ْل ُمثََّنىdual), which is any اسم ْ that denotes two masculine or feminine
objects by suffixing the األَِلفand الن ْون ُّ (i.e. "-َ"ان
ِ in the case of الرفْع َّ ) or the
ُّ
ا ْل َياءand الن ْون (i.e. "-َ"ي ِن
ْ in the case of صب َّ and ) ا ْل َج ّرto the singular
ْ الن
form, like:
الس ِالم
َّ ( َج ْمع ا ْل ُم َذ َّك ِرsound masculine plural), which is any اسمْ that denotes
three or more males by suffixing the ا ْل َواوand الن ْون ُّ (i.e. "-ُ"و َن
ْ in the
case of الرفْع ُّ (i.e. "-ِ"ي َن
َّ ) or the ا ْل َياءand الن ْون ْ in the case of صب َّ and ا ْل َج ّر
ْ الن
), like:
ط ِال ِب ْي َن
َ – ط ِال ُب ْو َن
َ
الس ِالم
َّ ( َج ْمع ا ْل ُم َؤ َّن ِثsound feminine plural), which is any اسم
ْ that denotes
three or more females by suffixing the األَِلفand ( التَّاءi.e. "-َ"ات ٌٍ ) to the
singular form after dropping the ( تَاء التَّأ ِْن ْي ِث ا ْل ُمتَ َحِّر َكةvowelled التَّاءof
ٌٍ ط ِال َب
femininity), like: "ات َ " (three or more female students)
(ii) ( َج ْمع التَّ ْك ِس ْي ِرbroken plural), which is when the singular form changes
when forming the plural form and which in turn comprises two types:
( ُج ُم ْوع ا ْل ِقلَّ ِةplurals of paucity), which are plural forms that denote three
to ten objects and comprise four forms:
( ُج ُم ْوع ا ْل َكثَْر ِةplurals of multitude), which are plural forms that denote
eleven to an infinite number of objects, and comprise the following
forms:
16
"سفُن"
ُ "س ِف ْي َنةٌ" (ships) (sing.
) َ فُ ُعل
ش ْهب"
"ُ ش َهب" (gray) (sing.
) "أَ ْ فُ ْعل
"ب َغاة"
ُ اغ" (tyrants, oppressors) (sing.
"ب ٍ
) َ
فُ َعلَة
"ص َور"
ُ "ص ْو َرة" (pictures, images) (sing.
) ُ فُ َعل
ضى"
"م ْر َ "م ِر ْي ٌ
ض" َ (sick people, patients) (sing. ) َ
فَ ْعلَى
" ُقلُ ْوب" ب" (hearts) (sing.
) " َق ْل ٌ فُ ُع ْول
" ِب َحار" "ب ْحٌر" (seas) (sing.
) َ
ِف َعال
"ع َبر"ِ ) ِ
"ع ْب َرةٌ" (lessons) (sing. ِف َعل
"غ ْل َمان" ِ ) " ُغالَ ٌم" (young lads, servants) (sing.
ِف ْعالَن
ش ِق َياء""أَ ْ ش ِق ٌّي" (wretched, villain) (sing.
)"َ
أَف ِْعالَء
"ع َملة" ) "ع ِ
ام ٌل" (workers, labourers) (sing. فَ َعلَة
َ َ
"قُطَّاع" ) "قَ ِ
اطعٌ" (people severing or cutting) (sing. فُ َّعال
ض َبان"
"قُ ْ ب" (sticks, branches) (sing. ِ
) " َقض ْي ٌ
فُ ْعالَن
"فَيلَة"ِ ) ِ
"ف ْيلَةٌ" (elephants) (sing.
ِف َعلَة
"علَ َماء"
ُ "ع ِال ٌم" (scholars, learned people) (sing.
) َ
فُ َعالَء
ش َّرد"
"ُ شِ
ار ٌد" (fugitive, stray, defectors) (sing. )"َ فُ َّعل
"در ِ
اهم" "د ْر َه ٌم" (dirhams) (sing. ) ِ فَ َع ِالل
ََ
"د َن ِان ْير"
َ ) ِ
"د ْي َن ٌار" (dinars) (sing. فَ َعالَ ْيل
17
In the grey ships the tyrants are images of sick-hearted people
while the seas are lessons
Their children work for the wretched, cutting off branches
because the elephants
And the scholars are astray and the final of their plurals ends
finishes in the seventeenth (position)
NB! In the final analysis the division of the َج ْمع التَّ ْك ِس ْي ِرinto َج ْمع ا ْل ِقلَّ ِةand َج ْمع
ا ْل َكثَْر ِةis not a crucial one as the two types of plural are often
interchangeable, such that there is no hard-and-fast rule stating that the
one has to be used rather than the other. Often just one of the two types
exist per noun in which case it can be used for either type.
The االسم
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:
(a) ص َّغر
َ ( ا ْل ُمdiminutive), which is any اسم
ْ that denotes the diminutive of the
original االسم ْ from which it is formed, and comprises three forms:
18
(20) The seventh perspective: relation
The االسم
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:
ِ ِ
"يّ ص ِر ْ ( "مEgyptian) from "صر ْ ( "مEgypt),
"سالَ ِم ّي ْ ِ( "إIslamic) from "سالَم ِ (Islam),
ْ "اإل
َ (Meccan) from ""م َّكة
""م ِّك ّي َ (Mecca),
""م َد ِن ّي ِ
َ (Medinan, civil, municipal, urban) from "( "ا ْل َمد ْي َنةMedina, city), etc.
19
شتََرك
ْ الص ْرف ا ْل ُم
َّ
(a) When two identical letters meet and the first of them is unvowelled
and the second vowelled, then the first is assimilated into the second
becoming one emphatic letter, like:
"ٌّ"مد
َ which was originally ""م ْد ٌد
َ on the pattern of " "فَ ْع ٌل, the first of the two
( الدَّاالَ ِنi.e. two Dals) is assimilated into the second becoming "ٌّ"مد
َ .
(b) When two vowelled identical letters meet in one word and they are
preceded by another vowelled letter, then the first of them is first
unvowelled and then assimilated into the second becoming one
emphatic letter, like:
"َّ"مد
َ which was originally ""م َد َد
َ on the pattern of " "فَ َع َل, the first of the two
( الدَّاالَ ِنi.e. two Dals) is then unvowelled becoming ""م ْد َد
َ and then
assimilated into the second becoming "َّ"مد
َ .
(c) When two vowelled identical letters meet in one word and they are
preceded by an unvowelled letter, then the first of them is first
unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the preceding unvowelled letter
and then assimilated into the second becoming one emphatic letter, like:
"ُّ"ي ُمد
َ which was originally ""ي ْم ُد ُد
َ on the pattern of ""ي ْف ُع ُل
َ , the first of the two
( الدَّاالَ ِنi.e. two Dals) is unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the
preceding unvowelled ا ْل ِم ْيمbecoming ""ي ُم ْد ُد
َ and then assimilated into the
second الدَّالbecoming "ُّ"ي ُمد َ .
20
(d) When two identical letters meet and the first of them is vowelled and
the second unvowelled and they are preceded by an unvowelled, then it
is optional for the first of the two identical letters to be unvowelled by
transferring its vowel to the preceding unvowelled letter, such that two
unvowelled letters meet and to escape the meeting of two unvowelled
letters the second of them is vowelled either with:
a س َرة ْ ( َكdue to it being the primary ا ْل َح َر َكةused for the meeting of two
unvowelled letters),
( فَتْ َحةdue to it being the lightest of the three ) ا ْل َح َر َكات, or
the ا ْل َح َر َكةcorresponding the previous ا ْل َح َر َكة, like:
" "لَ ْم َي ُم َّد, "ِّ "لَ ْم َي ُمدor " "لَ ْم َي ُم ُّدwhich was originally " "لَ ْم َي ْم ُد ْدon the pattern of " لَ ْم
َ , the first of the two الدَّاالَ ِنis optionally unvowelled by transferring its
"ي ْف ُع ْل
vowel to the preceding unvowelled ا ْل ِم ْيمbecoming " "لَ ْم َي ُم ْد ْدand then the
two unvowelled الدَّاالَ ِنmeet and to escape their meeting the second is
vowelled either with a فَتْ َحة, س َرة
ْ َكor the َّمة
َّ الضwhich is the ا ْل َح َر َكةthat
َّ الضon the preceding ا ْل ِم ْيم, thus becoming either " لَ ْم
corresponds to the َّمة
"لَ ْم َي ُم َّد, "ِّ " َي ُمدor " "لَ ْم َي ُم ُّد.
(e) When the second of two identical letters has the ْع ا ْل ُمتَ َحِّرك َّ ض ِم ْير
ِ الرف َ (i.e.
َُWَِ "فَ َع ْلand " ) "فَ َع ْل َناsuffixed to it, then
" "فَ َع ْل َن, " "فَ َع ْلتُ َّن, " "فَ َع ْلتُ ْم, " "فَ َع ْلتُ َما, "ُت
assimilation of the first into second is disallowed, like: " , ""م َد ْدتُ َما َ , "ُت ََُWِ َم َد ْد
"م َد ْد َن
َ , ""م َد ْدتُ َّن
َ , ""م َد ْدتُ ْم
َ " and ""م َد ْد َنا
َ .
21
dropping the weak letter, like: " " ُق ْلin which the ا ْل َواوwas dropped due
to the meeting of two unvowelled letters as the original form was ""اُق ُْو ْل
, and then the ا ْل َواوwas unvowelled by transferring the َّمةَّ الضto the
preceding unvowelled ا ْلقَافbecoming ""اُقُ ْو ْلand the result is that the
ص ِل
ْ َه ْم َزة ا ْل َوis dropped and two unvowelled letters meet, namely: the
unvowelled ا ْل َواوand the unvowelled الالَّم, and to escape this meeting
the weak letter which is the unvowelled ا ْل َواوis dropped, thus
becoming " " ُق ْل.
ِ :
The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to اإل ْعالَل
(a) When the ا ْل َواوor ا ْل َياءis vowelled and preceded by a letter bearing a
فَتْ َحة, it is transformed into an ( أَِلفand it does not matter whether the األَِلف
is written as one or as a dot-less ) َياء, like: ""د َعا َ which was originally "
"د َع َو,
َ and " "قَا َلwhich was originally " " َق َو َلor ""ر َمىwhich
َ was originally ""ر َم َي
َ
and "اع
َ "ب َ which was originally ""ب َي َع َ , all of which are on the pattern of ""فَ َع َل
but because the ا ْل َواوand ا ْل َياءis vowelled and preceded by a letter
bearing a فَتْ َحة, they were transformed into an أَِلف. The original form of
the األَِلفcan be determined from the ارع َ ا ْل ِف ْعل ا ْل ُمand/or the ص َدر
ِض ْ ا ْل َم, for
example:
(b) When the ا ْل َواوis unvowelled and occurs after a س َرة ْ َك, it is
ِ which was originally ""موعاد
transformed into a َياء, like: ""م ْي َعاد ِ ِ
َ ْ , and ""م ْيَزان
which was originally ""م ْو َزان ِ , but because the ا ْلواوin each case is
َ
unvowelled and occurs after a س َرة ْ َك, it is transformed into a َياء. The
original form of the ا ْل َياءcan be determined from the اض ْي ِ ا ْل ِفعل ا ْلمand/or the
َ ْ
ص َدر
ْ ا ْل َم, for example:
22
"ً" َو َز َن" – َ"ي ِز ُن" – َ"و ْزنا
(c) When the ا ْل َياءis unvowelled and occurs after a ض َّمة َ , it is transformed
into a َواو, like: ""ي ْو ِق ُن ِ , and " "يو ِسرwhich was
ُ which was originally ""ي ْيق ُن
ُ ُ ُْ
originally ""ي ْي ِس ُر
ُ , but because the second ا ْل َياءin each case is unvowelled
and occurs after a ض َّمة َ , it is transformed into a َواو. We know the
original form of the ا ْل َواوto be a َياءbecause of the اض ْي ِ ا ْلمbeing " "أ َْيقَ َنand "
َ
س َر ِ
َ "أ َْيrespectively and the ص َدر
ْ ا ْل َمof the root form being " "ا ْل َيق ْينand "سر ْ "ا ْل ُي
respectively.
(d) When the ( األَِلفwhich is always unvowelled) occurs after a س َرة ْ َك, it is
transformed into an unvowelled َياء, like: "صا ِب ْيح َ "م
َ which was originally "
صا ِباح ِ
َ "م
َ , but because the األَلفoccurs after a س َرة ْ َك, it is transformed into
an unvowelled َياء. We know that the ا ْل َياءwas originally an أَِلفbecause "
صا ِب ْيح ِ
َ "م
َ is the plural of "ص َباح
ْ "مand the plural is formed from the singular.
(f) When the ا ْلواوoccurs at the end of a word after a س َرة ْ َك, it is
transformed into a َياء, like "ض َي ِ "رwhich was originally "ضو ِ َ , but
َ َ "ر
because the ا ْل َواوoccurs at the end after a س َرة ْ َك, it is transformed into a
َياء. We know that the ا ْل َياءwas originally a َواوbecause the ص َدر ْ ا ْل َمis "
ض َوان ِ and the popular view is that the ا ْل ِف ْعلis derived from the ص َدر
ْ "ر ْ ا ْل َم.
(g) When the ا ْل َواوand the ا ْل َياءmeet and one of them precedes the other
in bearing a س ُك ْون
ُ (i.e. the first of them is unvowelled), then the ا ْل َواوis
always going to be transformed into a َياء, like: ""س ِّيد َ which was originally
""س ْي ِود ِ
َ on the pattern of ""فَ ْيعل, but because the ا ْل َواوand the ا ْل َياءmeet and
the first of them is unvowelled, the ا ْل َواوis transformed into a َياء. We
23
know that the second of the double and emphatic ا ْل َياءwas originally a َواو
ِض
because of the ارع َ ا ْل ُمbeing "س ْو ُد
ُ "ي
َ .
(h) When the ا ْل َواوoccurs at the end of a word and it is the fourth letter
and upwards , then it is transformed into a [ َياءand it does not matter if
the ا ْل َياءis subsequently transformed into an أَِلفaccording to rule (a) or
not], like: " "أَ ْن َجىwhich was originally " "أَ ْن َج َو, but because the ا ْل َواوoccurs
at the end and it is the fourth letter, it is transformed into a َياء, which in
turn is transformed into an ( أَِلفbut written as a dot-less ) َياءaccording to
rule (a).
(i) When the ا ْل َواوor the ا ْل َياءoccurs at the end of a word after a vowelled
letter, then their ا ْل َح َر َكةis dropped if it is a ض َّمة
َ or a س َرة ْ ( َكbut retained if it is
a ) فَتْ َحة, like: "ي ِ َّ "تَ ْدعو إِلَىwhich was originally "الن ِاد ِي
َّ "تَ ْد ُع ُو إِلَى, but
ْ الناد ُْ
َ and the ا ْل َياءof ""الن ِاد ِي
because the ا ْل َواوof " "تَ ْد ُع ُوbears a ض َّمة َّ a س َرة ْ َكand
both these letters occur after a vowelled letter, the َّمة َّ الضon the ا ْل َواوand
the س َرة ِ ِ
ْ ا ْل َكon the ا ْل َياءare dropped. This also applies to " َي ْقض ْي ا ْلقَاض ْي َعلَى
"ا ْل َج ِان ْيwhich was originally "اض ُي َعلَى ا ْل َج ِان ِي
ِ َضي ا ْلق
ِ
ُ " َي ْق.
(j) When the second root letter (also called the “" ) َع ْين ا ْل َكِل َم ِةis a vowelled
weak letter (i.e. a vowelled َواوor ) َياءand occurs after an unvowelled
strong letter, then the ا ْل َح َر َكةof the second root letter is transferred to the
unvowelled strong letter. Thereafter, if the second root letter (which is
the ا ْل َواوor ) ا ْل َياءis not the corresponding sister letter of the ا ْل َح َر َكةthat was
transferred to the unvowelled strong letter before it, then the second root
letter is transformed into the corresponding sister letter of the transferred
ا ْل َح َر َكة. This is like:
24
(k) When two unvowelled letters meet and one of them is a weak letter,
then it is dropped, like:
" " ُق ْلwhich was originally " "اُق ُْو ْلwhich then became " "اُقُ ْو ْل, then ""قُ ْو ْل
and then finally " " ُق ْل,
ِ , which then became ""ا ِبيع
" " ِب ْعwhich was originally ""ا ْب ِي ْع ِ
ْ ْ , then " ِب ْي ْعand
then finally " " ِب ْع,
"ت
ُ "أَقَ ْم, which was originally "ت ُ ام
ْ َ( "أَقbut even before this it was "ت ُ "أَق َْو ْم,
which then became "ت ُ "أَقَ ْو ْمand then "ت ُ ام
ْ َ "أَق, and then finally "ت
ُ "أَقَ ْم.
(l) When the ا ْل ِف ْعلis naked triliteral starting with a ( َواوwhich is referred to
as "ي ِ ) "ثُالَ ِثي ُم َج َّرد ِمثَال َوon the pattern of ""ي ْف ِع ُل
ّ او َ (whether it is
ّ
originally on that pattern or not), then the ا ْل َواوis dropped from the
ِض
ارع َ ا ْل ُم, the األ َْمرand the ص َدر
ْ ا ْل َمand the latter case it is compensated for
by adding a طة
َ تَاء َم ْر ُب ْو, like:
ِ :
The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to اإل ْب َدال
(a) When the ا ْل َواوor the ا ْل َياءoccurs at the end of a word after an
additional أَِلف, then it is substituted for by a َه ْم َزة, like:
"اء
ٌ "د َع ُ which was originally "("د َع ٌاو
ُ because it is from ") " َد َعا" – َ"ي ْد ُع ْو,
ِ
ٌ " ِب َنwhich was originally "اي
"اء ٌ ( " ِب َنbecause it is from ") " َب َنى" – َ"ي ْبن ْي
(b) When the ا ْل َواوor the ا ْل َياءoccurs after the األَِلفof "اع ٌلِ َ( "فi.e. the اسم
ْ
ِ َ ا ْلفof the first form), then it is substituted for by a َهم َزة, like:
اع ِل ْ
25
ِ is a واوor a ياء, then it
(c) When the ( ا ْلفَاءi.e. the first root letter) of ""افْتَ َع َل َ َ
is substituted for by a تَاءwhich is then assimilated into the التَّاءof ""افْتَ َع َل ِ ,
like:
ِ ِ ِ
َ َّ "اتwhich was originally "ص َل
"ص َل َ َ "ا ْوتwhich then became "ص َل َ َ "اتْتand then
ِ ِ
finally "ص َل َ َّ( "اتbecause it is from "ص َل" – َ"يص ُل َ ) " َو,
ِ ِ ِ
َ َّ "اتwhich was originally "س َر
"س َر َ َ "ا ْيتwhich then became "س َر َ َ "اتْتand then
ِ
finally "س َر َ َّ( "اتbecause it is from "س ُر ُ س َر" – َ"ي ْي
ُ ) " َي.
ِ is a ثَاء, then it is
(d) When the ( ا ْلفَاءi.e. the first root letter) of ""افْتَ َع َل
substituted for by a ثَاءand the first الثَّاءis then assimilated into the
second, like:
ِ which was originally ""اثْتَأَر
""اثَّأ ََر ِ which then became ""اثْثَأَر
ِ and then finally
َ َ
ِ .
""اثَّأ ََر
"َّعى ِ ِ ِ
َ "ادwhich was originally " "ا ْدتَ َعىwhich then became " "ا ْد َد َعىand then
finally "َّعى ِ
َ "اد,
"ْد َك َر ِ which was originally ""اذْتَ َكر
َ "اذ ِ which then became "ْد َكر ِ
َ َ َ ( "اذalso
permissible for "ْد َك َر ِ are: ""ا َّذ َكر
َ "اذ ِ and ""ا َّد َكر
ِ ),
َ َ
ِ which was originally ""ا ْزتَهر
""ا ْز َد َه َر ِ which then became ""ا ْز َد َهر
ِ .
ََ َ
"طفَى َص ِ ِ ِ
ْ "اwhich was originally "صتَفَى ْ "اwhich then became "طفَى َص
ْ "ا,
"ط َرب َض ِ which was originally "ضتَرب
ْ "ا ِ ِ
َ َ ْ "اwhich then became "ط َر َب َضْ "ا,
ِ which was originally ""ا ْطتَلَع
""اطَّلَ َع ِ which then became "طلَع ِ
َ َ َ "ا ْطand then
ِ ,
finally ""اطَّلَ َع
"طلَ َم ِ which was originally ""ا ْظتَلَم
َ "ا ْظ ِ which then became "طلَم ِ
َ َ َ ( "ا ْظalso
permissible for "طلَ َم ِ are: ""اظَّلَم
َ "ا ْظ ِ and ""اطَّلَم
ِ )
َ َ
26
ِ َ َه ْم َزتmeet in one word, and the first of them is vowelled
(g) When two ان
and the second unvowelled, then the second is substitute for by a َح ْرف َم ٍّد
(letter of prolongation) which is the corresponding sister letter of the
preceding َح َر َكة, like:
""آم َن
َ which was originally ""أَأ َْم َن
" "أ ُْو ِم ُنwhich was originally ""أ ُْؤ ِم ُن
" "إِ ْي َمانwhich was originally " "إِ ْئ َمان.
27