Sarf in Short
ُُتغُ اهلل اٌشمحٓ اٌشد
اٌظشف (1)
اٌظٖشِف
investigates the behaviour of the word
relation to other words
) (ؤٍََّاخ
in the sentence
) (اٌْىٍََّٔح
individually i.e. not in
) (اٌْجٍَُِّح.
More specifically, it
investigates the اٌْىٍََّٔحfrom the perspective of its formal structure and the changes that affect that structure either to give rise to different meanings or ease the overall pronunciation of the word. (2) The اٌََْىٍََّٔحin Arabic is of three types: (a) the
ُِ( االعnoun which includes adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, etc.) e.g. ؿَأٌة
(student), ( سِعَاٌَحletter, message), ٍََُ( لpen), etc. (b) the ًِ( اٌْ ٔفؼverb) e.g. َورَة َ (wrote), ُ( َ ْىرُةwrite, will write) and ِ( اُ ْورُةWrite!) (c) the ( اٌْذَشِفparticle) e.g. ًَْ٘ (used to convert statements into questions),
ٍِٔ( فin), ٌَُِ
(did not), etc. (3) The اٌْذَشِفand those of the ُِ االعand ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼwhich resemble the اٌْذَشِفstructurally, semantically and functionally (such as the
اٌؼَّٖائٔش, ٔ ؤَعَِّاء اإلِشَاسَج, طىٌَِح ُ ِ األَ ِعَُ اء اٌْ َّى,
َِ ؤَعَِّاء اال ِعٔرفْهَا, ٔ ؤَعَِّاء اٌشٖ ِشؽ, etc.) do not form part of the subject-matter of اٌظٖشِف because of the fact that their rigid structures are not amenable to the type of changes that is commonly studied in and the
ُِاالع
اٌظٖشِف. Hence, اٌظٖشِفonly deals with the ًِاٌْ ٔفؼ
and more specifically those among them that do not bear any
structural, semantic or functional resemblance to the (4) اٌظٖشِفcan be divided into three sections: (a) ًِِاٌْ ٔفؼ
( طَشِفMorphology of the Verb), 1
اٌْذَشِف.
(b) ُِع ِ اال (c)
( طَشِفMorphology of the Noun) and
ً( طَشِف اٌْ ٔفؼًِِ وَاال ِعُِ َِؼاMorphology of the Verb and Noun together), also called
" شرَشَن ِ ُّ ٌْ( "اٌظٖشِف اShared Morphology i.e. the Morphology common to the Verb and Noun).
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ًِِطشِف اٌْ ٔفؼ َ (5) ًِِاٌْ ٔفؼ
طَشِفinvestigates the ًِِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom seven perspectives:
(a) the time of the occurrence of the action (b) the number of األَطِ ٍُٖٔح
( األَدِشُفnumber of root letters)
(c) the presence or absence of
ٕ( ؤَدِشُف ػ ٍَّٔحweak letters, namely: the اٌْىَاو, the األٌَٔف
and the ) ا ٌَُْاءamong the root letters (d) intransitivity and transitivity (e) the presence or absence of the ًٔ( اٌْفَاػdoer / subject of the verbal sentence) (f) flexibility and inflexibility (i.e. rigidity) (g) intensification or non-intensification
(6) The first perspective: the time of the occurrence of the action The ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom this perspective is divided into three categories: (a)
ٍِٔ( اٌْ ٔفؼًِ اٌَّْاػpast tense / perfect), which denotes the occurrence of the action in
the past, like: "َورَة َ " (wrote), (b)
( اٌْ ٔفؼًِ اٌْ ُّؼَاسِعpresent or future tense / imperfect), which denotes the occurrence
of the action in the present or future tense, like: (c)
ِٔفؼًِ األَ ِِش
"ُ( "َ ْىرُةwrite/s or will write), and
(verb of command / imperative), which denotes the request for the
occurrence of the action in the future, like: "ِورُة ْ ُ( "اWrite!) (7) The second perspective: the number of
األَدِشُف األَطِ ٍُٖٔح
(number of root
letters) The ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a) ٍٓٔ( اٌثُّالَثtriliteral), which is a ًِ ٔفؼcomprising three root letters, like: "َورَة َ " (wrote) (b)
ٍٓٔ( اٌشٗتَاػquadriliteral), which is a ًِ ٔفؼcomprising four root letters, like: " َ"دَدِشَج
(rolled) Each of these two categories is sub-divided into two more categories.
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Thus, the ٍٓٔ اٌثُّالَثis sub-divided into: (i) اٌُّْجَشٖد
ٍٓٔ( اٌثُّالَثnaked / divested triliteral), which is any ٍٓٔ ثُالَثdivested and stripped of
any additional letters such that it only consists of root letters, like:
"َ( "خَشَجwent out),
"َ( "فَشِحwas happy), "َُٓ( " َدغwas good), etc. and (ii) اٌَّْضَِِذ
ٍٓٔ( اٌثُّالَثincreased / augmented triliteral), which is any ٍٓٔ ثُالَثwhose root form
is increased by the addition of up to three letters, like:
" َ( "ؤَخِشَجput out, threw out),
"َ( "ذَخَشٖجgraduated), "َ( "أ ِعرَخِشَجtook out, extracted), etc. Likewise, the ٍٓٔ اٌشٗتَاػis sub-divided into: (i)
( اٌشٗتَاػٍٔٓ اٌُّْجَشٖدnaked / divested quadriliteral), which is any ٍٓٔ سُتَاػdivested and
stripped of any additional letters such that it only consists of root letters, like:
"َ"دَدِشَج
(rolled), "ََْ( "ؿَِّإput at ease), etc. and (ii)
( اٌشٗتَاػٍٔٓ اٌَّْضَِِذincreased / augmented quadriliteral), which is any ٍٓٔ سُتَاػwhose root
form is increased by the addition of up to two letters, like:
" َ"َذذَدِشَج
(was rolled),
"ََّْ( "أؿَّْإwas at ease), etc. (NB! For more details see the Appendix 1 at the end of the book) (8) The third perspective: the presence or absence of
ٕ( ؤَدِشُف ػ ٍَّٔحweak letters,
namely: the ا ٌْىَاو, the األٌَٔفand the ) ا ٌَُْاءamong the root letters The ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a)
ذُِخ ٔ ٖ( اٌظsound / strong), which is a ًِ ٔفؼwhose root letters are free from ٕؤَدِشُف ػ ٍَّٔح
(weak letters), and consists of three types: (i) ٌُٔاٌغٖا
ذُِخ ٔ ٖ( اٌظsuper sound / strong), which is a ذُِخ ٔ َ طthat is free from ؼ ٔؼُِف ِ اٌٖر
(doubling i.e. have two identical root letters) and
( اٌْهَِّضhaving one of the root letters
as a ) َِّ٘ضَج, like: "َورَة َ " , "َ "خَشَج, etc. (ii)
اٌْ ُّؼَاػَف/
ؼؼٖف َ ُّ ٌْذُِخ ا ٔ ٖ( اٌظdoubled strong), which is a ذُِخ ٔ َ طthat has two
identical root letters, like: "ٖ( " َِذextended, lengthened), "َ( "صٌَْضَيquaked, shook), etc. (iii)
ذُِخ اٌَّْهِ ُّىِص ٔ ٖ( اٌظhamzated strong), which is a ذُِخ ٔ َ طthat has one of the root
letters as a َِّ٘ضَج, like: "ًََ( "ؤَوate), "َ( "عَإَيasked), "َ( "لَشَؤread), etc.
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(b) ًَّّ ِؼر ُ ٌْ( اweak), which is a
ًِ ٔفؼwhose root form constitutes at least one of the three
ٔ ؤَدِشُف اٌْؼٍَّٔحand comprises four types: (i) ّثَاي ٔ ٌْ( اquasi-sound), which is a
ًَّ ُِ ِؼرwhose first root letter is a
ٕ( دَشِف ػ ٍَّٔحweak
letter), like: "ًََ( "وَطreached, arrived), "َ( "َثِظwas dried), etc. (ii)
( األَ ِجىَفhollow), which is a ًَّ ُِ ِؼرwhose second root letter is a ٕ دَشِف ػ ٍَّٔح, like: "َ"لَاي
(said), "َ( "تَاعsold), etc. (iii) ( إٌٖالٔضdefective), which is a
ًَّ ُِ ِؼرwhose last root letter is a ٕ دَشِف ػ ٍَّٔح, like: " "دَػَا
(called, invited), "ًَِ( " َسthrew, cast), etc. (iv) اٌٍ ٔفُِف َّ (two-folded), which is a ًَّ ُِ ِؼرwhose first and third root letters or second and third root letters are from the
ٔ ؤَدِشُف اٌْؼ ٍَّٔح, like: "ًَ( "وَلprotected, safeguarded), " ًَ" َوػ
(comprehended, fathomed), "( "َٔىَيintended), "( " َسوَيreported, narrated), etc. (9) The fourth perspective: intransitivity and transitivity The ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a) َِاٌالص َّ (intransitive), which is a
ًِ ٔفؼwhose action is confined to the ًٔ( اٌْفَاػdoer /
subject of a verbal sentence) and not transferred directly onto a
ٔٗ( َِ ْف ُؼىِي ِتdirect
object), like: "َ( "فَشِحwas happy), "َ( "جٍََظsat), etc. (b) ٌَِذ ِّ ( اٌْ َُّرؼtransitive), which is a transferred directly onto a ِٔٗت (i) ٕدذ ٔ وَا
ًِ ٔفؼwhose action is not confined to the ًٔ اٌْفَاػbut is
فِىِي َِ ُػ, and further comprises three types:
ٍَذٌِ بًٌَِ َِ ْف ُؼىِي ِّ ( اٌْ َُّرؼtransitive to one direct object only i.e. singly transitive), like:
"َ " َورَةin for example: "َ( " َورَةَ صََِذْ اٌشِّعَاٌَحZayd wrote the letter), (ii)
ٌَُِِِٓ( اٌْ ُّرَغَِّدٌِ بًٌَِ َِ ْف ُؼىtransitive to two direct objects i.e. doubly transitive), like: "ٖٓ" َظ
in for example: "ًوَشَِِّا
( "ظَٖٓ صََِ ْذ خَأٌذًاZayd thought Khalid to be noble / generous), and
"ًَ "ؤَػِـin "ً( "ؤَػِـًَ صََِ ْذ خَأٌذًا ٔورَاتاZayd gave Khalid a book), and
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(iii)
ًََُِذٌِ بًٌَِ ثَالََثحٔ َِفَا ٔػ ِّ ( اٌْ َُّرؼtransitive to three direct objects, i.e. triply transitive), like:
"ٍََُ ِ "ؤَػin for example: "ً( "ؤَػِ ٍََُ ػٌٍٍَّٔ صََِذًا خَأٌذًا وَشَِِّاAli informed Zayd that Khalid is noble / generous), and
" "َؤسَيin "
ً( "َؤسَي اٌْ ُّذَسِّطُ اٌـَّأٌةَ اٌْ َّغِإٌََ َح عَهِ ٍَحThe teacher made the
student see the problem as being easy) Some scholars add a third category, namely: that which is neither
َِ َالصnor ٍّ َُِرؼَذ, and
comprises verbs such as "َْ "وَاand its sisters and "َ "وَادand its sisters. (10) The fifth perspective: the presence or absence of the
ًٔ( اٌْفَاػdoer / subject
of the verbal sentence) The ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a)
َِِ( اٌْ َّ ِثٍِٕٓ ًٌَِْٔؼِ ٍُىactive form of the verb), which is a ًِ ٔفؼwhose ًٔ اٌْفَاػis mentioned
(even in the implied and implicit sense) in the sentence and not dropped, like:
"َ " َورَةin "َ( " َورَةَ اٌـَّأٌةُ اٌْخٔـَابThe student wrote the letter), "ُ "َ ْىرُةin "َ( "َ ْىرُةُ اٌـَّأٌةُ اٌْخٔـَابThe student is writing the letter), and "ِ "اُ ْورُةin "]َ[ "اُ ْورُةِ [ؤَِٔدWrite (you)] (b)
ِ( اٌْ َّ ِثٍِٕٓ ٌٍَّْٔجِ ُهىِيpassive form of the verb), which is a ًِ ٔفؼwhose ًٔ اٌْفَاػis not
mentioned (not even in the implied and implicit sense) in the sentence, that is, it is dropped from the sentence, leaving a vacuum which is normally filled by the
ٔٗ( اٌْ َّ ْف ُؼىِي ِتdirect object), like: "َ " ُورٔةin "ُ( " ُورٔةَ اٌْخٔـَابThe letter was written) and "ُ "َُ ْىرَةin "ُبُ اٌْخٔـَاب َ( "َُىْدThe letter is being written) (11) The sixth perspective: flexibility and inflexibility (i.e. rigidity) The ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a) َّرظَشِّف ُ ٌْ( اflexible), which is of two types: (i) ٔاٌٖرظَشٗف
َٓ( اٌرٖاfully-flexible), which is a ًِ ٔفؼthat exists in all three states of the ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼ,
that is: the ٍِٔ اٌَّْاػ, the ّؼَاسِع ُ ٌْ اand the ا َألِِش, like:
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(ii)
ٍِٔاٌَّْاػ
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِع
ا َألِِش
ََورَة
َُ ْىرُة
ِاُ ْورُة
to write, record
َػَشَب
ٌُػِشِب َ
ِأػِشِب
To hit, beat, strike
Meaning
ٔ( إٌٖالٔض اٌٖرظَشٗفsemi-flexible), which is a ًِ ٔفؼthat exists in only two of the three
states, that is: the ٍِٔ اٌَّْاػand the ّؼَاسِع ُ ٌْ اonly, or the اٌْ ُّؼَاسِعand the ا َألِِشonly, like:
ٍِٔاٌَّْاػ
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِع
َوَاد
َُىَاد
َ(َِا) صَاي
ُ(َِا) َضَاي
ا َألِِش
Meaning to be on the verge, almost, nearly to continue
َُذَع
ِدَع
to leave, abandon
َُ َزس
َِرس
to leave, abandon
(b) ( اٌْجَأِذrigid), which is a ًِ ٔفؼthat exists in only one of the three states, like:
ٍِٔاٌَّْاػ
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِع
ا َألِِش
Meaning
ٌََُِظ
not
ًََػغ
hopefully
َُ ِهُِؾ
shouts, makes a noise
ََذؼَاي
Come!
َٔ٘اخ
Give!
(12) The seventh perspective: intensification or non-intensification The ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a) ّاَوَّذ ُ ٌْ( اcorroborated), which is a ًِ ٔفؼthat has either the اٌث ٔمٍَُِح َّ
ٔ( ُٔىِْ اٌٖرىِ ٔو ُِذemphatic
ِْ إٌٗىof corroboration) or the خ ٔف ُِفَح َ ٌْ( ُٔىِْ اٌٖرىِ ٔو ُِذٔ اnon-emphatic ِْ إٌٗىof corroboration) suffixed to it. (b)
َٔوذ َّ َغُِش اٌْ ُّا
(non-corroborated), which is a
ًِٔفؼ
that does not have the
اٌث ٔمٍَُِح َّ ٔ ُٔىِْ اٌٖرىِ ٔو ُِذor the خ ٔف ُِفَح َ ٌْ ُٔىِْ اٌٖرىِ ٔو ُِذٔ اsuffixed to it. In the case of the ٍِٔ اٌَّْاػthe suffixing of the ٔو ُِذ ٔ ِاٌٖرى
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ِْ ُٔىis disallowed.
In the case of the
ا َألِِشthe suffixing of the ٔ ُٔىِْ اٌٖرىِ ٔو ُِذis optional, like: "
[Worship your Lord (in the emphatic sense)],
َ"وَا ِػُثذََّْ سَتٖه
"َ[ "وَا ِػُثذِ سَتٖهWorship your Lord (in the
non-emphatic sense)], etc. In the case of the ّؼَاسِع ُ ٌْ اthe suffixing of the ٔاٌٖرىِ ٔو ُِذ (i) necessary, which is when the in an oath construction with the like:
ِْ ُٔىis either:
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِعdenotes the future and is in the affirmative
ُِغ َ اٌالَ ( الََ اٌْ َمof oath) not being separated from it,
" ٔ( "وَاهللِ ٌَُٕ ِث َؼثَٖٓ َىََِ اٌْ ٔمَُا َِحBy Allah! We will be raised on the Day of Resurrection),
﴾ُِطَٕاَِ ُى ِ َ( ﴿ذَاهللِ ٌَإَ ٔو ُِذََّْ ؤBy Allah! I will play a trick on your idols), or (ii) close to being necessary, which is when the
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِع
is preceded by the
conditional "ِْْ( "بmeaning “if”) that is assimilated into the additional
" "َِاso as to form
" "ِبِٖا, like: "َْْ فَإَِٔدَ َٔاجِخ َّ جرَ ِهذ ِ َ( "ِبِٖا ذIf you really work hard, then you will be successful), or (iii) often, which is when the
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِعis preceded by an ٍ( ؤَدَاج ؿٍََةparticle of request
such as command, prohibition, supplication, gentle or urgent request, wishing, inquiring), like:
﴾َِْأٌ ُّى
َّغثَٖٓ اهللَ غَافٔالً ػَّٖا َؼًَُِّ اٌظ َذ ِ َ﴿وَالَ ذ
(Do not think that Allah is
unmindful of what the wrongdoers are doing) (iv) rare, which is when the
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِعis preceded by the negative " " َالor the additional
" "َِا, like: ﴾ ًطح ٖ ظ ُِثَٖٓ َّاٌزََِٔٓ ظٍََ ُّىِا ُِِٔٓو ُِ خَا ٔ ﴿وَاٖذ ُمىِا ٔف ِرَٕ ًح الَ ُذ
(And guard yourselves against a
severe punishment which will not only afflict the wrongdoers …) (v) very rare, which is when the (conditional word) other than position the اٌشٖشِؽor ٔاٌشٖ ِشؽ
اٌْ ُّؼَاسِع
is preceded by
" ٌَُِ"
or an
ٍؤَدَاج جَضَاء
" ( "ِبِٖاand it makes no difference whether it is in the
) َجىَابand is found mostly in poetry, like:
ٍِٔؤَتَذاً وَ َلرًُِ َتِٕ ٍِ ُلَر َُِث َح شَاف
ٍَِِٓ َذ ْث َمفَِٓ ِِٕٔ ُه ُِ فَ ٍَُِظَ تِأئٔة
*
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:
"
َِْهلل الَ َفٍْٔخُ اٌظَّأٌ ُّى ِ "وَا
(By Allah! The wrongdoers will not be
successful)
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ُِطشِف اال ِع َ (13) ُِع ِ اال
طَشِفinvestigates the ُِ االعalso from seven perspectives:
(a) the stripping or addition of additional letters (b) rigidity (non-derivation) and derivation (c) masculinity and femininity (i.e. gender) (d) the type of ending (e) number (f) diminution (g) relation and ascription (14) The first perspective: the stripping or addition of additional letters The ُِ االعfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a)
اٌُّْجَشٖد
(naked or divested), which is an
ُِاع
divested and stripped of any
additional letters and comprises three types: (i) ٍٓٔاٌثُّالَث
( اٌُّْجَشٖدtrilateral naked), like: "ًُ( "سَجman), "( "فَشَطhorse, mare), etc.
(ii) ٍٓٔاٌشٗتَاػ
( اٌُّْجَشٖدquadriliteral naked), like: "( " َج ِؼفَشJa’far, brooklet), " َُ٘( " ٔد ِسdirham),
etc. (iii) ٍٓٔخَّاع ُ ٌْا (b)
( اٌُّْجَشٖدquinqueliteral naked), like: "ًَ( " َعفَشِجquince), etc.
( اٌَّْضَِِذincreased or augmented), which is an ُِ اعthat can be increased up to
seven letters by the addition of additional letters to the root form and comprises numerous forms, some of which are illustrated in the following table:
9
The Increased / Augmented Form
Root Form
Additional Letter(s)
Triliteral Root
ُٔ٘( فَاsomeone understanding)
ُِفَه
the األٌف
( َِؼِ ُشوِبbeaten, coined)
ػَشِب
the ُُ املand اٌىاو
ًِغَرغِه ِ ُِ (someone finding something easy)
ًِعَه
the ُُ امل, اٌغنيand اٌراء
( أ ِعرٔخِشَاجextracting, taking out)
خشج
the
ً مهضج اٌىط, اٌغني, اٌراء
and األٌف Quadriliteral Root
( ُِذَدِشِجsomeone rolling something)
دَدِشَج
the ُُامل
( َُِرذَدِشِجsomething being rolled)
َدحِ َسج
the ُُ املand اٌراء
َ( أدِشِِٔجَاgathering, assembling)
َُدَشِج
the
ً مهضج اٌىط, ْ إٌى, and
األٌف Quinqueliteral Root
ًُِغِث َ ٍْ َ( عthe of a well in Jannah)
ًَغث َ ٍْ َع
the اٌُاء
ِْ( صََِضَ ُفىjujube, linden tree)
َٓصََِضَف
the اٌىاو
ًُِجِث َ َِٔ( صginger)
ًَجث َ َِٔص
the اٌُاء
(15) The second perspective: rigidity and derivation The ُِ االعfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a) ( اٌْجَأِذrigid / non-derived), which is an
ُِ اعthat is not derived from anything and
comprises two types: (i)
ٔ اعُِ اٌزَّاخor
ُِِٓ( اعُِ اٌْ َؼconcrete noun), which is an ُِ اعthat 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 qualified and described by highlighting a quality or attribute in it, like: "ًُ( "سَجman), "( "فَشَطhorse, mare), and (ii)
ًَٕ( اعُِ اٌْ َّ ِؼabstract noun), which is an ُِ – اعeven though it is non-derivative – all
derivatives are derived from it and is thus appropriately called the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ( اultimate
source); moreover, it denotes the qualities, states and actions that inhere in entities and essences and which make it possible for the latter to be qualified and described,
10
like:
"( "جََّايbeauty), "ِٓ( " ُدغgoodness), "( "تَُاعwhiteness), "( " َغؼَةanger), " " ٔورَاتَح
(writing), "( "جُ ٍُىِطsitting), etc. [Thus, if something possesses the quality of (beautiful), or if someone is in a state of
اٌْجََّاي
you can say that it is
ًُِّٔ َج
( اٌْ َغؼَةanger) you can say that he is ْؼثَا ِ َغ
(angry) or if someone performs the action of
( اٌْ ٔىرَاتَحwriting) you can say that he is
( وَاذٔةsomeone writing), etc.] (b)
ٓشرَك ِ ُّ ٌْ( اderivative), which is an ُِ اعthat is formed from the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اon 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: [someone / something (i) ًِٔاٌْفَاػ
+
quality / state / action
=
derivative]
ُِ( اعactive participle), which is an ٓشرَك ِ ُِ ُِ اعformed from the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اon a
specific pattern to indicate that someone or something is performing the action indicated by the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اin a non-permanent sense, like: " ( "وَاذٔةsomeone writing),
"ُْ( "لَأئsomeone or something standing), "ْ( " ُِغَافٔشsomeone traveling), etc. (ii)
ِ( اعُِ اٌْ َّ ْف ُؼىِيpassive participle), which is an ٓشرَك ِ ُِ ُِ اعformed from the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اon a
specific pattern to indicate that someone or something is the object receiving the action indicated by the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْا
, like:
" "َِ ْىُرىِب
(something written),
" ْغرَخِشَج ِ ُِ "
(something taken out or extracted), etc. (iii) )ًِٔاٌْفَاػ
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْا
ُِشثٖهَح (تِا ِع َ ُّ ٌْاٌظفَح ا ِّ (descriptive noun), which is an ٓشرَك ِ ُِ ُِ اعformed from the
(of an intransitive verb) on specific patterns to indicate that someone or
something is the bearer or possessor of the quality indicated by the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اand is not
confined to any particular tense but rather stretches from the past into the continuous present, like:
"ًٌُِّٔ َ( "جbeautiful), "َْٓ( " َدغgood), " ( "ؤَِتَُغwhite), " ْؼثَا ِ " َغ
(angry), etc. (iv) ًُِِؼ ٔ اٌٖر ْف the
ُِ( اعcomparative or superlative form), which is an ٓشرَك ِ ُِ ُِ اعformed from
ظذَ س ِ َّ ٌْا
on the pattern of
" ًَُ"ؤَ ْفؼ
to indicate that someone or something is
surpassing something or someone-else in a shared quality which is denoted by the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ ا, e.g. "ًَُِّ( ؤَجmore beautiful), "َُٓ( "ؤَ ِدغbetter), "ُ( "ؤَ ْغؼَةangrier), etc.
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(v), (vi) ْٔوَاٌَّْىَا from the
ْٔ( اعَِّا اٌ ٖضَِاnouns of time or place), which are
ْٔشرَمَّا ِ ُِ ْٔ اعَِّاformed
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اon specific patterns to indicate the time or place in which the action,
denoted by the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ ا, is occurring, like: " ْ " َِشِشِقand " ( " ََؿٍَْغtime or place of the
rising of the sun),
" ْ( " َِغِشِبtime or place of the setting of the sun), " ًَ( " َِذِخentry),
"( "َِخِشَجexit), etc. (vii) ٔاٌَِح
ُِ( اعnoun of tool or instrument), which is an ٓشرَك ِ ُِ ُِ اعformed from the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْا
on the patterns of
"ًَ " ِٔ ْفؼ, " " ِٔ ْفؼٍََحor " " ِٔ ْفؼَايto indicate the tool or instrument with
which the action indicated by the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اis accomplished, like: "( " ِٔثِشَدfile), " "ِٔ ْىَٕغَح
(broom), "( " ِٔ ْفرَاحkey), etc. (16) The third perspective: masculinity and femininity (i.e. gender) The ُِ االعfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a) ( ُِزَوَّشmasculine), like: "ًُ( "سَجman), "ًَجث َ " (mountain), "ٍََُ( "لpen), etc. (b) ( ُِأَٖثfeminine), which is of two types: (i) ٍٓٔد ٔم ُِم َ (real), which is an beings or animals, like:
اعُِ ُِأَٖثthat denotes a female whether amongst human
"( "فَاؿَّٔحFatimah), "( "صَََِٕةZaynab), " ( "ٔاِِشَؤَجwoman), " "لٔـَّح
(female cat), etc. (ii)
ٌٓ( َِجَا ِصmetaphorical), which is an
اعُِ ُِأَٖثthat does not denote a female
whether amongst human beings or animals but because of having been used as
ُِأَٖثby the ancient Arabs it has acquired the status of ُِأَٖث, like: " ( "شَِّظsun), "( "َؤسِعearth), "ُِٓ( " َػeye, spring), etc. The ّأَٖث ُ ٌْ اalso comprises three more categories: (i)
ٍٓٔ( ٌَفْظfeminine in form only), which is an ُِ اعwhose meaning is ُِزَوَّشbut whose
form is feminine due to having one of the
ٔالَِاخ اٌرٖإُِِْٔث َ َ( ػsigns of femininity) suffixed
to it, like: "( "دَِّضَجHamzah), "( "ؿٍَْذَحTalhah), "( "صَوَشَِٖاZechariahs), etc.
12
(ii) ٌٓ( َِ ِؼَٕ ِىfeminine in meaning only), which is an whose form is
ُِ اعwhose meaning is ُِأَٖثbut
ُِزَوَّشdue to it not having one of the ٔالَِاخ اٌرٖإُِِْٔث َ َ ػsuffixed to it, like:
"ََُِ( "َِشMaryam, Mary), "( "صَََِٕةZaynab), "( " ِٕٔ٘ذHind), etc. (iii) ٌَٓو َِ ِؼَٕ ِى
ٍٓٔ( ٌَفْظfeminine in both form and meaning), which is an ُِ اعthat is ُِأَٖثin
both form and meaning, like: "( "فَاؿَّٔحFatimah), "ًٍََّْ( "عSalma), "( "ؤَعَِّاءAsma), etc. The ٔاٌرٖإُِِْٔث (i) the
الَِاخ َ َ ػare two in number:
( اٌرٖاء اٌَّْشُِتىِؿَحi.e. the joined or closed اٌرٖاءbecause it is joined or close at its
ends), like: "غ َُِٕح ِ ( " َدHasinah), "( "فَاؿَّٔحFatimah), "( "ػَأئشَحAishah), etc. (ii) the
األٌَٔف, which is either ظ ِىسَج ُ ( َِ ْمshortened), like: " ًَٕغ ِ ( " ُدHusna), " ًٍَّْ" َع
(Salma), etc. or ذوِدَج ُ ِّ َِ (lengthened), like: "غَٕاء ِ ( " َدHasna), "( "ؤَعَِّاءAsma), etc. Remark: Even though it is not customary in
اٌظٖشِفto go into a similar classification
for the ّزَوَّش ُ ٌْ ا, I have thought it in order to treat the اٌْ ُّزَوَّشin a similar fashion. Thus, the ّزَوَّش ُ ٌْ اcan either be ُِزَوَّش:
in meaning and in form like "ٍٍَٓٔ "ػ, "ًََّ "ج, etc. or in meaning only like "( "دَِّضَجHamzah), "( "ؿٍَْذَحTalhah), etc. or in form only, like "ورَاب ٔ " (book), "ٍََُ( "لpen), etc. (17) The fourth perspective: the type of ending The ُِ االعfrom this perspective is divided into five categories: (a)
( اٌْ َّ ِٕ ُمىِصdefective), which is any declinable ُِ اعthat terminates in a ََاءpreceded
by a وغِشَج َ (i.e. "ٌِ-" ِ ), like: "ٍِٔ( "اٌْمَاػthe judge), "ٍِٔ( "اٌَّْاػthe past), etc. (b)
ظىِس ُ اٌْ َّ ْم
(shortened), which is any declinable
ُِاع
that terminates in an
(whether it is written as an actual ؤٌَٔفor a dot-less ) ََاءpreceded by a or "َي-"), like: "( "اٌْ َؼظَاstick), "ًَ( "اٌْ َفرthe young lad), etc.
13
ؤٌَٔف
( َفرِذَحi.e. "َا-"
(c)
( اٌَّْ ِّ ُذوِدlengthened), which is any declinable ُِ اعthat terminates in an ؤٌَٔفwhich
is extended by a ( َِّ٘ضَجi.e. "َاء-" ), like: "( "دَِّشَاءred fem.), "
( "طَذِشَاءdesert), " " ٔوغَاء
(type of cloth or clothing), "( "بِ ِٔشَاءcreating, producing, establishing), etc. (d)
ِذُِخ ٔ ٖشِثُِٗ تِاٌظ ٖ ٌ( اquasi-strong), which is every declinable ُِ اعterminating in a وَاوor
ََاءpreceded by a ِْ( عُ ُىىi.e. "ٍْو-" َْ and "ٌٍْ-" َْ ), like: "ْ( "دُ ٍْىsweet), "ٍِْ( " َظثdeer), etc. (e) ذُِخ ٔ ٖ( اٌظstrong), which is every declinable
ُِ اعthat does not terminate in any of
the four previous endings, like: "ورَاب ٔ " (book), "ًُ( "سَجman), etc. (18) The fifth perspective: number (singular, dual and plural) The ُِ االعfrom this perspective is divided into three categories: (a)
( اٌْ ُّفْشَدsingular), which is any ُِ اعthat denotes a single masculine or feminine
object, like: "ْ( "ؿَأٌةone male student), "( "ؿَأٌثَحone female student), etc. (b)
ًٖٕ( اٌْ َُّثdual), which is any ُِ اعthat denotes two masculine or feminine objects by
suffixing the األٌَٔفand
ِْ( إٌٗىi.e. "َْٔا-" in the case of ) اٌشٖفْغor the اٌَُْاءand ِْإٌٗى
(i.e. "ََِِٓ-" in the case of اٌٖٕظِةand ٓ ) اٌْجَشto the singular form, like:
ْٔ( ؿَأٌَثُِِٓ – ؿَأٌثَاtwo male students) ْٔ( ؿَأٌَثَرُِِٓ – ؿَأٌَثرَاtwo female students) (c) ( اٌْجَِّغplural), which is any ُِ اعthat denotes three or more masculine or feminine objects and comprises two types: (i) ِذُِخ ٔ ِاٌٖرظ
جَِّغor ٔال َِح َ ٖ( جَِّغ اٌغsound plural), which is when the singular form remains
intact and unbroken when forming the plural form and which in turn comprises two types:
ٌُٔ( جَِّغ اٌْ ُّزَوَّشِ اٌغٖاsound masculine plural), which is any ُِ اعthat denotes three or more males by suffixing the
اٌْىَاوand ِْ( إٌٗىi.e. "َِْو-" ُ in the case of ) اٌشٖفْغor the
اٌَُْاءand ِْ( إٌٗىi.e. "ََِِٓ-" in the case of اٌٖٕظِةand ٓ) اٌْجَش, like: َِْؽأٌِثَُِٓ – ؿَأٌُثى َ
14
ٌُٔ( جَِّغ اٌْ ُّأَٖثٔ اٌغٖاsound feminine plural), which is any ُِ اعthat denotes three or more females by suffixing the dropping the
األٌَٔفand ( اٌرٖاءi.e. "ٍَْاخ-" ) to the singular form after
( ذَاء اٌرٖإُِِْٔثٔ اٌْ ُّرَذَشِّوَحvowelled اٌرٖاءof femininity), like: "ٍْ( "ؿَأٌثَاخthree or
more female students) (ii)
ِغُِش ِ جَِّغ اٌرٖ ْى
(broken plural), which is when the singular form changes when
forming the plural form and which in turn comprises two types:
ٔ( جُ ُّىِع اٌْمٍَّٔحplurals of paucity), which are plural forms that denote three to ten objects and comprise four forms:
""ؤَشِهُش
(months) (sing. "ْ) "شَهِش
ًُؤَ ْفؼ
""ؤَػِ ّٔذَج
(pillars, columns) (sing. "ّْىِد ُ َ) "ػ
ؤَ ْفؼٍَٔح
""ؤَ ْلفَاي
(locks) (sing. "ًٌْ) " ُلف
ؤَ ْفؼَاي
"" ٔف ِرَُح
(young lads) (sing. "ًّ) " َفر
ٔفؼٍَِح
ٔىثْشَج َ ٌْ( جُ ُّىِع اplurals of multitude), which are plural forms that denote eleven to an infinite number of objects, and comprise the following forms:
"ُٓ" ُعف
(ships) (sing. "ٌع ٔف َُِٕح َ")
ًُُفؼ
""شُهِة
(gray) (sing. ") "ؤَشِهَة
ًُِفؼ
""ُتغَاج
(tyrants, oppressors) (sing. "ٍ) "تَاؽ
ُفؼٍََح
"طىَس ُ "
(pictures, images) (sing. "ط ِىسَج ُ ")
ًَُفؼ
"ًَ"َِشِػ
(sick people, patients) (sing. "ْ) "َِشَِِغ
ًٍََِفؼ
""لُ ٍُىِب
(hearts) (sing. "ْ) "لٍَْة
ُف ُؼىِي
""تِذَاس
(seas) (sing. "ْ) "تَذِش
ٔفؼَاي
"" ٔػثَش
(lessons) (sing. "ٌػثِشَج ٔ")
ًَٔفؼ
"ْ"غٍَّْٔا
(young lads, servants) (sing. "ََْ) "غُال
َْٔفؼِال
""ؤَ ِش ٔمَُاء
(wretched, villain) (sing. "ٌٍّٔشم َ")
ؤَ ْفؼٔالَء
""ػٍََّح
(workers, labourers) (sing. "ًٌِٔ) "ػَا
َفؼٍََح
""لُـَّاع
(people severing or cutting) (sing. "ْ) "لَاؿٔغ
ُفؼٖاي
"ْؼثَا ِ " ُل
(sticks, branches) (sing. "ْؼُِة ٔ ) " َل
َُْفؼِال
"" ٔفٍََُح
(elephants) (sing. "ٌ) " ٔفُِ ٍَح
ٔفؼٍََح
""ػٍََُّاء
(scholars, learned people) (sing. "ٌُْٔ) "ػَا
ُفؼَالَء
15
""شُشٖد
(fugitive, stray, defectors) (sing. "ْ) "شَاسِد
ًُٖفؼ
"ُٔ٘" َدسَا
(dirhams) (sing. "َُْ٘ ) " ٔد ِس
ًٌَٔفؼَا
""دََٔأُِِش
(dinars) (sing. "ْ) "دٔ ََِٕاس
ًٌَُِفَا َػ
ُ* َِشِػـــــًَ اٌْمُ ٍُىِبِ وَاٌْثِذَاسُ ٔػثَش
ُغفُِٓ اٌشٗهِةِ اٌُْثغَاجُ طــ َىس ٗ ٌفٍٔ ا
ؼثَإْ ِِٔٓ ؤَجًِِ اٌْ ٔفٍََُح ِ ع ُل ُ * لُـَّا
ٔغ ٍَّْأُهُ ُِ ٌٔألَشِمَُٔا ِء َػ ٍََّـــــــح
ًَغثِغ واٌْ َؼشِشِ أِرَه ٖ ٌوَاٌْؼٍََُّاءُ ػُسٖدْ َو ُِ ِٕرَهــــــــــًَ * جُ ُّىِػٔ ِه ُِ فٍٔ ا 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
ِغُِش ِ جَِّغ اٌرٖ ْىinto ٔ جَِّغ اٌْم ٍَّٔحand ٔ َجِّغ اٌْ َىثْشَجis
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. (19) The sixth perspective: diminution The ُِ االعfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a)
ظغٖش َ ُّ ٌْ( اdiminutive), which is any ُِ اعthat denotes the diminutive of the original
ُِ االعfrom which it is formed, and comprises three forms: ""فُ ٍَُِظ
(small fels) (diminutive of "ْ) "فٍَْظ
ًُُِف َؼ
"ُِ" ُدسََِه
(small dirham) (diminutive of "َُْ٘ ) " ٔد ِس
ًُٔف َؼ ُِؼ
""دَُٔ ُُِِِٕش
(small dinar) (diminutive of "ْ) "دٔ ََِٕاس
ًُُِف َؼ ُِ ٔؼ
(b) ىثٖش َ ٌُّْ( اoriginal non-diminutive), which is the original formed, like:
"( "فٍْٔظfels, small coin) "َُ٘( " ٔد ِسdirham, silver coin) "( "دََِٕٔاسdinar, golden coin) 16
ُِ االعfrom which the ظغٖش َ ُّ ٌْ اis
(20) The seventh perspective: relation The ُِ االعfrom this perspective is divided into two categories: (a) غىِب ُ ِٕ َّ ٌْ( اrelative noun), which is any relation and ascription, that is: bearing that
"ٌ ٓ"
ُِ اعthat has the ٌِاء اٌٖٕغَة َ (i.e. the اٌَُْاءof
) suffixed to it in order to show that the
ُِاالع
اٌَُْاءis related to the original ُِ االعbefore the suffixing of the ِ ََاء اٌٖٕغَة,
like:
"ٌٓ( " ِٔظِ ِشEgyptian) from "( " ِٔظِشEgypt), "ٍِٓٔال َ ِ( "بِعIslamic) from "ََ( "اإلِعِالIslam), "ٍِّٓ( "َِىMeccan) from "( "َِىَّحMecca), "ٍَِٓٔ( " َِذMedinan, civil, municipal, urban) from "( "اٌْ َّذََِٕٔحMedina, city), etc. (b) ُِٔٗ ٌَِب
غىِب ُ ِٕ َّ ٌْ( اnoun related to), which is the original ُِ االعbefore the suffixing of the
ِ ََاء اٌٖٕغَة, like: " " ِٔظِش, "ََ "اإلِعِال, " "َِىَّحand " "اٌْ َّذََِٕٔحin the previous examples.
17
ظشِف اٌْ ُّشَِرشَن ٖ ٌا (21) شرَشَن ِ ُّ ٌْا
اٌظٖشِفinvestigates both the ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼand ُِ االعfrom the perspective of the
changes that affect their structures – changes which facilitate the overall pronunciation of the word. The most important of these changes are the following
َ( اإلِدِغَاassimilation, merging), ( اإلِػِالَيchanges involving weak letters) and
three:
( اإلِِتذَايsubstitution, replacement). (22)
َ اإلِدِغَاis when the first of two identical letters is assimilated into the second so
as become one emphatic letter. Thus, instead of pronouncing them twice they are pronounced once only. The following are some of the important rules pertaining to
َ اإلِدِغَا: (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:
"ٌّ "َِذwhich was originally "ْ " َِذِدon the pattern of "ًٌِ " َفؼ, the first of the two َْٔ( اٌذٖاالi.e. two Dals) is assimilated into the second becoming "ٌّ "َِذ. (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:
"ٖ " َِذwhich was originally "َ " َِذَدon the pattern of "ًََ " َفؼ, the first of the two َْٔ( اٌذٖاالi.e. two Dals) is then unvowelled becoming "
َ " َِذِدand then assimilated into the second
becoming "ٖ " َِذ. (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:
"ٗ "َ ُّذwhich was originally "ُ "َ ِّذُدon the pattern of " ًُُ "َ ْفؼ, the first of the two َْٔاٌذٖاال (i.e. two Dals) is unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the preceding unvowelled
ُُِّٔ ٌْ اbecoming "ُ "َ ُّذِدand then assimilated into the second اٌذٖايbecoming "ٗ "َ ُّذ. (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:
18
a وغِشَج َ (due to it being the primary اٌْذَشَوَحused for the meeting of two unvowelled letters),
( َفرِذَحdue to it being the lightest of the three ) اٌْذَشَوَاخ, or the اٌْذَشَوَحcorresponding the previous اٌْذَشَوَح, like:
"ِّ "ٌَُِ َُّذ, "ٖ "ٌَُِ َ ُّذor "ٗ "ٌَُِ َ ُّذwhich was originally "ِ "ٌَُِ َ ِّذُدon the pattern of "ًُْ "ٌَ ُِ َ ْفؼ, the first of the two
َْٔاٌذٖاال
preceding unvowelled
is optionally unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the
ُُِّٔ ٌْ اbecoming "ِ "ٌَُِ َ ُّذِدand then the two unvowelled َْٔاٌذٖاال
meet and to escape their meeting the second is vowelled either with a the
َوغِشَج, َفرِذَحor
اٌؼّٖٖحwhich is the اٌْذَشَوَحthat corresponds to the اٌؼّٖٖحon the preceding ُُِّٔ ٌْ ا,
thus becoming either "َُِّّذ
ٌَُِ" , "ٖ "ٌَُِ َ ُّذor "ٗ "ٌَُِ َ ُّذ.
(e) When the second of two identical letters has the
( ػَ ُِّٔش اٌشٖفْغِ اٌْ ُّرَذَشِّنi.e. "َُِ " َفؼًَْ خ,
" " َفؼَ ذًَُّْا, "ًُِْ " َفؼَ ُذ, "ًُْٖٓ " َفؼَ ذ, "ًََْْ " َفؼand " ) " َفؼَ ًَْٔاsuffixed to it, then assimilation of the first into second is disallowed, like: "َُِ " َِذَدِخ, " " َِذَدِذَُّا, "ُِ " َِذَدُِذ, "ُٖٓ " َِذَدِذ, "َِْ " َِذَدand " " َِذَدَِٔا. (23) اإلِػِالَيis a type of change that affects weak letters as regards:
transforming one weak letter into another, like: " "دَػَاand "َ "لَايin which the األٌَٔف in both cases was transformed from a
وَاوas their original forms were " َ "دَ َػىand
"َ " َلىَيrespectively,
unvowelling the weak letter either through dropping the vowel completely or transferring it to an unvowelled letter before it, like: unvowelled by dropping the
"ِ "َذِ ُػىin which the اٌْىَاوwas
اٌؼّٖٖحas the original form was "ُ "َذِ ُػى, and like: "ُ"َ ُمىِي
in which the ا ٌْىَاوwas unvowelled by transferring the اٌؼّٖٖحto the unvowelled اٌْمَاف before it at the original form was "ُ "َ ْمىُي, and
dropping the weak letter, like: " ًُْ "لin which the
اٌْىَاوwas dropped due to the
meeting of two unvowelled letters as the original form was
" ْ "اُ ْلىُي, and then the
اٌْىَاوwas unvowelled by transferring the اٌؼّٖٖحto the preceding unvowelled اٌْمَاف becoming
" ْ"اُ ُلىِيand
the result is that the
unvowelled letters meet, namely: the unvowelled
ًَِِِّ٘ضَج اٌْىَط
is dropped and two
اٌْىَاوand the unvowelled ََّ اٌال,
and to escape this meeting the weak letter which is the unvowelled dropped, thus becoming "ًُْ "ل.
19
اٌْىَاو
is
The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to (a) When the ا ٌْىَاوor
اإلِػِالَي:
اٌَُْاءis vowelled and preceded by a letter bearing a َفرِذَح, it is
transformed into an ( ؤٌَٔفand it does not matter whether the
األٌَٔفis written as one or
as a dot-less ) ََاء, like: " "دَػَاwhich was originally "َػى َ َ"د, and "َ "لَايwhich was originally
"َ " َلىَيor "ًَِ" َسwhich was originally "ٌ َ َََ "سand " َ "تَاعwhich was originally " َ "َتَُغ, all of which are on the pattern of
" ًََ " َفؼbut because the اٌْىَاوand اٌَُْاءis vowelled and
preceded by a letter bearing a form of the
َفرِذَح, they were transformed into an ؤٌَٔف. The original
األٌَٔفcan be determined from the اٌْ ٔفؼًِ اٌْ ُّؼَاسِعand/or the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ ا, for
example:
""دَ ِػىَجً" – "َذِ ُػىِ" – "دَػَا "َ" َلىِالً" – "َ ُمىِيُ" – "لَاي "ًَِ" َسُِِاً" – "َ ِشٍِِٔ" – " َس "َ"َتُِؼاً" – "َِثُِغُ" – "تَاع (b) When the ا ٌْىَاوis unvowelled and occurs after a وغِشَج َ , it is transformed into a ََاء, like:
" " ِٔ ُِؼَادwhich was originally " " ِٔىِػَاد, and "ْ " ُِِٔضَاwhich was originally "ْ " ِٔ ِىصَا, but اٌْىَاو
because the
in each case is unvowelled and occurs after a
transformed into a ََاء. The original form of the
َوغِشَج
, it is
اٌَُْاءcan be determined from the ًِاٌْ ٔفؼ
ٍِٔ اٌَّْاػand/or the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ ا, for example: "َ"وَػِذاً" – "َ ٔؼ ُذ" – "وَ َػذ "ََْ" َوصِٔاً" – "َضِ ُْ" – " َوص (c) When the
اٌَُْاءis unvowelled and occurs after a عِٖح َ , it is transformed into a وَاو,
like: "ُٓٔ "َُىِلwhich was originally "ُٓٔ "َُ ُِم, and " because the second transformed into a
ُ "َُىِعٔشwhich was originally " ُ "َُ ُِغِش, but
اٌَُْاءin each case is unvowelled and occurs after a ػَّٖح, it is
وَاو. We know the original form of the اٌْىَاوto be a ََاءbecause of
the ٍِٔ اٌَّْاػbeing "ََٓ "ؤََِمand "َ "ؤَ َِغَشrespectively and the
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اof the root form being
"ُِٓ "اٌَُْ ٔمand " "اٌُْغِشrespectively. (d) When the
األٌَٔف
(which is always unvowelled) occurs after a
transformed into an unvowelled
َوغِشَج
, it is
ََاء, like: " " َِظَاِتُِخwhich was originally " " َِظَاتِاح, but 20
because the
األٌَٔفoccurs after a َوغِشَج, it is transformed into an unvowelled ََاء. We
know that the
اٌَُْاءwas originally an ؤٌَٔفbecause " " َِظَاِتُِخis the plural of "ظثَاح ِ ِٔ " and
the plural is formed from the singular. (e) When the
األٌَٔف
(which is always unvowelled) occurs after a
transformed into an unvowelled because the
ػَّٖح
, it is
وَاو, like: " َ " ُش ِى ٔ٘ذwhich was originally " َ "شُا ٔ٘ذ, but
األٌَٔفoccurs after a ػَّٖح, it is transformed into an unvowelled وَاو. We
know that the ا ٌْىَاوwas originally an ؤٌَٔفbecause "َش ِى ٔ٘ذ ُ " is the passive form of
"َ"شَا َ٘ذ
which is the active form, and the passive form is formed from the active form. (f) When the
اٌْىاوoccurs at the end of a word after a َوغِشَج, it is transformed into a
ََاء, like "ٍَٔ "سَػwhich was originally "َػى ٔ َ "س, but because the اٌْىَاوoccurs at the end after a وغِشَج َ , it is transformed into a because the
ََاء. We know that the اٌَُْاءwas originally a وَاو
ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اis "ْػىَا ِ ِ "سand the popular view is that the ًِ اٌْ ٔفؼis derived from
the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ ا. (g) When the ا ٌْىَاوand the ا ٌَُْاءmeet and one of them precedes the other in bearing a
ِْعُ ُىى
(i.e. the first of them is unvowelled), then the
transformed into a
اٌْىَاو
is always going to be
ََاء, like: " "عَُِّذwhich was originally " " َع ُِىِدon the pattern of "ًٔ" َف ُِؼ,
but because the ا ٌْىَاوand the ا ٌَُْاءmeet and the first of them is unvowelled, the ا ٌْىَاوis transformed into a ََاء. We know that the second of the double and emphatic ا ٌَُْاءwas originally a وَاوbecause of the ّؼَاسِع ُ ٌْ اbeing "ُغىِد ُ َ" . (h) When the ا ٌْىَاوoccurs at the end of a word and it is the fourth letter and upwards ,
[ ََاءand it does not matter if the اٌَُْاءis subsequently
then it is transformed into a transformed into an
" َجى َ َِٔ"ؤ
ؤٌَٔفaccording to rule (a) or not], like: "ًَ "ؤَِٔجwhich was originally
, but because the
transformed into a
اٌْىَاو
occurs at the end and it is the fourth letter, it is
ََاء, which in turn is transformed into an ( ؤٌَٔفbut written as a dot-
less ) ََاءaccording to rule (a). (i) When the
اٌْىَاوor the اٌَُْاءoccurs at the end of a word after a vowelled letter, then
their اٌْذَشَوَحis dropped if it is a
ػَّٖحor a ( َوغِشَجbut retained if it is a ) َفرِذَح, like: ِ"َذذِ ُػى
"ٌِ بًٌَِ إٌٖا ٔدwhich was originally "ٌِ "َذذِ ُػىُ بًٌَِ إٌٖا ٔد, but because the اٌْىَاوof "ُ "َذذِ ُػىbears a ػَّٖحand the ا ٌَُْاءof "
ٌِ "إٌٖا ٔدa َوغِشَجand both these letters occur after a vowelled 21
letter, the to "ٍِِٔاٌْجَا
اٌؼّٖٖحon the اٌْىَاوand the اٌْ َىغِشَجon the اٌَُْاءare dropped. This also applies
ًٍََ "َ ْمؼٍِٔ اٌْمَاػٍِٔ ػwhich was originally "ٍِِٔ "َ ْمؼٍُٔ اٌْمَاػٍُٔ ػًٍََ اٌْجَا.
(j) When the second root letter (also called the “ّٔح َ ٍَٔاٌْى (i.e. a vowelled
اٌْذَشَوَح
وَاو
or
ُِٓ ) " َػis a vowelled weak letter
) ََاءand occurs after an unvowelled strong letter, then the
of the second root letter is transferred to the unvowelled strong letter.
Thereafter, if the second root letter (which is the
اٌْىَاو
or
اٌَُْاء
) is not the
corresponding sister letter of the اٌْذَشَوَحthat was transferred to the unvowelled strong letter before it, then the second root letter is transformed into the corresponding sister letter of the transferred اٌْذَشَوَح. This is like:
"ُ "َ ُمىِيwhich was originally "ُ "َ ْمىُي, "ُ "َِثُِغwhich was originally "ُ "َ ِثُِغ, "ُُُِ "َُ ٔمwhich was originally "َُِ "َُ ْمىwhich then became "َُِ "َُ ٔمىand then finally "ُُُِ "َُ ٔم, "ُ "َخَافwhich was originally "ُخىَف ِ َ" which then became " ُخىِف َ َ" and then finally
"ُ "َخَاف. (k) When two unvowelled letters meet and one of them is a weak letter, then it is dropped, like:
"ًُْ "لwhich was originally "ْ "اُ ْلىُيwhich then became "ْ "اُ ُلىِي, then " ْ " ُلىِيand then finally "ًُْ "ل,
"ِ "تِغwhich was originally "ِ "أِتُِغ, which then became " ِ "أِتُِغ, then " ِ ِتُِغand then finally "ِ "تِغ,
"ُ "ؤَلَِّد, which was originally "ُ( "ؤَلَاِِدbut even before this it was " ُ "ؤَ ْل َىِِد, which then became "ُ "ؤَ َل ِىِِدand then "ُ "ؤَلَاِِد, and then finally "ُ "ؤَلَِّد. (l) When the
ًِاٌْ ٔفؼ
is naked triliteral starting with a
وَاو
(which is referred to as
"ٌ ٓ ِ ) "ثُالَثٍٔٓ ُِجَشٖد ِٔثَاي وَاوon the pattern of "ًُٔ( "َ ْفؼwhether it is originally on that pattern or not), then the
اٌْىَاوis dropped from the اٌْ ُّؼَاسِع, the ا َألِِشand the ظذَس ِ َّ ٌْ اand the
latter case it is compensated for by adding a َِشُِتىِؿَح
"ًُٔ "َظwhich was originally "ًُٔ"َىِط "ًْٔ "طwhich was originally "ًْٔ"ٔاوِط
22
ذَاء, like:
" "طٍَٔحwhich was originally "ًِ "وِط. (24) اإلِتِذايis a change that involves the substitution of one letter for another. The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to اإلِ ِتذَاي: (a) When the ا ٌْىَاوor the ا ٌَُْاءoccurs at the end of a word after an additional ؤٌَٔف, then it is substituted for by a َِّ٘ضَج, like:
"ٌ "دُػَاءwhich was originally "ْ ("دُػَاوbecause it is from ") "َذِ ُػىِ" – "دَػَا, "ٌ "ِتَٕاءwhich was originally "ٌْ( "ِتَٕاbecause it is from "ًَٕ) "َ ِثٍِِٕ" – "َت (b) When the
اٌْىَاوor the اٌَُْاءoccurs after the األٌَٔفof "ًٌٔ( "فَاػi.e. the ًِٔ اعُِ اٌْفَاػof the
first form), then it is substituted for by a َِّ٘ضَج, like:
"ًٌٔ "لَائwhich was originally "ٌ( "لَاوِيbecause it is from "َ) "َ ُمىِيُ" – "لَاي, "ْ "تَائٔغwhich was originally "ْ( "تَاَِغbecause it is from "َ) "َِثُِغُ" – "تَاع (c) When the
( اٌْفَاءi.e. the first root letter) of " ًََ "أ ْفَرؼis a وَاوor a ََاء, then it is
substituted for by a ذَاءwhich is then assimilated into the اٌرٖاءof "ًََ "أ ْفَرؼ, like:
"ًََ "أٖذظwhich was originally "ًََ "ٔاوَِذظwhich then became " ًََ "أِذَرظand then finally
"ًََ( "أٖذظbecause it is from "ًََ) "َظًُٔ" – "وَط, "َ "أٖذغَشwhich was originally " َ "أََِرغَشwhich then became " َ "أِذَرغَشand then finally
"َ( "أٖذغَشbecause it is from "َ) "َ ُِغُشُ" – "َغُش. (d) When the ( اٌْفَاءi.e. the first root letter) of "ًََ "أ ْفَرؼis a ثَاء, then it is substituted for by a ثَاءand the first اٌثَّاءis then assimilated into the second, like:
"َ "أثََّإسwhich was originally "َ "أْثرََإسwhich then became "َ "أْثثََإسand then finally "َ "أثََّإس. (e) When the
( اٌْفَاءi.e. the first root letter) of "ًََ "أ ْفَرؼis a دَاي, a َرايor a ٌ صَا, then the
اٌرٖاءof "ًَ "أ ْفَر َؼis substituted for by a دَاي, like: "ًَ "أدٖػwhich was originally " ًَ "أدَِذؼwhich then became " ًَ "أدِدَػand then finally
"ًَ "أدٖػ, 23
"َ "أرْدَوَشwhich was originally "َ "أرْذَىَشwhich then became "َ( "أرْدَوَشalso permissible for "َ "أرْدَوَشare: "َ "أرَّوَشand "َ) "أدٖوَش,
"َ "ٔاصِ َدَ٘شwhich was originally "َ "ٔاصِذَهَشwhich then became "َ "ٔاصِ َدَ٘ش. (f) When the ( اٌْفَاءi.e. the first root letter) of "ًََ "أ ْفَرؼis a طَاد, a ػَاد, a
ؽ اء َ or a ظَاء,
then the اٌرٖاءof "ًََ "أ ْفَرؼis substituted for by a ؿَاء, like:
"ًَـف َ ِ "أطwhich was originally "ًَطَرف ِ ٔ "اwhich then became "ًَ "أطِ َـف, " "أػِـَشَبwhich was originally "َػرَشَب ِ ٔ "اwhich then became "َ"أػِـَشَب, "َ "أؿٍََّغwhich was originally " َ "أ ْؿرٍََغwhich then became " َ "أؿْـٍََغand then finally
"َ "أؿٍََّغ, "ٍََُ َ "ٔاظْـwhich was originally "ٍََُ َ "أ ْظرwhich then became " ٍََُ َ( "أظْـalso permissible for "ٍََُ َ "أظْـare: "ٍََُ َّ "أظand "ٍََُ َّ) "أؿ (g) When two
ْٔ َٖ ِِضَذَاmeet in one word, and the first of them is vowelled and the
second unvowelled, then the second is substitute for by a
ٍّدَشِف َِذ
(letter of
prolongation) which is the corresponding sister letter of the preceding دَشَوَح, like:
"ََِٓ "آwhich was originally "ََِٓ"ؤَْؤ "ُِٓٔ "ُؤ ِوwhich was originally "ُِٓٔ"ُؤ ِئ "ْ "بََِِّاwhich was originally "ْ "بِئَّْا. متّ ِت َؼىِْ اهلل ذؼاىل
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