Sarf

in
Short
 ‫بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم‬

‫الصرف‬
َّ investigates the behaviour of the word (‫ )الْ َكلِ َمة‬individually i.e. not in
(1) ‫الص ْرف‬

relation to other words (‫كلِ َمات‬

َ ) in the sentence (‫ْج ْملَة‬
ُ ‫)ال‬. More specifically, it
investigates the ‫ الْ َكلِ َمة‬from 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 ‫كلِ َمة‬

َ َْ‫ ال‬in Arabic is of three types:

(a) the ‫االسم‬

ْ (noun which includes adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, etc.) e.g. ‫طَالِب‬
َ ‫( ِر‬letter, message),
(student), ‫سالَة‬ ‫( َقلَم‬pen), etc.

(b) the ‫( ال ِْف ْعل‬verb) e.g. ‫ب‬

َ َ‫( َكت‬wrote), ‫ب‬
ُ ُ‫( يَ ْكت‬write, will write) and ‫ب‬
ْ ُ‫( اُ ْكت‬Write!)

(c) the ‫ْح ْرف‬

َ ‫( ال‬particle) e.g. ‫( َه ْل‬used to convert statements into questions), ‫( فِ ْي‬in),
‫َم‬
ْ ‫( ل‬did not), etc.

(3) The ‫ْح ْرف‬ ِ

َ ‫ ال‬and those of the ‫االسم‬
ْ and ‫ الْف ْعل‬which resemble the ‫ْح ْرف‬ َ ‫ال‬
ِ
structurally, semantically and functionally (such as the ‫َس َماء‬ ْ ‫ أ‬, ‫َّمائِر‬
ْ ‫ األ‬, ‫َس َماء ا ِإل َش َارة‬ َ ‫الض‬
‫الش ْر ِط‬ ْ ‫ أ‬, ‫االستِ ْف َه ِام‬
َّ ‫َس َماء‬ ْ ‫َس َماء‬
ْ ‫ أ‬, ‫ص ْولَة‬
ُ ‫ ال َْم ْو‬, etc.) do not form part of the subject-matter of
‫الص ْرف‬
َّ because of the fact that their rigid structures are not amenable to the type of
changes that is commonly studied in ‫الص ْرف‬ َّ only deals with the ‫ال ِْف ْعل‬
َّ . Hence, ‫الص ْرف‬
and the ‫االسم‬
ْ and more specifically those among them that do not bear any
structural, semantic or functional resemblance to the ‫ْح ْرف‬
َ ‫ال‬.

(4) ‫الص ْرف‬

َّ can be divided into three sections:

1
 ِ ‫ال‬
(a) ‫ْف ْع ِل‬ ‫ص ْرف‬
َ (Morphology of the Verb),

(b) ‫االس ِم‬

ْ ‫ص ْرف‬
َ (Morphology of the Noun) and

ً‫االس ِم َمعا‬ ِ
(c) ْ ‫ص ْرف الْف ْع ِل َو‬
َ (Morphology of the Verb and Noun together), also called "
‫الص ْرف ال ُْم ْشَت َرك‬
َّ " (Shared Morphology i.e. the Morphology common to the Verb and
Noun).

2
 ‫ص ْرف ال ِْف ْع ِل‬
َ
ِ ‫ال‬
(5) ‫ْف ْع ِل‬ ِ
َ investigates the ‫ الْف ْع ِل‬from seven perspectives:
‫ص ْرف‬

(a) the time of the occurrence of the action

(b) the number of ‫َصلِيَّة‬

ْ ‫َح ُرف األ‬
ْ ‫( األ‬number of root letters)

(c) the presence or absence of ‫َح ُرف ِعلَّ ٍة‬ ِ

ْ ‫( أ‬weak letters, namely: the ‫ ال َْواو‬, the ‫األَلف‬
and the ‫ ) الْيَاء‬among the root letters

(d) intransitivity and transitivity

(e) the presence or absence of the ِ ‫( الْ َف‬doer / subject of the verbal sentence)
‫اعل‬

(f) flexibility and inflexibility (i.e. rigidity)

(g) intensification or non-intensification

(6) The first perspective: the time of the occurrence of the action

ِ ‫ ال‬from this perspective is divided into three categories:

The ‫ْف ْعل‬
ِ ‫الْم‬
(a) ‫اضي‬
ْ َ ‫( ال ِْف ْعل‬past tense / perfect), which denotes the occurrence of the action in
the past, like: "‫ب‬
َ َ‫( " َكت‬wrote),
(b) ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ال ُْم‬ ‫( ال ِْف ْعل‬present or future tense / imperfect), which denotes the occurrence
of the action in the present or future tense, like: "‫ب‬
ُ ُ‫( "يَ ْكت‬write/s or will write), and
(c) ‫( فِ ْعل األ َْم ِر‬verb of command / imperative), which denotes the request for the
occurrence of the action in the future, like: "‫ب‬
ْ ُ‫( "اُ ْكت‬Write!)

(7) The second perspective: the number of ‫َصلِيَّة‬

ْ ‫َح ُرف األ‬
ْ ‫( األ‬number of root
letters)

ِ ‫ ال‬from this perspective is divided into two categories:

The ‫ْف ْعل‬

ّ ‫ فِ ْعل‬comprising three root letters, like: "‫ب‬

(a) ‫( الثُّالَثِي‬triliteral), which is a َ َ‫( " َكت‬wrote)
ِ ُّ (quadriliteral), which is a ‫ فِعل‬comprising four root letters, like: "‫" َدحرج‬
(b) ‫اعي‬
ّ َ‫الرب‬ ْ َ َْ
(rolled)

Each of these two categories is sub-divided into two more categories.

3
Thus, the ‫ الثُّالَثِي‬is sub-divided into:
ّ
ِ ِ
َ ‫( الثُّالَث ّي ال ُْم‬naked / divested triliteral), which is any ‫ ثُالَث ّي‬divested and stripped
(i) ‫ج َّرد‬

of any additional letters such that it only consists of root letters, like: "‫ج‬ َ ‫( " َخ َر‬went
out), "‫ِح‬
َ ‫( "فَر‬was happy), "‫س َن‬
ُ ‫( " َح‬was good), etc. and
(ii) ‫ْم ِزيْد‬
َ ‫ال‬ ‫( الثُّالَثِ ّي‬increased / augmented triliteral), which is any ‫ ثُالَثِ ّي‬whose root form
is increased by the addition of up to three letters, like: "‫ج‬ َ ‫( "أَ ْخ َر‬put out, threw out), "
‫( "تَ َخ َّر َج‬graduated), "‫( "اِ ْستَ ْخ َر َج‬took out, extracted), etc.

ِ ‫الرب‬
Likewise, the ‫اعي‬َ ُّ is sub-divided into:
ّ
(i) ‫ج َّرد‬ ِ ُّ (naked / divested quadriliteral), which is any ‫اعي‬
ِ
َ ‫الربَاع ّي ال ُْم‬ ّ َ‫ ُرب‬divested and
stripped of any additional letters such that it only consists of root letters, like: "‫ج‬ َ ‫" َد ْح َر‬
(rolled), "‫ن‬
َ َ‫( "طَ ْمأ‬put at ease), etc. and
(ii) ‫ْم ِزيْد‬ ِ ‫الرب‬ ِ
َ ‫ال‬‫اع ّي‬َ ُّ (increased / augmented quadriliteral), which is any ‫ ُربَاع ّي‬whose root
form is increased by the addition of up to two letters, like: "‫ج‬ َ ‫( "تَ َد ْح َر‬was rolled), "
َّ ‫( "اِط َْمأ‬was at ease), etc.
‫َن‬

(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 ‫ ال َْواو‬, the ‫ األَلِف‬and the ‫ ) الْيَاء‬among the root letters

ِ ‫ ال‬from this perspective is divided into two categories:

The ‫ْف ْعل‬

ِ ‫الص‬
(a) ‫ح ْيح‬ َّ (sound / strong), which is a ‫ فِ ْعل‬whose root letters are free from ‫َح ُرف ِعلَّ ٍة‬
ْ‫أ‬
(weak letters), and consists of three types:

(i) ‫السالِم‬
َّ ‫الص ِح ْيح‬
َّ (super sound / strong), which is a ‫ص ِح ْيح‬ ِ ْ َّ‫الت‬
َ that is free from ‫ضع ْيف‬
(doubling i.e. have two identical root letters) and ‫( ال َْه ْمز‬having one of the root letters
as a ‫) َه ْم َزة‬, like: "‫ج‬
َ ‫" َخ َر‬ , "‫ب‬
َ َ‫ " َكت‬, etc.

(ii) ‫اعف‬
َ‫ض‬ َ ‫ال ُْم‬ َ ‫الص ِح ْيح ال ُْم‬
/ ‫ض َّعف‬ َّ (doubled strong), which is a ‫ص ِح ْيح‬
َ that has two
identical root letters, like: "‫( " َم َّد‬extended, lengthened), "‫ْز َل‬
َ ‫( " َزل‬quaked, shook), etc.

(iii) ‫ْم ْه ُم ْوز‬

َ ‫ال‬ ‫الص ِح ْيح‬
َّ (hamzated strong), which is a ‫ص ِح ْيح‬
َ that has one of the root
َ ‫( "أَ َك‬ate), "‫( " َسأ ََل‬asked), "َ‫( " َق َرأ‬read), etc.
letters as a ‫ َه ْم َزة‬, like: "‫ل‬

4
(b) ‫ل‬ ِ
ّ َ‫( ال ُْم ْعت‬weak), which is a ‫ ف ْعل‬whose root form constitutes at least one of the three
‫َح ُرف ال ِْعلَّ ِة‬
ْ ‫ أ‬and comprises four types:
ِ ‫( ال‬quasi-sound), which is a
(i) ‫ْمثَال‬ ‫ ُم ْعتَ ّل‬whose first root letter is a ‫( َح ْرف ِعلَّ ٍة‬weak
letter), like: "‫ل‬ ِ
َ‫ص‬َ ‫( " َو‬reached, arrived), "‫س‬ َ ‫( "يَب‬was dried), etc.
(ii) ‫َج َوف‬
ْ ‫( األ‬hollow), which is a ‫ ُم ْعتَ ّل‬whose second root letter is a ‫ َح ْرف ِعلَّ ٍة‬, like: "‫ال‬
َ َ‫"ق‬
(said), "‫اع‬
َ َ‫( "ب‬sold), etc.

(iii) ‫( النَّاقِص‬defective), which is a ‫ ُم ْعتَ ّل‬whose last root letter is a ‫ َح ْرف ِعلَّ ٍة‬, like: "‫" َد َعا‬
(called, invited), "‫( " َر َمى‬threw, cast), etc.

(iv) ‫( اللَّ ِف ْيف‬two-folded), which is a ‫ل‬

ّ َ‫ ُم ْعت‬whose first and third root letters or second
and third root letters are from the ‫َح ُرف ال ِْعلَّ ِة‬
ْ ‫ أ‬, like: "‫( " َوقَى‬protected, safeguarded), "
‫( " َو َعى‬comprehended, fathomed), "‫( " َن َوى‬intended), "‫( " َر َوى‬reported, narrated), etc.

(9) The fourth perspective: intransitivity and transitivity

ِ ‫ ال‬from this perspective is divided into two categories:

The ‫ْف ْعل‬

‫ فِ ْعل‬whose action is confined to the ‫اعل‬

(a) ‫( الالَّ ِزم‬intransitive), which is a ِ ‫( الْ َف‬doer /
subject of a verbal sentence) and not transferred directly onto a ‫( َم ْفعُ ْول بِ ِه‬direct

object), like: "‫ِح‬

َ ‫( "فَر‬was happy), "‫( " َجلَس‬sat), etc.
َ
(b) ‫ِّي‬ ِ ‫ الْ َف‬but is
‫ فِ ْعل‬whose action is not confined to the ‫اعل‬
ْ ‫( ال ُْمَت َعد‬transitive), which is a
transferred directly onto a ‫ َم ْفعُ ْول بِ ِه‬, and further comprises three types:

ِ‫و‬
(i) ‫اح ٍد‬ ‫ِّي إِلَى َم ْفعُ ْو ٍل‬
َ ْ ‫( ال ُْمَت َعد‬transitive to one direct object only i.e. singly transitive),
like: "‫ب‬
َ َ‫ " َكت‬in for example: "َ‫الر َسالَة‬
ِّ ‫ب َزيْ ٌد‬
َ َ‫( " َكت‬Zayd wrote the letter),

(ii) ‫ن‬ ‫ِّي إِلَى‬

ِ ‫َم ْفعُ ْول َْي‬
ْ ‫( ال ُْمَت َعد‬transitive to two direct objects i.e. doubly transitive), like: "‫"ظَ َّن‬
in for example: "ً‫ك ِريْما‬ َ ً‫( "ظَ َّن َزيْ ٌد َخالِدا‬Zayd thought Khalid to be noble / generous),
and "‫ "أَ ْعطَى‬in "ً‫خالِداً كِتَابا‬ َ ‫( "أَ ْعطَى َزيْ ٌد‬Zayd gave Khalid a book), and

(iii) ‫ل‬ ِ ‫ِّي إِلَى ثَالَثَِة‬

َ ‫َم َفاع ْي‬ ْ ‫( ال ُْمَت َعد‬transitive to three direct objects, i.e. triply transitive), like: "
‫ "أَ ْعلَ َم‬in for example: "ً‫( "أَ ْعلَ َم َعلِ ٌّي َزيْداً َخالِداً َك ِريْما‬Ali informed Zayd that Khalid is noble

5
 ِ
/ generous), and "‫َرى‬
َ ‫ "أ‬in "ً‫َس ْهلَة‬ َ ‫س الطَّال‬
َ‫ب ال َْم ْسأَلَة‬ ُ ‫( "أ ََرى ال ُْم َد ِّر‬The teacher made the
student see the problem as being easy)

Some scholars add a third category, namely: that which is neither ‫ الَ ِزم‬nor ‫ ُمَت َع ٍّد‬, and
comprises verbs such as "‫ن‬
َ ‫ " َكا‬and its sisters and "‫اد‬
َ ‫ " َك‬and its sisters.

(10) The fifth perspective: the presence or absence of the ِ ‫( الْ َف‬doer / subject
‫اعل‬
of the verbal sentence)

ِ ‫ ال‬from this perspective is divided into two categories:

The ‫ْف ْعل‬

(a) ‫( ال َْم ْبنِ ّي لِل َْم ْعلُ ْوِم‬active form of the verb), which is a ‫ فِ ْعل‬whose ‫اعل‬
ِ ‫ الْ َف‬is mentioned
(even in the implied and implicit sense) in the sentence and not dropped, like:

ِ ِ
"‫ب‬
َ َ‫ " َكت‬in "‫اب‬
َ َ‫الْخط‬ ُ ‫ب الطَّال‬
‫ب‬ َ َ‫( " َكت‬The student wrote the letter),
"‫ب‬ ِ ِ َّ
ُ ُ‫ "يَ ْكت‬in "‫اب‬
َ َ‫ب الْخط‬ ُ ‫ب الطال‬ ُ ُ‫( "يَ ْكت‬The student is writing the letter), and
"‫ب‬ َ ْ‫ب [أَن‬
ْ ُ‫ "اُ ْكت‬in "]‫ت‬ ْ ُ‫[ "اُ ْكت‬Write (you)]

(b) ‫ج ُه ْو ِل‬ ِ ِ ‫ الْ َف‬is not

‫( ال َْم ْبنِ ّي‬passive form of the verb), which is a ‫ فِ ْعل‬whose ‫اعل‬
ْ ‫لل َْم‬
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
‫( ال َْم ْفعُ ْول بِ ِه‬direct object), like:

"‫ب‬ ِ ِ ِ
َ ‫ " ُكت‬in "‫اب‬
ُ َ‫الْخط‬ ‫ب‬َ ‫( " ُكت‬The letter was written) and
"‫ب‬ ِ
ُ َ‫ "يُ ْكت‬in "‫اب‬
ُ َ‫ب الْخط‬ُ َ‫( "يُ ْكت‬The letter is being written)
(11) The sixth perspective: flexibility and inflexibility (i.e. rigidity)

ِ ‫ ال‬from this perspective is divided into two categories:

The ‫ْف ْعل‬

(a) ‫ص ِّرف‬
َ َ‫( ال ُْمت‬flexible), which is of two types:
ِ ‫التَّص ُّر‬
(i) ‫ف‬ ‫َّام‬ ِ ِ
َ ّ ‫( الت‬fully-flexible), which is a ‫ ف ْعل‬that exists in all three states of the ‫ الْف ْعل‬,
that is: the ‫اضي‬ ِ
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬, the ‫ضارِع‬َ ‫ ال ُْم‬and the ‫ األ َْمر‬, like:
ِ ‫الْم‬
‫اض ْي‬ ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ال ُْم‬ ‫األ َْمر‬ Meaning
َ
‫ب‬َ َ‫َكت‬ ‫ب‬ُ ُ‫يَ ْكت‬ ‫ب‬ْ ُ‫اُ ْكت‬
to write, record

‫ب‬
َ ‫ض َر‬
َ ُ ‫ض ِر‬
‫ب‬ ْ َ‫ي‬ ْ ‫ض ِر‬
‫ب‬ ْ ِ‫ا‬ To hit, beat, strike

6
 ِ ‫التَّص ُّر‬
(ii) ‫ف‬ ‫( النَّاقِص‬semi-flexible), which is a ‫ فِ ْعل‬that exists in only two of the three
َ
states, that is: the ‫اضي‬ ِ
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬and the ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ ال ُْم‬only, or the ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ ال ُْم‬and the ‫ األ َْمر‬only, like:
ِ ‫الْم‬
‫اض ْي‬ ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ال ُْم‬ ‫األ َْمر‬ Meaning
َ
‫اد‬
َ ‫َك‬ ‫اد‬
ُ ‫يَ َك‬
to be on the verge, almost, nearly

‫ال‬
َ ‫(ما) َز‬َ ‫ال‬
ُ ‫(ما) َي َز‬
َ
to continue

ُ‫يَ َدع‬ ‫ع‬

ْ ‫َد‬
to leave, abandon

‫يَ َذ ُر‬ ‫ذَ ْر‬ to leave, abandon

ِ ‫( الْج‬rigid), which is a
(b) ‫امد‬ ‫ فِ ْعل‬that exists in only one of the three states, like:
َ
ِ ‫الْم‬
‫اض ْي‬ ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ال ُْم‬ ‫األ َْمر‬ Meaning
َ
‫س‬
َ ‫ل َْي‬
not

‫َع َسى‬ hopefully

ُ ‫يَ ِه ْي‬
‫ط‬ shouts, makes a noise

‫ال‬
َ ‫َت َع‬ Come!

ِ ‫َه‬
‫ات‬ Give!

(12) The seventh perspective: intensification or non-intensification

ِ ‫ ال‬from this perspective is divided into two categories:

The ‫ْف ْعل‬

‫ فِ ْعل‬that has either the ‫ُن ْون الت َّْوكِْي ِد الث َِّق ْيلَة‬
َّ ‫( ال ُْم َؤ‬corroborated), which is a
(a) ‫كد‬

(emphatic ‫ُّون‬ ِ ِِ
ْ ‫ الن‬of corroboration) or the ‫( ُن ْون الت َّْوك ْيد الْ َخف ْي َفة‬non-emphatic ‫ الن ُّْون‬of
corroboration) suffixed to it.

(b) ‫ك ِد‬
َّ ‫ال ُْم َؤ‬ ‫( غَْير‬non-corroborated), which is a ‫ فِ ْعل‬that does not have the
‫ ُن ْون الت َّْوكِْي ِد الث َِّق ْيلَة‬or the ‫ ُن ْون الت َّْوكِْي ِد الْ َخ ِف ْي َفة‬suffixed to it.

ِ ‫ الْم‬the suffixing of the ‫ ُنون التَّوكِْي ِد‬is disallowed.

‫اض ْي‬
In the case of the َ ْ ْ

In the case of the ‫َمر‬

ْ ‫ األ‬the suffixing of the ‫ نُ ْون الت َّْوكِ ْي ِد‬is optional, like: "‫ك‬
َ َّ‫" َوا ْعبُ َد َّن َرب‬
[Worship your Lord (in the emphatic sense)], "‫ك‬
َ َّ‫َرب‬ ‫[ " َوا ْعبُ ْد‬Worship your Lord (in the
non-emphatic sense)], etc.

7
In the case of the َ ‫ ال ُْم‬the suffixing of the ‫ ُن ْون الت َّْوكِْي ِد‬is either:
‫ضارِع‬

(i) necessary, which is when the ‫ضارِع‬ َ ‫ ال ُْم‬denotes the future and is in the affirmative
in an oath construction with the ‫س ِم‬ َ ‫ الالم( الَم الْ َق‬of oath) not being separated from it,
like: "‫ام ِة‬ ِ ِ
َ َ‫( " َواهلل لَنُْب َعثَ َّن َي ْو َم الْقي‬By Allah! We will be raised on the Day of Resurrection), ﴿
ْ ‫اهلل أَل َكِ ْي َد َّن أ‬
‫َصنَ َام ُك ْم‬ ِ َ‫( ﴾ت‬By Allah! I will play a trick on your idols), or

(ii) close to being necessary, which is when the ‫ضارِع‬

َ ‫ ال ُْم‬is preceded by the
conditional "‫( "إِ ْن‬meaning “if”) that is assimilated into the additional "‫ " َما‬so as to form

"‫ "إِ َّما‬, like: "‫ح‬ ِ َ ْ‫( "إِ َّما تَ ْجتَ ِه َد َّن فَأَن‬If you really work hard, then you will be successful),
ٌ ‫نَاج‬ ‫ت‬
or

(iii) often, which is when the ‫ضارِع‬ ٍ َ‫( أ ََداة طَل‬particle of request
َ ‫ ال ُْم‬is preceded by an ‫ب‬
such as command, prohibition, supplication, gentle or urgent request, wishing,
َ ‫الظَّالِ ُم ْو‬
inquiring), like: ﴿‫ن‬ ‫( ﴾ َوالَ تَ ْح َسبَ َّن اهللَ غَافِالً َع َّما َي ْع َم ُل‬Do not think that Allah is
unmindful of what the wrongdoers are doing)

(iv) rare, which is when the ‫ضارِع‬ َ ‫ ال ُْم‬is preceded by the negative "َ‫ "ال‬or the additional
َّ ‫ص ْيبَ َّن الَّ ِذيْ َن ظَلَ ُم ْوا ِم ْن ُك ْم َخ‬
"‫ " َما‬, like: ﴿ً‫اصة‬ ِ ُ‫( ﴾و َّات ُقوا فِ ْتنَةً الَ ت‬And guard yourselves against
ْ َ
a severe punishment which will not only afflict the wrongdoers …)

‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ ال ُْم‬is preceded by "‫َم‬ ٍ
(v) very rare, which is when the ْ ‫ "ل‬or an ‫أ ََداة َج َزاء‬
(conditional word) other than "‫( "إِ َّما‬and it makes no difference whether it is in the
َّ or ‫الش ْر ِط‬
position the ‫الش ْرط‬ َّ ‫ ) َج َواب‬and is found mostly in poetry, like:

‫أَبَداً َو َق ْت ُل بَنِ ْي ُقَت ْيبَةَ َشافِ ْي‬ * ٍ ِ‫َم ْن َت ْث َق َف ْن ِم ْن ُه ْم َفلَْيس بِآئ‬

‫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
َ ‫الظَّالِ ُم ْو‬
is violated, like: "‫ن‬ ‫اهلل الَ ي ْفلِ ُح‬
ِ ‫( "و‬By Allah! The wrongdoers will not be
َ
successful)

‫االس ِم‬
ْ ‫ص ْرف‬
َ

8
(13) ‫االس ِم‬
ْ ‫ص ْرف‬
َ investigates the ‫االسم‬
ْ also 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 ‫االسم‬
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:

(a) ‫ج َّرد‬
َ ‫( ال ُْم‬naked or divested), which is an ‫اسم‬
ْ divested and stripped of any
additional letters and comprises three types:

(i) ‫الثُّالَثِي‬ ‫( ال ُْم َج َّرد‬trilateral naked), like: "‫( " َر ُجل‬man), "‫( " َف َرس‬horse, mare), etc.
ّ
ِ ‫الرب‬
(ii) ‫اعي‬ ‫( ال ُْم َج َّرد‬quadriliteral naked), like: "‫( " َج ْع َفر‬Ja’far, brooklet), "‫( " ِد ْر َهم‬dirham),
ّ َ ُّ
etc.

ِ ‫الْ ُخم‬
(iii) ‫اسي‬ ‫( ال ُْم َج َّرد‬quinqueliteral naked), like: "‫( " َس َف ْر َجل‬quince), etc.
َّ

(b) ‫ْم ِزيْد‬

َ ‫( ال‬increased or augmented), which is an ‫اسم‬
ْ that 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
ِ َ‫( ف‬someone understanding)
‫اهم‬ ‫َف ْهم‬ the ‫األلف‬
‫ض ُر ْوب‬ ْ ‫( َم‬beaten, coined) ‫ض ْرب‬
َ the ‫ الميم‬and ‫الواو‬
‫( ُم ْستَ ْس ِهل‬someone finding something ‫َس ْهل‬ the ‫ السين‬, ‫ الميم‬and ‫التاء‬
easy)
‫( اِ ْستِ ْخ َراج‬extracting, taking out) ‫خرج‬ the , ‫ السين‬, ‫همزة الوصل‬
‫ التاء‬and ‫األلف‬
Quadriliteral
Root
‫( ُم َد ْحرِج‬someone rolling something) ‫َد ْح َرج‬ the ‫الميم‬
‫( ُمتَ َد ْحرِج‬something being rolled) ‫َد ْح َرج‬ the ‫ الميم‬and ‫التاء‬

‫( اِ ْح ِرنْ َجام‬gathering, assembling) ‫َح ْر َجم‬ the ‫النون‬ , ‫ همزة الوصل‬,

and ‫األلف‬
Quinqueliteral
Root
‫ْسبِْيل‬
َ ‫( َسل‬the of a well in Jannah) ‫ْسبَل‬
َ ‫َسل‬ the ‫الياء‬
‫( َز ْي َز ُف ْون‬jujube, linden tree) ‫َز ْي َزفَن‬ the ‫الواو‬
‫( َزنْ َجبِْيل‬ginger) ‫َزنْ َجبَل‬ the ‫الياء‬

(15) The second perspective: rigidity and derivation

The ‫االسم‬
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:
ِ ‫( الْج‬rigid / non-derived), which is an
(a) ‫امد‬ ‫اسم‬
َ ْ that is not derived from anything and
comprises two types:

ِ ‫الذ‬
َّ
(i) ‫ات‬ ْ or ‫اسم ال َْع ْي ِن‬
‫اسم‬ ْ (concrete noun), which is an ‫اسم‬
ْ that 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: "‫جل‬
ُ ‫( " َر‬man), "‫( " َف َرس‬horse, mare), and

(ii) ‫ْم ْعنَى‬

َ ‫ال‬ ‫اسم‬
ْ (abstract noun), which is an ‫اسم‬
ْ – even though it is non-derivative – all
derivatives are derived from it and is thus appropriately called the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫( ال َْم‬ultimate
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: "‫ج َمال‬ َ َ‫( "غ‬anger), "‫"كِتَابَة‬
َ " (beauty), "‫( " ُح ْسن‬goodness), "‫( "بَياض‬whiteness), "‫ضب‬
(writing), "‫جلُ ْوس‬
ُ " (sitting), etc.

‫ْج َمال‬ ِ
[Thus, if something possesses the quality of َ ‫ ال‬you can say that it is ‫َجم ْيل‬
‫ضب‬َ َ‫( الْغ‬anger) you can say that he is ‫ضبَان‬
(beautiful), or if someone is in a state of ْ َ‫غ‬
ِ ‫( ال‬writing) you can say that he is
(angry) or if someone performs the action of ‫ْكتَابَة‬

‫( َكاتِب‬someone writing), etc.]

(b) ‫ق‬
ّ َ‫( ال ُْم ْشت‬derivative), which is an ‫اسم‬
ْ that is formed from the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْ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:

[someone / something + quality / state / action = derivative]

ِ ‫الْ َف‬
(i) ‫اع ِل‬ ‫اسم‬
ْ (active participle), which is an ‫اسم ُم ْشتَ ّق‬
ْ formed from the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬on a
specific pattern to indicate that someone or something is performing the action
indicated by the ْ ‫ ال َْم‬in a non-permanent sense, like: "‫( " َكاتِب‬someone writing), "
‫ص َدر‬
‫( "قَائِ ٌم‬someone or something standing), "‫( " ُم َسافِ ٌر‬someone traveling), etc.

(ii) ‫ْم ْفعُ ْو ِل‬

َ ‫ال‬ ‫اسم‬
ْ (passive participle), which is an ‫اسم ُم ْشتَ ّق‬
ْ formed from the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬on a
specific pattern to indicate that someone or something is the object receiving the
action indicated by the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬, like: "‫( " َم ْكُت ْوب‬something written), "‫ج‬
ٌ ‫" ُم ْستَ ْخ َر‬
(something taken out or extracted), etc.

ِ ‫الْ َف‬
(iii) )‫اع ِل‬ ْ ِ‫الص َفة ال ُْم َشَّب َهة (ب‬
‫اس ِم‬ ِّ (descriptive noun), which is an ‫اسم ُم ْشتَ ّق‬
ْ formed from
the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫( ال َْم‬of an intransitive verb) on specific patterns to indicate that someone or
something is the bearer or possessor of the quality indicated by the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬and is
not confined to any particular tense but rather stretches from the past into the
continuous present, like: "‫ل‬ ِ
ٌ ‫( " َجم ْي‬beautiful), "‫( " َح َس ٌن‬good), "‫( "أ َْبيَض‬white), "‫ضبَان‬
ْ َ‫"غ‬
(angry), etc.

ِ ‫الت ْف‬
(iv) ‫ض ْي ِل‬ ‫اسم‬
َّ ْ (comparative or superlative form), which is an ‫اسم ُم ْشتَ ّق‬
ْ formed from
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬on the pattern of "‫ "أَ ْف َع ُل‬to indicate that someone or something is
the ‫ص َدر‬

surpassing something or someone-else in a shared quality which is denoted by the ْ‫ال‬

‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ َم‬, e.g. ‫َج َم ُل‬
ْ ‫( "أ‬more beautiful), "‫َح َس ُن‬
ْ ‫( "أ‬better), "‫ب‬
ُ‫ض‬َ ‫( "أَ ْغ‬angrier), etc.

11
 ِ ‫والْم َك‬
(v), (vi) ‫ان‬ ِ ‫الزم‬
‫ان‬ ِ ‫ان م ْشَت َّق‬
ِ ْ formed
َ َ َ َّ ‫اس َما‬
ْ (nouns of time or place), which are ‫ان‬ ُ ‫اس َم‬
from the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬on specific patterns to indicate the time or place in which the action,
denoted by the ْ ‫ ال َْم‬, is occurring, like: "‫ " َم ْش ِر ٌق‬and "‫( " َمطْلَع‬time or place of the
‫ص َدر‬
rising of the sun), "‫ب‬ ٌ ‫( " َمغْ ِر‬time or place of the setting of the sun), "‫( " َم ْد َخل‬entry), "
‫( " َم ْخ َرج‬exit), etc.

ِ ‫اآلل‬
(vii) ‫َة‬ ‫اسم‬
ْ (noun of tool or instrument), which is an ‫اسم ُم ْشتَ ّق‬ ْ formed from the
‫ص َدر‬ ِ ِ ِ
ْ ‫ ال َْ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 ِ
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬is accomplished, like: "‫( "م ْب َرد‬file), "
‫( "ِم ْكنَ َسة‬broom), "‫( "ِم ْفتَاح‬key), etc.

(16) The third perspective: masculinity and femininity (i.e. gender)

The ‫االسم‬
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:

َّ ‫( ُم َذ‬masculine), like: "‫( " َر ُجل‬man), "‫( " َجبَل‬mountain), "‫( " َقلَم‬pen), etc.
(a) ‫كر‬

(b) ‫( ُم َؤنَّث‬feminine), which is of two types:

(i) ‫ح ِق ْي ِقي‬ ‫اسم ُم َؤنَّث‬

َ (real), which is an ْ that denotes a female whether amongst human
ّ
ِ َ‫( "ف‬Fatimah), "‫( " َزينَب‬Zaynab), "‫( "اِمرأَة‬woman), "‫"قِطَّة‬
beings or animals, like: "‫اط َمة‬ ْ َْ
(female cat), etc.

ّ ‫( َم َجا ِز‬metaphorical), which is an

(ii) ‫ي‬ ‫اسم ُم َؤنَّث‬
ْ that does not denote a female
whether amongst human beings or animals but because of having been used as
‫ ُم َؤنَّث‬by the ancient Arabs it has acquired the status of ‫ ُم َؤنَّث‬, like: "‫( " َش ْمس‬sun), "
‫( "أ َْرض‬earth), "‫( " َع ْين‬eye, spring), etc.

The ‫ْم َؤنَّث‬

ُ ‫ ال‬also comprises three more categories:
ِ ‫( لَ ْف‬feminine in form only), which is an
(i) ‫ظي‬
ّ ‫اسم‬ ْ whose meaning is ‫ ُم َذ َّكر‬but whose
form is feminine due to having one of the ‫ث‬ ِ ‫( َعالَمات التَّأْنِْي‬signs of femininity) suffixed
َ
to it, like: "‫ح ْم َزة‬ َ ‫( "طَل‬Talhah), "‫( " َز َك ِريَّا‬Zechariahs), etc.
َ " (Hamzah), "‫ْحة‬

12
 ّ ‫( َم ْعنَ ِو‬feminine in meaning only), which is an
(ii) ‫ي‬ ْ whose meaning is ‫ ُم َؤنَّث‬but
‫اسم‬
whose form is ‫كر‬ َّ ‫ ُم َذ‬due to it not having one of the ‫ث‬ ِ ‫ َعالَمات التَّأْنِْي‬suffixed to it, like: "
َ
‫( " َم ْريَم‬Maryam, Mary), "‫( " َز ْينَب‬Zaynab), "‫( " ِه ْند‬Hind), etc.

ِ
‫ي‬ّ ‫( لَ ْفظ ّي َو َم ْعنَ ِو‬feminine in both form and meaning), which is an ‫اسم‬
(iii) ْ that is ‫ ُم َؤنَّث‬in
both form and meaning, like: "‫اط َمة‬ ِ َ‫( "ف‬Fatimah), "‫( "سلْمى‬Salma), "‫( "أَسماء‬Asma), etc.
َ َ َْ
ِ ‫التَّأْنِْي‬
The ‫ث‬ ‫ َعالَ َمات‬are two in number:

(i) the ‫ْم ْر ُب ْوطَة‬

َ ‫ال‬
‫( التَّاء‬i.e. the joined or closed ‫ التَّاء‬because it is joined or close at its
ِ ‫( "ح‬Hasinah), "‫اطمة‬
ends), like: "‫س ْينَة‬ ِ ِ
َ َ َ‫( "ف‬Fatimah), "‫( " َعائ َشة‬Aishah), etc.

(ii) the ‫ األَلِف‬, which is either ‫ص ْو َرة‬

ُ ‫( َم ْق‬shortened), like: "‫( " ُح ْسنَى‬Husna), "‫" َسل َْمى‬
(Salma), etc. or ‫( َم ْم ُد ْو َدة‬lengthened), like: "‫( " َح ْسنَاء‬Hasna), "‫َس َماء‬
ْ ‫( "أ‬Asma), etc.

Remark: Even though it is not customary in ‫الص ْرف‬

َّ to go into a similar classification
َّ ‫ ال ُْم َذ‬, I have thought it in order to treat the ‫ ال ُْم َذ َّكر‬in a similar fashion.
for the ‫كر‬

َّ ‫ ال ُْم َذ‬can either be

Thus, the ‫كر‬ ‫ ُم َذ َّكر‬:
 in meaning and in form like "‫"ج َمل‬ ِ
َ , "‫ " َعل ّي‬, etc. or
 in meaning only like "‫( " َح ْم َزة‬Hamzah), "‫ْحة‬
َ ‫( "طَل‬Talhah), etc. or
 in form only, like "‫( "كِتَاب‬book), "‫( " َقلَم‬pen), etc.

(17) The fourth perspective: the type of ending

The ‫االسم‬
ْ from this perspective is divided into five categories:

(a) ‫ْم ْن ُق ْوص‬

َ ‫( ال‬defective), which is any declinable ‫اسم‬
ْ that terminates in a ‫ يَاء‬preceded
by a ‫س َرة‬ ِ ‫( "الْ َق‬the judge), "‫اضي‬
ِ
ْ ‫( َك‬i.e. "-‫ي‬
ِْ " ), like: "‫اض ْي‬ ْ ‫( "ال َْم‬the past), etc.
(b) ‫ص ْور‬ ِ
ُ ‫( ال َْم ْق‬shortened), which is any declinable ‫اسم‬
ْ that terminates in an ‫أَلف‬
(whether it is written as an actual ‫ أَلِف‬or a dot-less ‫ ) يَاء‬preceded by a ‫( َف ْت َحة‬i.e. "-َ‫"ا‬
or "-َ‫)"ى‬, like: "‫صا‬
َ ‫( "ال َْع‬stick), "‫( "الْ َفتَى‬the young lad), etc.

13
 ‫( ال َْم ْم ُد ْود‬lengthened), which is any declinable ‫اسم‬ ِ
(c) ْ that terminates in an ‫ أَلف‬which
is extended by a ‫( َه ْم َزة‬i.e. "-َ‫) "اء‬, like: "‫ح ْم َراء‬ ِ
َ " (red fem.), "‫ص ْح َراء‬
َ " (desert), "‫"ك َساء‬
(type of cloth or clothing), "‫شاء‬ َ ْ‫( "إِن‬creating, producing, establishing), etc.

ِ ‫الص ِح ْي‬
(d) ‫ح‬ ‫الشبِْيه‬
َّ ِ‫ب‬َّ (quasi-strong), which is every declinable ‫اسم‬ ْ terminating in a ‫ َواو‬or
‫ يَاء‬preceded by a ‫( ُس ُك ْون‬i.e. "-ْ‫ " ًًٌٌٍو‬and "-ْ‫ٌي‬
ًًٌٍ " ), like: "‫( " ُحل ٌْو‬sweet), "‫( "ظَْب ٌي‬deer), etc.
ِ ‫الص‬
(e) ‫ح ْيح‬ َّ (strong), which is every declinable ‫اسم‬
ْ that does not terminate in any of
the four previous endings, like: "‫( "كِتَاب‬book), "‫جل‬
ُ ‫( " َر‬man), etc.
(18) The fifth perspective: number (singular, dual and plural)

The ‫االسم‬
ْ from this perspective is divided into three categories:

(a) ‫ْم ْف َرد‬

ُ ‫( ال‬singular), which is any ‫اسم‬
ْ that denotes a single masculine or feminine
object, like: "‫ب‬ ِ ِ
ٌ ‫( "طَال‬one male student), "‫( "طَالبَة‬one female student), etc.

(b) ‫ْم َثنَّى‬

ُ ‫( ال‬dual), which is any ‫اسم‬
ْ that denotes two masculine or feminine objects by
suffixing the ‫ األَلِف‬and ‫ُّون‬ َِ " in the case of ‫الرفْع‬
ْ ‫( الن‬i.e. "-‫ان‬ َّ ) or the ‫ الْيَاء‬and ‫الن ُّْون‬
ِ ْ‫ "ي‬in the case of ‫َّصب‬
(i.e. "-َ‫ن‬ ْ ‫ الن‬and ‫ْج ّر‬
َ ‫ ) ال‬to the singular form, like:

‫ان – طَالَِب ْي ِن‬ِ ‫( طَالِب‬two male students)

َ
‫ان – طَالِبََت ْي ِن‬
ِ َ‫( طَالِبت‬two female students)
َ

(c) ‫ْج ْمع‬

َ ‫( ال‬plural), which is any ‫اسم‬
ْ that denotes three or more masculine or feminine
objects and comprises two types:

ِ ‫َّص ِح ْي‬
(i) ‫ح‬ ْ ‫الت‬ ‫ َج ْمع‬or ‫السالَ َم ِة‬
َّ ‫( َج ْمع‬sound plural), which is when the singular form
remains intact and unbroken when forming the plural form and which in turn
comprises two types:

 ‫السالِم‬
َّ ‫( َج ْمع ال ُْم َذ َّك ِر‬sound masculine plural), which is any ‫اسم‬
ْ that denotes three or
more males by suffixing the ‫ ال َْواو‬and ‫( الن ُّْون‬i.e. "-ُ‫ " ْو َن‬in the case of ‫الرفْع‬
َّ ) or the َ‫الْي‬
‫ اء‬and ‫( الن ُّْون‬i.e. "-‫ "يْ َِن‬in the case of ‫َّصب‬
ْ ‫ الن‬and ‫ْج ّر‬
َ ‫) ال‬, like:

‫طَالُِب ْو َن – طَالِبِْي َن‬

14
 ‫السالِم‬
َّ ‫ث‬ِ َّ‫( جمع الْم َؤن‬sound feminine plural), which is any ‫اسم‬
ُ َْ ْ that denotes three or
more females by suffixing the ‫ األَلِف‬and ‫( التَّاء‬i.e. "-َ‫ات‬
ٌٍ " ) to the singular form after
dropping the ‫كة‬ ِ ‫( تَاء التَّأْنِْي‬vowelled ‫ التَّاء‬of femininity), like: "‫ات‬
َ ‫ث ال ُْمتَ َح ِّر‬ ٌٍ َ‫( "طَالِب‬three or
more female students)

ِ ‫التَّ ْك‬
(ii) ‫س ْي ِر‬ ‫( َج ْمع‬broken plural), which is when the singular form changes when
forming the plural form and which in turn comprises two types:

 ‫( ُج ُم ْوع ال ِْقلَّ ِة‬plurals of paucity), which are plural forms that denote three to ten
objects and comprise four forms:

ْ َ‫"أ‬
"‫ش ُهر‬ (months) (sing. "‫ش ْه ٌر‬
َ") ‫أَ ْفعُل‬
"‫"أَ ْع ِم َدة‬ (pillars, columns) (sing. "‫) " َع ُم ْو ٌد‬ ‫أَفْ ِعلَة‬
"‫"أَ ْق َفال‬ (locks) (sing. "‫ل‬
ٌ ‫) " ُق ْف‬ ‫أَ ْف َعال‬
"‫"فِ ْتيَة‬ (young lads) (sing. "‫) " َفتًى‬ ‫فِ ْعلَة‬

 ‫( ُج ُم ْوع الْ َك ْث َر ِة‬plurals of multitude), which are plural forms that denote eleven to an
infinite number of objects, and comprise the following forms:

"‫س ُفن‬
ُ" (ships) (sing. "ٌ‫س ِف ْينَة‬
َ") ‫ُفعُل‬
"‫ش ْهب‬
ُ" ْ َ‫) "أ‬
(gray) (sing. "‫ش َهب‬ ‫ُف ْعل‬
"‫" ُبغَاة‬ (tyrants, oppressors) (sing. "‫اغ‬
ٍ َ‫) "ب‬ ‫ُف َعلَة‬
"‫ص َور‬
ُ" (pictures, images) (sing. "‫ص ْو َرة‬
ُ ") ‫ُف َعل‬
" ‫ضى‬
َ ‫" َم ْر‬ ٌ ْ‫) " َم ِري‬
(sick people, patients) (sing. "‫ض‬ ‫َف ْعلَى‬
"‫" ُقلُ ْوب‬ (hearts) (sing. "‫ْب‬
ٌ ‫) " َقل‬ ‫ُفعُ ْول‬
َ ِ‫"ب‬
"‫حار‬ (seas) (sing. "‫ح ٌر‬
ْ َ‫) "ب‬ ‫فِ َعال‬
"‫" ِعبَر‬ (lessons) (sing. "ٌ‫) " ِع ْب َرة‬ ‫فِ َعل‬
"‫ْمان‬ ِ ‫فِ ْعالَن‬
َ ‫"غل‬ (young lads, servants) (sing. "‫) "غُالَ ٌم‬

"‫ش ِقيَاء‬
ْ َ‫"أ‬ ٌّ ‫) " َش ِق‬
(wretched, villain) (sing. "‫ي‬ ‫أَفْ ِعالَء‬
"‫" َع َملة‬ (workers, labourers) (sing. "‫ل‬ ِ
ٌ ‫) " َعام‬ ‫َف َعلَة‬
"‫"قُطَّاع‬ (people severing or cutting) (sing. "‫ع‬ ِ
ٌ ‫) "قَاط‬ ‫ُف َّعال‬
"‫ضبَان‬
ْ ُ‫"ق‬ (sticks, branches) (sing. "‫ب‬ ِ
ٌ ‫) "قَض ْي‬ ‫ُف ْعالَن‬
"‫"فَِيلَة‬ (elephants) (sing. "ٌ‫) "فِ ْيلَة‬ ‫فِ َعلَة‬
"‫"عُلَ َماء‬ (scholars, learned people) (sing. "‫م‬ ِ
ٌ ‫) " َعال‬ ‫ُف َعالَء‬
"‫ش َّرد‬
ُ" (fugitive, stray, defectors) (sing. "‫شا ِر ٌد‬
َ") ‫ُف َّعل‬
15
 ِ ‫" َدر‬
"‫اهم‬ (dirhams) (sing. "‫م‬ ِ ‫َف َعالِل‬
َ ٌ ‫) "د ْر َه‬
"‫" َدنَانِْير‬ (dinars) (sing. "‫ار‬ ِ
ٌ َ‫) "د ْين‬ ‫َف َعال َْيل‬

‫ار ِعَب ُر‬ ِ ِ ‫* َمرضـ ـ ـَى الْ ُقلُ ْو‬

ُ ‫ب َوالْب َح‬ ْ ‫ب الُْبغَاةُ صـ َـو ُر‬ ِ ‫الش ْه‬
ُّ ‫الس ُف ِن‬ ُّ ‫فِي‬
‫َج ِل ال ِْفَيلَة‬ ِ ٍ ‫ضب‬
ْ ‫ان م ْن أ‬َ ْ ُ‫* قُطَّاعُ ق‬ ‫ِغل َْمانُ ُه ْم لِألَ ْش ِقيَ ِاء َع َملَ ـ ـ ــة‬
َّ ‫* ُج ُم ْو ِع ِه ْم فِي‬
‫الس ْبع وال َْع ْش ِر ا ْنَت َهى‬ ‫َوالْعُلَ َماءُ ُش َّر ٌد َو ُم ْنتَه ـ ـ ـ ـ ـَى‬

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 ال ِْقلَّ ِة‬and ‫َج ْمع الْ َك ْث َر ِة‬
is 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 ‫االسم‬
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:

(a) ‫صغَّر‬
َ ‫( ال ُْم‬diminutive), which is any ‫اسم‬
ْ that denotes the diminutive of the original
‫االسم‬
ْ from which it is formed, and comprises three forms:

"‫" ُفلَ ْيس‬ (small fels) (diminutive of "‫ْس‬

ٌ ‫) " َفل‬ ‫ُف َع ْيل‬
"‫" ُد َريْ ِهم‬ (small dirham) (diminutive of "‫م‬ ِ ‫ُف َع ْي ِعل‬
ٌ ‫) "د ْر َه‬
"‫" ُد َن ْينِ ْير‬ (small dinar) (diminutive of "‫ار‬ ِ ‫ُف َع ْي ِع ْيل‬
ٌ َ‫) "د ْين‬

(b) ‫كبَّر‬
َ ‫( ال ُْم‬original non-diminutive), which is the original ْ from which the ‫صغَّر‬
‫االسم‬ َ ‫ال ُْم‬
is formed, like:

"‫( "فِلْس‬fels, small coin)

"‫( " ِد ْر َهم‬dirham, silver coin)

"‫( " ِد ْينَار‬dinar, golden coin)

16
(20) The seventh perspective: relation

The ‫االسم‬
ْ from this perspective is divided into two categories:

(a) ‫س ْوب‬
ُ ‫( ال َْم ْن‬relative noun), which is any ‫اسم‬ ِ ‫َّس‬
ْ that has the ‫ب‬ َ ‫( يَاء الن‬i.e. the ‫ الْيَاء‬of
relation and ascription, that is: "‫ي‬
ّ " ) suffixed to it in order to show that the ‫االسم‬
ْ
bearing that ‫ الْيَاء‬is related to the original ‫االسم‬ ِ ‫َّس‬
ْ before the suffixing of the ‫ب‬ َ ‫ يَاء الن‬,
like:

ِ ِ
ّ ‫ص ِر‬
"‫ي‬ ْ ‫( "م‬Egyptian) from "‫صر‬
ْ ‫( "م‬Egypt),
"‫سالَِمي‬
ْ ِ‫( "إ‬Islamic) from "‫( "ا ِإل ْسالَم‬Islam),
ّ
" ‫كي‬ِّ َّ
ّ ‫( " َم‬Meccan) from "‫( " َمكة‬Mecca),
"‫( " َم َدنِي‬Medinan, civil, municipal, urban) from "‫ْم ِد ْينَة‬
َ ‫( "ال‬Medina, city), etc.
ّ
(b) ‫إِل َْي ِه‬
‫س ْوب‬ ُ ‫( ال َْم ْن‬noun related to), which is the original ‫االسم‬ ْ before the suffixing of the
ِ ِ
َ ‫ يَاء الن‬, like: "‫"م َّكة‬
ِ ‫َّس‬
‫ب‬ َ , "‫ "ا ِإل ْسالَم‬, "‫صر‬
ْ ‫ "م‬and "‫ "ال َْمد ْينَة‬in the previous examples.

17
 ‫الص ْرف ال ُْم ْشَت َرك‬
َّ

(21) ‫شَت َرك‬

ْ ‫ال ُْم‬ َّ investigates both the ‫ ال ِْف ْعل‬and ‫االسم‬
‫الص ْرف‬ ْ from 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
three: ‫( ا ِإل ْدغَام‬assimilation, merging), ‫( ا ِإل ْعالَل‬changes involving weak letters) and
‫( ا ِإلبْ َدال‬substitution, replacement).

ِ ‫ ا‬is when the first of two identical letters is assimilated into the second so
(22) ‫إل ْدغَام‬
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
‫ ا ِإل ْدغَام‬:

(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:

"‫ " َم ٌّد‬which was originally "‫ " َم ْد ٌد‬on the pattern of "‫ل‬
ٌ ‫ " َف ْع‬, the first of the two ‫( الدَّاالَ ِن‬i.e.
two Dals) is assimilated into the second becoming "‫ " َم ٌّد‬.

(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:

"‫ " َم َّد‬which was originally "‫ " َم َد َد‬on the pattern of "‫ل‬
َ ‫ " َف َع‬, the first of the two ‫( الدَّاالَ ِن‬i.e.
two Dals) is then unvowelled becoming "‫ " َم ْد َد‬and then assimilated into the second

becoming "‫ " َم َّد‬.

(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:

"‫ "يَ ُم ُّد‬which was originally "‫ "يَ ْم ُد ُد‬on the pattern of "‫ل‬ ِ
ُ ُ‫ " َي ْفع‬, the first of the two ‫الدَّاالَن‬
(i.e. two Dals) is unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the preceding unvowelled ‫ال ِْم ْي‬
‫ م‬becoming "‫ "يَ ُم ْد ُد‬and then assimilated into the second ‫ الدَّال‬becoming "‫ "يَ ُم ُّد‬.

(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 ‫س َرة‬
ْ ‫( َك‬due to it being the primary ‫ْح َر َكة‬
َ ‫ ال‬used for the meeting of two unvowelled
letters),
 ‫حة‬
َ ‫( َف ْت‬due to it being the lightest of the three ‫ْح َر َكات‬
َ ‫) ال‬, or
 the ‫ْح َر َكة‬
َ ‫ ال‬corresponding the previous ‫ْح َر َكة‬
َ ‫ ال‬, like:

"‫يَ ُم َّد‬
‫َم‬ ْ ‫ "ل‬or "‫َم يَ ُم ُّد‬
ْ ‫ "ل‬, "ِّ‫َم يَ ُمد‬ ْ ‫ "ل‬which was originally "‫َم يَ ْم ُد ْد‬
ْ ‫ "ل‬on the pattern of "‫َم َي ْفعُ ْل‬
ْ ‫ "ل‬,
the first of the two ‫ الدَّاالَ ِن‬is optionally unvowelled by transferring its vowel to the

preceding unvowelled ‫ْم ْيم‬ ِ ‫ ال‬becoming "‫ "لَم يم ْد ْد‬and then the two unvowelled ‫الدَّاالَ ِن‬
َُ ْ
meet and to escape their meeting the second is vowelled either with a ‫ َف ْت َحة‬, ‫ َك ْس َرة‬or
the ‫َّمة‬
َّ ‫ الض‬which is the ‫ْح َر َكة‬
َ ‫ ال‬that corresponds to the ‫َّمة‬ َّ ‫ الض‬on the preceding ‫ ال ِْم ْيم‬,
thus becoming either "‫َم يَ ُم َّد‬ ْ ‫ "ل‬or "‫َم يَ ُم ُّد‬
ْ ‫ "ل‬, "ِّ‫َم يَ ُمد‬ ْ ‫ "ل‬.

(e) When the second of two identical letters has the َّ ‫ض ِم ْير‬
‫الرفْ ِع ال ُْمتَ َح ِّرك‬ ََُِ ‫َف َع ْل‬
َ (i.e. " , "‫ُت‬
‫ " َف َع ْل َن‬, "‫ " َف َع ْلتُ َّن‬, "‫ " َف َع ْلتُ ْم‬, "‫ "" َف َع ْلتُ َما‬and "‫ ) " َف َع ْلنَا‬suffixed to it, then assimilation of the
first into second is disallowed, like: "‫ن‬ َ ‫"م َد ْد‬
َ , "‫"م َد ْدتُ َّن‬
َ , "‫"م َد ْدتُ ْم‬
َ , "‫"م َد ْدتُ َما‬ ََُِ ‫ " َم َد ْد‬and "
َ , "‫ُت‬
‫ " َم َد ْدنَا‬.

ِ ‫ ا‬is a type of change that affects weak letters as regards:

(23) ‫إل ْعالَل‬

َ َ‫ "ق‬in which the ‫األَلِف‬

 transforming one weak letter into another, like: "‫ " َد َعا‬and "‫ال‬
in both cases was transformed from a ‫ َواو‬as their original forms were "‫ " َد َع َو‬and "
‫ " َق َو َل‬respectively,
 unvowelling the weak letter either through dropping the vowel completely or
transferring it to an unvowelled letter before it, like: "‫ "يَ ْدعُ ْو‬in which the ‫ْواو‬
َ ‫ ال‬was
unvowelled by dropping the ‫َّمة‬
َّ ‫ الض‬as the original form was "‫ "يَ ْدعُ ُو‬, and like: "‫" َي ُق ْو ُل‬
in which the ‫ْواو‬
َ ‫ ال‬was unvowelled by transferring the ‫َّمة‬
َّ ‫ الض‬to the unvowelled
‫ الْ َقاف‬before it at the original form was "‫ " َي ْق ُو ُل‬, and
 dropping the weak letter, like: "‫ "قُ ْل‬in which the ‫ ال َْواو‬was dropped due to the
meeting of two unvowelled letters as the original form was "‫ْو ْل‬
ُ ‫ "اُق‬, and then the
‫ ال َْواو‬was unvowelled by transferring the ‫َّمة‬ َّ ‫ الض‬to the preceding unvowelled ‫الْ َقاف‬
becoming "‫"اُ ُق ْو ْل‬and the result is that the ‫ص ِل‬ْ ‫ َه ْم َزة ال َْو‬is dropped and two
unvowelled letters meet, namely: the unvowelled ‫ ال َْواو‬and the unvowelled ‫ الالَّم‬,

19
 and to escape this meeting the weak letter which is the unvowelled ‫ ال َْواو‬is
dropped, thus becoming "‫ل‬
ْ ُ‫ "ق‬.

The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to ‫ ا ِإل ْعالَل‬:

(a) When the ‫ْواو‬

َ ‫ ال‬or ‫ الْيَاء‬is vowelled and preceded by a letter bearing a ‫ َف ْت َحة‬, it is
transformed into an ‫( أَلِف‬and it does not matter whether the ‫ األَلِف‬is written as one or
as a dot-less ‫) يَاء‬, like: "‫ " َد َعا‬which was originally "‫" َد َع َو‬, and "‫ال‬
َ َ‫ "ق‬which was originally
"‫ " َق َو َل‬or "‫" َر َمى‬which was originally "‫ " َر َمي‬and "‫اع‬
َ َ‫ "ب‬which was originally "‫ " َبيَ َع‬, all of
َ
which are on the pattern of "‫ل‬
َ ‫ " َف َع‬but because the ‫ ال َْواو‬and ‫ الْيَاء‬is vowelled and
preceded by a letter bearing a ‫حة‬ ِ
َ ‫ َف ْت‬, they were transformed into an ‫ أَلف‬. The original
form of the ‫ األَلِف‬can be determined from the ‫ضارِع‬ َ ‫ ال ِْف ْعل ال ُْم‬and/or the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬, for
example:

"ً‫"د ْع َوة‬
َ – "‫" َد َعا" – "يَ ْدعُ ْو‬
"ً‫" َق ْوال‬
– "‫"ي ُق ْو ُل‬
َ – "‫ال‬
َ َ‫"ق‬
"ً‫"ر ْميا‬ ِ – "‫"رمى‬
َ – "‫"ي ْرم ْي‬ َ ََ
َ – "‫اع" – "يَبِْي ُع‬
"ً‫"ب ْيعا‬ َ َ‫"ب‬

(b) When the ‫ْواو‬

َ ‫ ال‬is unvowelled and occurs after a ‫ َك ْس َرة‬, it is transformed into a ‫يَاء‬
, like: "‫ " ِم ْي َعاد‬which was originally "‫ " ِم ْو َعاد‬, and "‫ " ِم ْي َزان‬which was originally "‫ " ِم ْو َزان‬,

but because the ‫ْواو‬ َ ‫ ال‬in each case is unvowelled and occurs after a ‫ َك ْس َرة‬, it is
transformed into a ‫ يَاء‬. The original form of the ‫ الْيَاء‬can be determined from the ‫ْف ْعل‬ ِ ‫ال‬
ِ ‫ الْم‬and/or the ‫ص َدر‬
‫اض ْي‬ ْ ‫ ال َْم‬, for example:
َ

"ً‫"و ْعدا‬
َ – "‫" َو َع َد" – "يَِع ُد‬
َ – "‫" َو َز َن" – "يَ ِز ُن‬
"ً‫"و ْزنا‬

(c) When the ‫ الْيَاء‬is unvowelled and occurs after a ‫ض َّمة‬

َ , it is transformed into a ‫ َواو‬,
like: "‫ن‬ ِ ِ ِ ِ
ُ ‫ " ُي ْوق‬which was originally "‫ " ُي ْيق ُن‬, and "‫ " ُي ْوس ُر‬which was originally "‫ " ُي ْيس ُر‬, but
because the second ‫ الْيَاء‬in each case is unvowelled and occurs after a ‫ض َّمة‬ َ , it is
transformed into a ‫ َواو‬. We know the original form of the ‫ْواو‬ َ ‫ ال‬to be a ‫ يَاء‬because of
the ‫اضي‬ ِ
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬being "‫ "أ َْي َق َن‬and "‫ "أَيْ َس َر‬respectively and the ‫ص َدر‬ ْ ‫ ال َْم‬of the root form being "‫ا‬
‫ "لْيَ ِق ْين‬and "‫ "الْيُ ْسر‬respectively.
20
(d) When the ‫( األَلِف‬which is always unvowelled) occurs after a ‫ َك ْس َرة‬, it is
transformed into an unvowelled ‫ يَاء‬, like: "‫صابِْيح‬ َ ‫ " َم‬which was originally "‫صابِاح‬ َ ‫ " َم‬, but
because the ‫ األَلِف‬occurs after a ‫س َرة‬
ْ ‫ َك‬, it is transformed into an unvowelled ‫ يَاء‬. We
know that the ‫ الْيَاء‬was originally an ‫ أَلِف‬because "‫صابِْيح‬ ِ
َ ‫ " َم‬is the plural of "‫صبَاح‬
ْ ‫ "م‬and
the plural is formed from the singular.

(e) When the ‫( األَلِف‬which is always unvowelled) occurs after a ‫ض َّمة‬ َ , it is

transformed into an unvowelled ‫ َواو‬, like: "‫ش ْو ِه َد‬ ِ ‫ " ُش‬, but
ُ " which was originally "‫اه َد‬
because the ‫ األَلِف‬occurs after a ‫ض َّمة‬
َ , it is transformed into an unvowelled ‫ َواو‬. We
know that the ‫ْواو‬ ِ ِ
َ ‫ ال‬was originally an ‫ أَلف‬because "‫ " ُش ْوه َد‬is the passive form of "‫اه َد‬ َ ‫" َش‬
which is the active form, and the passive form is formed from the active form.

(f) When the ‫ الْواو‬occurs at the end of a word after a ‫ َك ْس َرة‬, it is transformed into a ‫يَا‬
‫ ء‬, like "‫ض َي‬ ِ ‫ "ر‬which was originally "‫ضو‬ ِ
َ َ ‫ " َر‬, but because the ‫ ال َْواو‬occurs at the end
after a ‫س َرة‬ ْ ‫ َك‬, it is transformed into a ‫ يَاء‬. We know that the ‫ الْيَاء‬was originally a ‫َواو‬
because the ‫ص َدر‬ ْ ‫ " ِر‬and the popular view is that the ‫ ال ِْف ْعل‬is derived from
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬is "‫ض َوان‬
the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬.

(g) When the ‫ْواو‬

َ ‫ ال‬and the ‫ الْيَاء‬meet and one of them precedes the other in bearing a
‫( ُس ُك ْون‬i.e. the first of them is unvowelled), then the ‫ ال َْواو‬is always going to be
ِ
transformed into a ‫ يَاء‬, like: "‫سيِّد‬َ " which was originally "‫ " َس ْي ِود‬on the pattern of "‫" َف ْيعل‬,
but because the ‫ ال َْواو‬and the ‫ الْيَاء‬meet and the first of them is unvowelled, the ‫ال َْواو‬
is transformed into a ‫ يَاء‬. We know that the second of the double and emphatic ‫الْيَاء‬
was originally a ‫ َواو‬because of the ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ ال ُْم‬being "‫س ْو ُد‬
ُ َ‫ "ي‬.

(h) When the ‫ْواو‬

َ ‫ ال‬occurs at the end of a word and it is the fourth letter and
upwards , then it is transformed into a ‫[ يَاء‬and it does not matter if the ‫ الْيَاء‬is
subsequently transformed into an ‫ أَلِف‬according to rule (a) or not], like: "‫جى‬ َ ْ‫ "أَن‬which
was originally "‫ج َو‬َ ْ‫ "أَن‬, but because the ‫ ال َْواو‬occurs at the end and it is the fourth
letter, it is transformed into a ‫ يَاء‬, which in turn is transformed into an ‫( أَلِف‬but written

as a dot-less ‫ ) يَاء‬according to rule (a).

21
(i) When the ‫ْواو‬
َ ‫ ال‬or the ‫ الْيَاء‬occurs at the end of a word after a vowelled letter, then
their ‫كة‬
َ ‫ْحر‬
َ ‫ ال‬is dropped if it is a ‫ض َّمة‬
َ or a ‫( َك ْس َرة‬but retained if it is a ‫) َف ْت َحة‬, like: " ‫تَ ْدعُ ْو‬
َ
ِ ‫ "إِلَى الن‬which was originally "‫َّاد ِي‬
‫َّاد ْي‬ ِ ‫ "تَ ْدعُو إِلَى الن‬, but because the ‫ الْواو‬of "‫ "تَ ْدعُو‬bears
ُ َ ُ
a ‫ض َّمة‬ ِ ‫ "الن‬a ‫ َكسرة‬and both these letters occur after a vowelled
َ and the ‫ الْيَاء‬of "‫َّاد ِي‬ َْ
letter, the ‫َّمة‬ َّ ‫ الض‬on the ‫ ال َْواو‬and the ‫ الْ َك ْس َرة‬on the ‫ الْيَاء‬are dropped. This also applies
to "‫ْجانِي‬ ِ ِ ِ
ِ ‫اضي َعلَى ال‬ ِ
ْ َ ‫ " َي ْقض ْي الْ َقاض ْي َعلَى ال‬which was originally "‫ْجان ِي‬ َ ُ ‫ " َي ْقض ُي الْ َق‬.
(j) When the second root letter (also called the “"‫كلِ َم ِة‬
َ ْ‫ال‬ ‫ ) َع ْين‬is a vowelled weak letter
(i.e. a vowelled ‫ َواو‬or ‫ ) يَاء‬and occurs after an unvowelled strong letter, then the
‫ْح َر َكة‬
َ ‫ ال‬of the second root letter is transferred to the unvowelled strong letter.
Thereafter, if the second root letter (which is the ‫ ال َْواو‬or ‫ ) الْيَاء‬is not the
corresponding sister letter of the ‫ْح َر َكة‬
َ ‫ ال‬that was transferred to the unvowelled
strong letter before it, then the second root letter is transformed into the
corresponding sister letter of the transferred ‫ْح َر َكة‬
َ ‫ ال‬. This is like:

 "‫ " َي ُق ْو ُل‬which was originally "‫ " َي ْق ُو ُل‬,

 "‫ "يَبِ ْي ُع‬which was originally "‫ " َي ْبيِ ُع‬,
 "‫ "يُِق ْي ُم‬which was originally "‫ " ُي ْق ِو ُم‬which then became "‫ "يُِق ْو ُم‬and then finally "‫ "يُِق ْي ُم‬,
 "‫اف‬
ُ ‫ "يَ َخ‬which was originally "‫ف‬ ُ ‫ "يَ ْخ َو‬which then became "‫ف‬ ُ ‫ "يَ َخ ْو‬and then finally "
‫اف‬
ُ ‫ "يَ َخ‬.

(k) When two unvowelled letters meet and one of them is a weak letter, then it is
dropped, like:

 "‫ "قُ ْل‬which was originally "‫ْو ْل‬

ُ ‫ "اُق‬which then became "‫ "اُ ُق ْو ْل‬, then "‫ " ُق ْو ْل‬and then
finally "‫ل‬
ْ ُ‫ "ق‬,
 "‫ "بِ ْع‬which was originally "‫ "اِبْيِ ْع‬, which then became "‫ "اِبِْي ْع‬, then ‫ "بِْي ْع‬and then
finally "‫ "بِ ْع‬,

ُ ‫ "أَقَ ْم‬, which was originally "‫ت‬

 "‫ت‬ ُ ‫( "أَقَ ْام‬but even before this it was "‫ت‬
ُ ‫ "أَق َْو ْم‬, which
ُ ‫ "أَ َق ْو ْم‬and then "‫ت‬
then became "‫ت‬ ُ ‫ "أَقَ ْام‬, and then finally "‫ت‬
ُ ‫ "أَقَ ْم‬.

(l) When the ‫ ال ِْف ْعل‬is naked triliteral starting with a ‫( َواو‬which is referred to as "
ِ ِ ِ
ّ ‫ ) "ثُالَث ّي ُم َج َّرد مثَال َوا ِو‬on the pattern of "‫( " َي ْفع ُل‬whether it is originally on that pattern
‫ي‬

22
or not), then the ‫ ال َْواو‬is dropped from the ‫ضارِع‬
َ ‫ ال ُْم‬, the ‫ األ َْمر‬and the ‫ص َدر‬
ْ ‫ ال َْم‬and the
latter case it is compensated for by adding a ‫ تَاء َم ْر ُب ْوطَة‬, like:

 "‫ل‬ ِ ِ
ُ ‫ "يَص‬which was originally "‫" َي ْوص ُل‬
ِ " which was originally "‫صل‬
 "‫ص ْل‬ ِ ِ
ْ ‫"ا ْو‬
ِ " which was originally "‫صل‬
 "‫صلَة‬ ْ ‫ " ِو‬.

ِ ‫ ا‬is a change that involves the substitution of one letter for another.
(24) ‫إلبْدال‬

The following are some of the most important rules pertaining to ‫ ا ِإلبْ َدال‬:

(a) When the ‫ْواو‬

َ ‫ ال‬or the ‫ الْيَاء‬occurs at the end of a word after an additional ‫ أَلِف‬,
then it is substituted for by a ‫ َه ْم َزة‬, like:

 "ٌ‫ " ُد َعاء‬which was originally "‫او‬

ٌ ‫ (" ُد َع‬because it is from "‫) " َد َعا" – "يَ ْدعُ ْو‬,
 "ٌ‫ "بِنَاء‬which was originally "‫اي‬ ِ – "‫) "بنَى‬
ٌ َ‫( "بِن‬because it is from "‫"ي ْبن ْي‬
َ َ

(b) When the ‫ْواو‬ ِ َ‫( "ف‬i.e. the ‫اع ِل‬

‫ األَلِف‬of "‫اع ٌل‬ ِ ‫ اسم الْ َف‬of the
َ ‫ ال‬or the ‫ الْيَاء‬occurs after the ْ
first form), then it is substituted for by a ‫ َه ْم َزة‬, like:

ِ
ٌ ‫ "قَائ‬which was originally "‫( "قَا ِو ٌل‬because it is from "‫"ي ُق ْو ُل‬
 "‫ل‬ َ – "‫ال‬
َ َ‫) "ق‬,
 "‫ "بَائِ ٌع‬which was originally "‫( "بَايِ ٌع‬because it is from "‫اع" – "يَبِ ْي ُع‬
َ َ‫) "ب‬

(c) When the ‫( الْ َفاء‬i.e. the first root letter) of "‫ "اِ ْفَت َع َل‬is a ‫ َواو‬or a ‫ يَاء‬, then it is
substituted for by a ‫ تَاء‬which is then assimilated into the ‫ التَّاء‬of "‫ل‬ ِ
َ ‫ "ا ْفَت َع‬, like:
ِ ِ ِ ِ
 "‫ل‬
َ‫ص‬َ َّ‫ "ات‬which was originally "‫ص َل‬ َ َ‫ "ا ْتت‬and then finally "َّ‫ات‬
َ َ‫ "ا ْوت‬which then became "‫ص َل‬
‫ص َل‬ ِ
َ " (because it is from "‫ص َل" – "يَص ُل‬ َ ‫) " َو‬,
ِ ِ ِ
 "‫س َر‬ َ َّ‫ "ات‬which was originally "‫ "ا ْيتَ َس َر‬which then became "‫ "ا ْتتَ َس َر‬and then finally "
‫( "اِتَّ َس َر‬because it is from "‫س ُر‬
ُ ‫"ي ْي‬
َ – "‫س َر‬ ُ َ‫) "ي‬.

(d) When the ‫( الْ َفاء‬i.e. the first root letter) of "‫ "اِ ْفَت َع َل‬is a ‫ ثَاء‬, then it is substituted for
by a ‫ ثَاء‬and the first ‫ الثَّاء‬is then assimilated into the second, like:
ِ ِ ِ ِ
َ ‫ "اثَّأ‬which was originally "‫ "ا ْثتَأ ََر‬which then became "‫ "ا ْثثَأ ََر‬and then finally "‫ "اثَّأ ََر‬.
"‫َر‬

23
(e) When the ‫( الْ َفاء‬i.e. the first root letter) of "‫ "اِ ْفَت َع َل‬is a ‫ َدال‬, a ‫ َذال‬or a ‫ َزاي‬, then the
‫ التَّاء‬of "‫ "اِ ْفَت َع َل‬is substituted for by a ‫ َدال‬, like:

 "‫َّعى‬ ِ ِ ِ
َ ‫ "اد‬which was originally "‫ "ا ْدَت َعى‬which then became "‫ "ا ْد َد َعى‬and then finally "
‫َّعى‬ ِ
َ ‫ "اد‬,
 "‫ "اِ ْذ َد َك َر‬which was originally "‫ "اِ ْذتَ َك َر‬which then became "‫( "اِ ْذ َد َك َر‬also permissible
for "‫ك َر‬ َ ‫ "اِ ْذ َد‬are: "‫ "اِذَّ َك َر‬and "‫) "اِ َّد َك َر‬,
 "‫ "اِ ْز َد َه َر‬which was originally "‫ "اِ ْزَت َه َر‬which then became "‫ "اِ ْز َد َه َر‬.

(f) When the ‫( الْ َفاء‬i.e. the first root letter) of "‫ "اِ ْفَت َع َل‬is a ‫صاد‬
َ , a ‫ضاد‬
َ , a ‫ طَاء‬or a ‫ ظَاء‬,
then the ‫ التَّاء‬of "‫ل‬ ِ
َ ‫ "ا ْفَت َع‬is substituted for by a ‫ طَاء‬, like:

 "‫صطََفى‬ ِ ِ ِ
ْ ‫ "ا‬which was originally "‫صَت َفى‬
ْ ‫ "ا‬which then became "‫صطََفى‬
ْ ‫ "ا‬,
 "‫ضطََرب‬ ْ ِ‫ "ا‬which was originally "‫ب‬ ْ ِ‫ "ا‬which then became "‫ب‬
َ ‫ضَت َر‬ ْ ِ‫"ا‬,
َ ‫ضطََر‬
 "‫ "اِطَّلَ َع‬which was originally "‫ "اِطَْتلَ َع‬which then became "‫ "اِطْطَلَ َع‬and then finally "
‫ "اِطَّلَ َع‬,
 "‫ "اِظْطَلَ َم‬which was originally "‫ "اِظَْتلَ َم‬which then became "‫( "اِظْطَلَ َم‬also permissible
for "‫م‬ ِ َّ ِ َّ ِ
َ َ‫ "اظْطَل‬are: "‫ "اظلَ َم‬and "‫) "اطلَ َم‬
ِ َ‫ َهمزت‬meet in one word, and the first of them is vowelled and the
(g) When two ‫ان‬ َْ
second unvowelled, then the second is substitute for by a ‫( َح ْرف َم ٍّد‬letter of
prolongation) which is the corresponding sister letter of the preceding ‫ َح َر َكة‬, like:

"‫ن‬ َ " which was originally "‫"أَأْ َم َن‬

َ ‫آم‬
"‫ن‬ ِ ِ
ُ ‫ "أ ُْوم‬which was originally "‫"أ ُْؤم ُن‬
"‫ "إِيْ َمان‬which was originally "‫ "إِئْ َمان‬.

‫تم بِ َع ْون اهلل تعالى‬

ّ

24