List ONE

Demonstrative Pronouns2
This legend will give more information about the gender/ number of the
pronouns in question.

Ddd

Male Female Plural

2 [In English] Demonstrative pronouns are words, such as ‘this’ and ‘that’, used to indicate what you are referring
to. This book. That pen. Those people ..etc.
11
 List TWO
Negations/ Exceptions
This legend will be used in this list to give more information about the gender of
some modifiers.

Male Female

18
 English Arabic
َ
Yes ‫ن َع ۡم‬
َ
Yes, indeed ‫بَل‬
‫َا‬
Certainly not ‫لَك‬
‫ا‬
Except ‫إَِّل‬
‫ا‬ ۡ
Nothing but ‫ إَِّل‬.. ‫إِن‬
‫ا‬
Nothing but ‫ إَِّل‬.. ‫َما‬
So as not to/ that ‫َا‬
‫أَّل‬
not
َ
Do(es) not ‫َّل‬
Not (continuous) ‫َما‬
Will not ۡ‫لَن‬
َ
Did not ‫ل ۡم‬
َ ۡ َ َ ۡ َ
(There is) no ‫ليست‬ ‫لي س‬
ۡ‫َغي‬
Other than/ not
ُ
Apart from ‫مِن دون‬

19
 ُ َ ٓ ‫ُ َ َٰ ُ َ ا َ َ ا َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ۡ َ ُ َ ا‬
ۡ‫نف َس ُهم‬ ‫يخ ِدعون ٱّلل وٱَّلِين ءامنوا وما َيدعون إَِّل أ‬
They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive none but

ْ ُ َ َ َ َ ‫َ َ َ َ َ ُ َ ۡ َ ُ َ َ َٰ ا ا‬
themselves,

ِ ‫وما كفر سليمَٰن ول‬

‫كن ٱلشيَٰ ِطني كفروا‬
Solomon disbelieved not, but the Satans disbelieved,

Will not ۡ‫لَن‬

‫َ َ َ ۡ ُ ۡ َ ُ َ َ ُ ۡ َ ا َٰ ُ ۡ ُ َ ۡ ٗ ِ َ ا‬
ِ‫ون موث ِقا مِن ٱّلل‬
ِ ‫قال لن أر ِسلهۥ معكم حت تؤت‬
He said, “I will not send him with you, unless you give me a pledge before Allah
َ َ َ َۡ ‫ََ ۡ َۡ َ ۡ َ َ َ ا‬
ٓ ِ ‫ت يأذن‬
ٓ ‫ِل أ‬
‫ب‬ َٰ ‫ح‬ ‫ۡرض‬‫ٱۡل‬ ‫ح‬‫ر‬َ ‫فلن أب‬
ِ
I will not leave this land until my father permits me,

Did not ۡ‫لَم‬

The major use of the Arabic word ‫ لم‬is past negation. This of
course includes different types past tenses in English; so not just
‘did not’. It could also be used as ‘have not’, ‘had not’ and ‘would
not’. In other words, as long as it has to do with the past tense, it
can be used.

َ ُ َ ۡ َ ْ ُ ُ َ ۡ َ ‫َ ُ َ ِ ُ ُ ُ ۡ َ َٰ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ َ َ ُ َ ِ ُ ُ ا‬
‫ويعلِمكم ٱلكِتب وٱۡل ِكمة ويعلِمكم ما لم تكونوا تعلمون‬
and teach you the Book and the wisdom, and teaching you that which you did not
know;

َ ۡ َ ِ َٗ َ َ ُۡ ََۡ ُۡ ۡ ُ ۡ ُّ َ َ ُ ۡ َ َ
ٰۚ ‫ك مِنه ولم يؤت سعة مِن ٱلما ِل‬
ِ ‫وَنن أحق بِٱلمل‬
when we are more worthy of authority than he, and he was not given plenty of
wealth?”

23
 English Arabic
َۡ َ
Yes/ no Questions ‫ هل‬/ ‫أ‬
What ...? ‫ َماذا‬/‫َما‬
Why…? ‫ل َِم‬
Who...? ‫َم ۡن‬
When ...? ‫َم َت‬
Where...? َ‫َأ ۡين‬
ََۡ
How...? ‫كيف‬
َ
How many/ much? ‫ك ۡم‬
Which? ُّ‫أَي‬
‫ا‬
How...? From Where..?
(mostly rhetorical) ‫أّن‬

26
 ٗ َ َٰ َ َ ُ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ُّ َ ۡ ُ
‫قل أي َشء أكَب شهدة‬
Say, "What thing is greatest in testimony?"

َ ََُۡ ُۡ ُ ۡ َ ۡ ُّ َ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ ُّ َ َ
‫ني أحق بِٱۡلم ِنٍۖ إِن كنتم تعلمون‬ِ ‫فأي ٱلف ِريق‬
So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know?

‫ا‬
How...? From Where ..?
(Mostly rhetorical4)
‫أّن‬

َ ُ َ ۡ ُ َٰ ‫َ َٰ ُ ُ ا ُ َ َ ا‬
٩٥ ‫ذل ِكم ٱّلل فأّن تؤفكون‬
That is Allah. So how could you deviate?

ُ َ ۡ َ َ َ َ ُ َ ُ ُ َ َٰ ‫َ ا‬
َِٰ ‫كن ا َُلۥ َص‬
َ‫حبة‬ ‫أّن يكون َلۥ ودل ولم ت‬
How can He have a son when He never had a companion?

4 Rhetorical questions are asked just to make a point but not because you want an answer.
31
 English Arabic
‫ا‬
Verily/ truly ‫إِن‬
‫َا‬
That (+nouns) ‫أن‬
َ ۡ
If )‫إ ِن (لئِن‬
to (in order to)/ َۡ
‫أن‬
That (+verbs)
‫َا‬
As if ‫كأن‬
َ
But ‫كن‬ ِ ‫ل‬
When ‫لَماا‬

If ۡ‫لَو‬
ََۡ
But for/ why not ‫لوَّل‬
ۡ َ ۡ
Before ‫(مِن) قبل‬
After ‫(م ِۡن) َب ۡعد‬
ۡ
When (for past) ‫إِذ‬
When َ
‫إِذا‬
(for present/future)
ُ
Then ‫ث ام‬
Then (directly after)/ َ
‫فــ‬
so

47
 List 6-7 – Discussion
‫ا‬
Verily/ truly ‫إِن‬

َ ۡ َ ِ ُ َٰ َ َ َ ‫ا ا‬
٢٠ ‫ك َشءٖ ق ِدير‬ ِ ‫إِن ٱّلل لَع‬
َ َُ ‫ا اَ َ َۡ َ ۡ ٓ َ َ ۡ َ ََٗ ا‬
َِۚ ‫وض ٗة َف َما فَ ۡو َقها‬
Verily Allah is Able to do all things.

‫ۡضب مثل ما بع‬ ِ ‫َحۦ أن ي‬ ِ ‫إِن ٱّلل َّل يست‬

Verily, Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or so much more when it is
bigger than it.

‫َا‬
That (+nouns) ‫أن‬
َ
The word ‫ أ ان‬can only be followed by nouns. It is important to keep an
eye on the tashkeel (short vowels) which you see on top of that word
because it can make a difference in the meaning.
َ ُ ۡ ُ َ َ َ ُّ ُ َ ُ َ ۡ َ َ ‫َ َ َ َ ۡ َ ُ َ َ ا ا‬
٧٧ ‫أوَّل يعلمون أن ٱّلل يعلم ما ي ِِسون وما يعلِنون‬
َ ۡ َ ِ ُ َٰ َ َ َ ‫َ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ا ا‬
Do they not know that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal?
ٌ
١٠٦ ‫ك َشءٖ ق ِدير‬ ِ ‫ألم تعلم أن ٱّلل لَع‬
Do you not know that Allah is capable of all things?

َ ۡ
If )‫إ ِن (لئِن‬

ْ ََۡ ََ ُ ‫فَإ ۡن َء َام ُنوا ْ بم ۡثل َما ٓ َء َام‬

‫نتم بِهِۦ فق ِد ٱهتدوا‬ ِ ِِ ِ
ۡ َ ُۡ َ َ ََ ۡ ًۡ َ ‫ََ َۡ ُ َ ا‬
So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided;
َ‫سيح‬ َ
ِ ‫فمن يملِك مِن ٱّللِ شيـا إِن أراد أن يهلِك ٱلم‬
َ َ َُۡ َ َۡ َ َ َ َ ٓ َ َ ُ ۡ َ َ َ َ ‫َ ۢ َ َ َ َا‬
"Then who could prevent Allah at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary,
َ
‫لئِن بسطت إِِل يدك تلِ قتل ِِن ما أنا بِبا ِس ٖط ي ِدي إَِلك ِۡلقتلك‬
“If you extend your hand to kill me, I will not extend my hand to kill you;
48
 to (in order to)/ َۡ
‫أن‬
That (+verbs)

َ ُ ۡ َ َٰ َ َ ۡ َ ُ َ ۡ َ ُ ۡ َ َ َ َ َ ۡ َ َٰ َ َ َ
‫اب‬
ِ ‫قال يويلت أعجزت أن أكون مِثل هذا ٱلغر‬
He said, "O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow-?

َ ُ َ ۡ َ ٓ ُ ُ َ َ َ َ َٰ َ ۡ ُ َ َ
ِ‫ول َما لَ ۡي َس ِل ِبَق‬
ٰۚ ِ ِ ‫قال سبحنك ما يكون ِِل أن أق‬
He will say, “Glory be to You! It is not for me to say what I have no right to.

‫َا‬
As if/ as though ‫كأن‬

ٗ‫ِف أُ ُذ َن ۡيهِ َوقۡرا‬ َ َ ٗ ۡ َ ۡ ُ ‫َا‬

ٓ ِ ‫َبا َكأن ل ا ۡم ي َ ۡس َم ۡع َها َكأ ان‬
ِ ‫و َٰل مستك‬
he turns away in pride, as though he did not hear them, as though there is deafness in his ears.

‫ۡ َ َ ۡ َ َۡ َ َ َ ۡ َ ُ ۡ َ َ ا ُ ُ ا‬
‫ِإَوذ نتقنا ٱِلبل فوقهم كأنهۥ ظلة‬
And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud

َٰ َ
But ‫كن‬
ِ ‫ل‬

َ ُُ َۡ ‫ا‬ ََٰ َ َ ُ ۡ ُ ۡ ُ ُ ۡ ُ ‫َ َ ٓ ا‬
١٢ ‫كن َّل يشعرون‬
ِ ‫سدون ول‬ ِ ‫أَّل إِنهم هم ٱلمف‬
In fact, it is they who are the corrupters, but they are not aware.

َ ُُ َۡ َ ‫ا‬ َ َ ۡ َ ‫َ َ َٰ ا‬ ‫ا‬ ََ ۡ َ َُ َ‫ا ا‬

ِ ‫كن أكَّث ٱنل‬
٢٤٣ ‫اس َّل يشكرون‬ ِ ‫اس ول‬ ِ ‫إِن ٱّلل َّلو فضل لَع ٱنل‬
Verily, Allah is Gracious towards the people, but most people are not appreciative.

49
 English Arabic
َ َ ُ
Of (belonging to) ‫ ذات‬، ‫ ذِي‬، ‫ ذا‬، ‫ذو‬
ُ ْ ُ ُ
Of (belonging to) ‫ول‬
ِ ‫ أ‬، ‫أولوا‬
َۡ
Family/ People of ‫أه ل‬
Family/ people of ‫َءا ِل‬
ََ
Lo!/ Will .. not ? ‫أَّل‬
What a good … ! ‫ن ِۡع َم‬
ۡ
What a foul/ bad ..! ‫بِئ َس‬
ََ
Like )Example( (‫)مثل‬ ‫مِثل‬
Or ‫أو‬
Or ? ‫أم‬
Some/ part (of) ‫َب ۡعض‬
ُ
Every/ each ‫ك‬
ََِ
Perhaps/ may ‫لعل‬
Possibly/ may ‫َع َس‬
َ ُّ َ
O! )‫يا (أيها‬
َ َ
At/ with/ from ‫ دلن‬، ‫ دلى‬، ‫ع ِۡند‬
ُ

54
 List 7-7 – Discussion
َ َ ُ
Of (belonging to) ‫ ذات‬، ‫ ذِي‬، ‫ ذا‬، ‫ذو‬
These four words are essentially the exact same word. The only
difference between them is their position in the sentence. Some
words in Arabic can slightly change depending on their function in
the sentence. That is why all these words mean the same thing, but
they change their case ending, depending on their position in the
sentence.

َ ۡ ۡ َۡ ُ ُ‫َ ََ ُٓ َ ا‬ َۡ ُ‫َ ا‬
َ ۡ ‫َي َت ُّص ب َر‬
١٠٥ ‫ۡحتِهِۦ من يشاء ِۚ وٱّلل ذو ٱلفض ِل ٱلع ِظي ِم‬ ِ ‫وٱّلل‬
ۡ َ ُ ‫َ ُۡ ۡ َ َ ا‬
But Allah chooses for His mercy whomever He wills. Allah is Possessor of Sublime Grace.

‫يل‬ ‫ب‬ ‫ا‬

‫ٱلس‬ َ
‫ن‬ ۡ
‫ٱب‬‫و‬َ َ
‫ِني‬
‫ك‬ ۡ
‫س‬ ‫م‬ ‫ٱل‬‫و‬ ‫ۥ‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ق‬ ‫ح‬ َٰ
‫َب‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ق‬‫ٱل‬ ‫ا‬‫ذ‬ ‫ات‬
ِ ‫ء‬َ ‫َو‬
ِ ِ ِ
ٗ َ ۡ َ ََْۡۡ ‫ٗ ا‬
And give those of kinship his rights, and the poor, and the wayfarer,
ۡ َ َٰ
٤٢ ‫إِذا َّلبتغوا إِِل ذِي ٱلعر ِش سبِيل‬
َ َ َ ۡ َ َٰ َ ٓ َ ُ َٰ َ ۡ َ َ َ
they would have sought a way to the Lord of the Throne.

٥٠ ‫ني‬ َ َ َ
ٖ ِ‫ت قرارٖ ومع‬ ِ ‫وءاوينهما إِِل ربوة ٖ ذا‬
and We sheltered them on high ground with security and flowing springs.

ُ ُ ُ
Of (belonging to) ‫ول‬
ِ ‫ أ‬، ‫أولوا‬
Just like the previous entry, these two words are also identical but
they have different endings because of their function in the
sentence.

ْٓ ُ ُۡ َ َ ‫ُ ۡ َ ا‬ ۡ َۡ ْ ُُْ ََۡ ََ
‫وَّل يأت ِل أولوا ٱلفض ِل مِنكم وٱلسعةِ أن يؤتوا‬
ۡ َ َ ۡ َ 7 َ ۡ ُۡ ُْ ْٓ ُ ُۡ َ
Those of you who have affluence and means should not refuse to give
‫ا‬ َ َ َ ُ َٰ َ َ َٰ ‫أن يؤتوا أو ِل ٱلقر‬
ِ‫يل ٱّلل‬ ِ َٰ ‫َب وٱلمسكِني وٱلمه‬
ِ ِ ‫ج ِرين ِِف سب‬
-to give to the relatives, and the needy, and the emigrants for the sake of Allah.

َ ُ ُ
7 The reason why the phrase ‫ أ ْو ِل ٱلقرَب‬is translated into ‘the relatives’, is because it literally means ‘ones belonging to
family’ which delivers the same meaning as relatives.
55
 َۡ
People/ family of ‫أه ل‬

َ‫ك َف ُروا ْ م ِۡن أَ ۡهل ٱلۡك َِتَٰب َو ََّل ٱل ۡ ُم ۡشك ِني‬

َ َ ‫ا َ َ ُّ ا‬
‫ما يود ٱَّلِين‬
ِ ِ ِ
It is never the wish of the disbelievers from among the People of the Book, nor of the

َ َ َ ۡ َ ۡ ِ ٗ َ َ ْ َُۡ َ َ َۡ َ َ ُۡۡ ۡ
polytheists,
ۡ‫ك ٗما ِمِن‬ ‫خفتم ِشقاق بين ِ ِهما فٱبعثوا حكما مِن أهل ِهِۦ وح‬
ِ ‫ِإَون‬
َٓ َۡ
‫أهل ِها‬
If you fear a breach between the two, appoint an arbiter from his family and an arbiter
from her family.

Family/ people of ‫َءا ِل‬

َ َۡ َٓ ُ ۡ ُ َ ُ َُ َ َۡ ۡ َ ۡ ِ ُ َٰ َ ۡ ‫ۡ َ ا‬
‫اب‬
ِ ‫ِإَوذ َنينكم مِن ءا ِل ف ِرعون يسومونكم سوء ٱلعذ‬
And recall when We delivered you from the people of Pharaoh. They inflicted on you

َ‫وب َك َما ٓ َأ َت امها‬ َ َ َ َ ۡ َ َ ُ َ َ ۡ ُّ ُ َ

terrible persecution,
َ ‫لَع َءال َي ۡع ُق‬ ‫ويتِم ن ِعمتهۥ عليك و‬
ِ
and will complete His blessing upon you and upon the family of Jacob,

ََ
Lo! / Do (will) .. not? ‫أَّل‬

ُ ُ ُ ۡ ُّ َ ۡ َ ‫ۡ ا‬ ََ
٢٨ ‫أَّل ب ِ ِذك ِر ٱّللِ تطمئِن ٱلقلوب‬
َ ُ ُ ۡ َ َ َ ٓ َ َ َ َ ُّ َ ُ ََ ُ ُ ۡ َُ
Lo! in the remembrance of Allah hearts do find rest.

٥٩ ‫اب أَّل ساء ما َيكمون‬ ُ ُّ ُ َ ۡ َٰ ‫سكهۥ‬

ِ ‫لَع هون أم يدسهۥ ِِف ٱلَّت‬ ِ ‫أيم‬
shall he keep it with ignominy or bury it in the dust! Unquestionably, vile is that which

ُ َ ُ ‫َ َ ُ ُّ َ َ َ ۡ َ ا‬
they judge!
ۡ‫كم‬
ِۚ ‫أَّل تِبون أن يغفِر ٱّلل ل‬
Do you not love for Allah to pardon you?

56
 ُ
Every/ each/ all ‫ك‬

َ ۡ َ ِ ُ َٰ َ َ َ ‫َ َ َ ۡ َ ُ َ ا ا‬
٢٥٩ ‫ك َشءٖ ق ِدير‬ِ ‫قال أعلم أن ٱّلل لَع‬
ِ ُ َٰ َ َ ۡ َ ۡ ‫ُ ا‬
he said, “I know that Allah has power over all things.”
ٗ‫ك َج َبل ِم ِۡن ُه ان ُج ۡزءا‬
ٖ ِ ‫ثم ٱجعل لَع‬
then place a part on each hill,

ََِ
Perhaps/ may ‫لعل‬

ُ ُ َ ََ ‫ََ ُۡ َ ََا ا‬
ً‫ون قَريبا‬
ِ ‫وما يدرِيك لعل ٱلساعة تك‬
َ َُ ُۡ ۡ ُ ‫ََ ُ ْ اَ َ ا ُ َ ََ ا‬
And what may make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near.

‫وأ ِطيعوا ٱّلل وٱلرسول لعلكم ترۡحون‬

And obey Allah and the Messenger, that you may obtain mercy.

Possibly/ may ‫َع َس‬

ۡ‫كم‬ُ ‫َ َ َ َ َ ۡ َ ُ ْ َ ۡٗ َ َُ َ ۡ ا‬
‫وعس أن تكرهوا شيـا وهو خي ل‬
ُ ‫َ َ َ َ ُ ُّ ْ َ ۡ ٗ َ ُ َ َ ِ ا‬
But it may be that you dislike something while it is good for you,
ۡ‫كم‬
ِۚ ‫وعس أن تِبوا شيـا وهو ِش ل‬
and it may be that you like something while it is bad for you.

59
 َ
O! )‫ي َٰـ (يَا‬

َ ۡ ۡ ُ ُ َِ ُ َ ُ َ ۡ ُ ۡ َ َ ۡ ُ ‫َ َٰ َ ۡ ِ ا‬
ِ ِ ‫يقوم إِنكم ظلمتم أنفسكم ب‬
‫ٱَّتاذِكم ٱلعِجل‬
َ َٰ ‫ۡ ُ ۡ ُ ۡ َ َٰ ُ َ َٰ َ ُّ ۡ َ َ َ َ ا‬
“O my people, you have done wrong to yourselves by worshiping the calf.
َٗ ۡ َ َ‫ا‬ َ
‫ِإَوذ قلتم يموِس لن نؤمِن لك حت نرى ٱّلل جهرة‬
And [recall] when you said, “O Moses, we will never believe you unless we see Allah
َ
َ ‫َيأ ُّي َها اٱَّل‬
َ‫ِين َء َام ُنوا ْ ََّل َت ُقولُوا ْ َرَٰعِنا‬
outright."

O you who have believed, say not [to Allah's Messenger], "Ra'ina"

ُ َ َ
At/ with/ from ‫ دلن‬، ‫ دلى‬، ‫عِند‬

‫َ ا‬ َ ‫ُه ۡم َد َر‬
ٌ َٰ ‫ج‬
ِ‫ِند ٱّلل‬
‫تع‬
ۡ َ ُ ُ ُۡ
They have different ranks with Allah,
َ
َ‫ك َٰ ِظمني‬ َ َ َ
ِۚ ِ ‫ج ِر‬
ِ ‫إِذِ ٱلقلوب دلى ٱۡلنا‬
ٗ‫ٓأَّلت ۡي َنَٰ ُهم ِمِن ا ُدلناا ٓ أَ ۡج ًرا َع ِظيما‬
َ ٗ
when the hearts are at the throats, choking them.

‫ِإَوذا‬
And then We would have given them from Us a great reward.

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 Types of ‫ما‬
As we have previously indicated, the Arabic word ‫ َما‬is quite a flexible
word because of the different meanings it can be translated to. In order
to make it easier to work with this word, we will try to work with it in
two different ways. We should first make a distinction between two
major types of ‫ما‬: Separated and attached.

1) Separated ‫ما‬
When ‫ ما‬is used separately, it will have one of these three
meanings: negation, ‘what’, or as a relative pronoun. These
meanings are put in an order according to their likelihood to
appear in an aya of the Quran. As you progress more in this
course, and specifically in step 6 (Quranic Grammar), you will
gain more insight on these three meanings of ‫ ما‬and how you
can differentiate between them. Naturally, the context of an aya is
the most major element that shows which meaning of ‫ ما‬is being
used. Therefore, the more you learn, the easier it becomes to
detect which meaning it is.

Not (negation) ‫َما‬

ُ َ ٓ ‫ََ َۡ َ ُ َ ا‬
ۡ‫نف َس ُهم‬ ‫وما َيدعون إَِّل أ‬
َ ُ ۡ َ ۡ ُ َ ُ َ ْٓ ُ َ ََ َ َُ َ ََ
but they deceive not except themselves

‫كن َكنوا أنفسهم يظلِمون‬ َٰ

ِ ‫وما ظلمونا ول‬
They did not wrong Us, but they were [only] wronging themselves.

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 What (question word) ‫َما‬
َ ُ ۡ ََ ۡ َ ُ َۡ ‫َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َا‬
‫قال ما منعك أَّل تسجد إِذ أمرتك‬
He said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I have commanded you?”

ْ ٓ ُّ َ ۡ ُ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ َ َ َ َ َ ُ ُ َ َ َ َ
‫قال يَٰهَٰرون ما منعك إِذ رأيتهم ضلوا‬
He said, “O Aaron, what prevented you, when you saw them going astray.

Which/ that
(Relative pronoun)8
‫َما‬
ۡ َٓ َ َٓ‫ۡ َََۡ َ ٗ ََا‬
ُ‫ت َما َح ۡو ََلۥ‬ ‫ََُُ ۡ َ ََ ا‬
‫مثلهم كمث ِل ٱَّلِي ٱستوقد نارا فلما أضاء‬
Their example is like that of one who kindled a fire; and when it lit up all that was
around it,

ِ ۡ َ
‫َون َزع َنا َما ِِف ُص ُدورِهِم ِم ِۡن غ ِٖل‬
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment,

8Relative pronoun: is a word used to refer to nouns mentioned previously, whether they are people, places, things,
animals e.g. This is the book which I read. In this example which refers to the book.
63
 2) Attached ‫ما‬
When ‫ ما‬is used in combination with other words/ prepositions, we
will then call it ‘attached’ ‫ ما‬to indicate that it is not a stand-alone word
anymore. When that happens, you will see that there are two outcomes
for these combinations: one ending with ‫ ا‬and the other ending with
just a fat’ha sign (short vowel).
As for the one ending with ‫ ا‬, ‫ ما‬will almost always be used as a relative
pronoun with the meaning of ‘which/ that’. When it comes to the one
ending with fat’ha, it will always be used as a question word.
ATTENTION: it is absolutely imperative that you differentiate
between the pronunciation of these two outcomes of each
combination, since as you can see in the list below, mispronunciation
can lead to a change to the meaning. Here are all the possible
combinations with ‫ ما‬that you can find in the Noble Quran.

⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫( بِــ‬with) ⤦
With which ‫ب ِ َما‬ With what? ‫ب ِ َم‬

⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫( َعن‬about) ⤦
َ َ
About which? ‫ع اما‬ About what? ‫ع ام‬

⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫( ِِف‬in) ⤦

In which َ ‫ف‬
‫ِيما‬ In what? َ ‫ف‬
‫ِيم‬

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 ⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫( مِن‬from) ⤦

From which ‫م َِما‬ From what? ‫م َِم‬

⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫( ل ِــ‬for) ⤦

‫ل َِما‬ ‫ل َِم‬
For what?
To/ For which
Why?

⤥
َ‫ ما‬+ ‫( َكــ‬like)
Like what/ َ‫َكما‬
that

َّ
⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫( إِن‬verily)
‫ا‬
Verily is ‫إن َما‬

⤥
َ‫ ما‬+ ََ‫( أَ ِن‬that)
‫َا‬
That ‫أنما‬

⤥
َ‫ ما‬+ ‫( َكأَ ان‬as if)
َ
As if َ‫َكأ انما‬

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 َ‫ ما‬+ ‫ُك‬ َّ ‫ل‬
⤥ (every)
Every time َ‫َُكاما‬
Whenever

⤥
َ‫ ما‬+ ‫( َأي َن‬where) ⤦

Wherever َ‫َأ ۡي َنما‬ Wherever َ‫َأ ۡي َن ما‬

⤥‫ َما‬+ ‫ِعم‬
َ ‫( ن‬what good)

What good that ‫ن ِ ِع اما‬

⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫ئس‬
َ ‫( ب‬what bad)
ِ
‫ئس َما‬َ ‫ب‬
What bad that ِ

َ
⤥ ‫ َما‬+ ‫( فـ‬then)
then … not َ‫َفما‬ So what ? َ‫َفما‬

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 Combined ‫ ما‬- Discussion

= ‫ َما‬+ ‫( بِـ‬with)

With which ‫ب ِ َما‬ With what? ‫ب ِ َم‬

َ ُ َ ۡ َ َ ُۢ َ ُ ‫ا‬ َ ُ ِ َُ َ َ
٨٨ ‫إِنهۥ خبِي بِما تفعلون‬ ٥٤ ‫شون‬ ِ ‫فب ِم تب‬
َ ُ َ ۡ َ َ ‫َ َ َ ِ َ ٓ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ َا‬ َ ُ َ ۡ ُ ۡ ُ ۡ َ َ ُۢ َ َ َ
9
He is fully Informed of what you do. What good news do you bring?”

‫ب بِما أنعمت لَع فلن أكون‬ ِ ‫قال ر‬ ٣٥ ‫جع ٱلمرسلون‬ ِ ‫فناظِرة بِم ير‬
He said, “My Lord, with what you have favored and will see what [reply] the messengers will
me, I will not be return."

َ َ
= ‫ ما‬+ ‫(عن‬about)
َ َ
About which? ‫ع اما‬ About what? ‫ع ام‬
َ ُ َ َ َ َ ُ ٓ َ َ
١٣٢ ‫َو َما َر ُّبك بِغ َٰ ِفل ع اما َي ۡع َملون‬ ١ ‫ع ام يَت َسا َءلون‬
ْ ُ َ ‫ََُ ۡ َُ ا ََۡ ۡ َ َ َ ا‬
and your Lord is not unaware of what they do. What are they asking one another about?

‫وليسـلن يوم ٱلقِيَٰمةِ عما َكنوا‬

َ َُ َۡ
١٣‫ون‬ ‫يفَّت‬
and they will surely be questioned on the Day of
Resurrection about what they used to invent.

9As it was previously explained in list 5, translating prepositions can be tricky. Therefore, if the preposition
attached to ‫ َما‬is part of a phrasal verb, the meaning of the combination can be slightly different depending on the
meaning of the phrasal verb and its context.
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 = ‫ َما‬+ ‫( ِِف‬in)

In which َ ‫ف‬
‫ِيما‬ In what? َ ‫ف‬
‫ِيم‬
ْ ََُۡ َ َ ۡ َ‫ك َم ب‬
ُ ۡ َ ٓ َ َٰ َ ۡ َ َ
ِ ‫ني ٱنلا‬
ِ‫اس فِيما ٱختلفوا فِي ٰۚه‬ ‫َِلح‬ َ ‫ف‬
٤٣ ‫ِيم أنت مِن ذِكرىها‬
to judge between people regarding their In what (position) are you that you should

َ ‫ِش ََك ٓ َء ف‬
َِۚ ‫ِيما ٓ َءاتَى َٰ ُهما‬ َ ُ ‫َج َع َل َ َُلۥ‬ َ ‫قَالُوا ْ ف‬
ُ ‫ِيم ُك‬
differences. mention it?
ۡ‫نتم‬
they attribute partners to Him in what He has given
they will say, “What was the matter with you?”
them.

= ‫ َما‬+ ‫( مِن‬from)

From which ‫م َِما‬ From what? ‫م َِم‬

َ ُ ُ ۡ ُ َٰ َ ۡ َ َ ‫َ ا‬ َ ُ ‫َ ۡ َ ُ ۡ َ َٰ ُ ا‬
٣ ‫ومِما رزقنهم ينفِقون‬ ٥ ‫ٱۡلنسن مِم خلِق‬
ِ ‫فلينظ ِر‬
ِٗۚ ‫فَ ُُكُوا ْ م اِما َغن ِ ۡم ُت ۡم َح َل َٰ ٗل َط ِيبا‬
and give from what We have provided for them. So let man observe from what he was created.

ِ
So consume from what you have gained, lawful and
good

68
 ‫ َما‬+ ‫( ل ِـ‬for)

‫ل َِما‬ ‫ل َِم‬
To/ for For what?
which Why?
ُ َ َ َ ِ ِ َ ُّ ُ ٓ ‫ُۡ َ َ َُُۡ َ َ ََٓ ا‬
ۡ‫كم‬ ‫َجا َءك ۡم َر ُسول مص ِدق ل ِما مع‬ ِ‫قل فلِم تقتلون أۢنبِياء ٱّلل‬
should a messenger come to you verifying what you
Say, “Why did you kill Allah’s prophets

َ ۡ َ‫ُم َص ِ ِد ٗقا ل ِ َِما ب‬ ََٰ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ

have,
‫ني يَ َديۡهِ م َِن ا‬
ٍَِٰۖ‫ٱتل ۡو َرىة‬ َ‫ِف إبۡ َرَٰهِيم‬ َ ُّ ٓ َ ُ َ
ِٓ ِ ‫ون‬‫ب ل ِم تاج‬ ِ ‫يأهل ٱلكِت‬
O People of the Book! Why do you argue about
“And verifying what lies before me of the Torah,
Abraham,

َ‫ ما‬+ ‫( َكـ‬like)

َ َ
Just like ‫كما‬
ۡ‫ون َأ ۡب َنا ٓ َء ُهم‬
َ ُ ۡ َ َ َ ُ َ ُ ۡ َ َ َٰ َ ۡ ُ ُ َٰ َ ۡ َ َ َ ‫ا‬
‫ٱَّلِين ءاتينهم ٱلكِتب يع ِرفونهۥ كما يع ِرف‬
َ ‫لل َ لَ َ َ َ َ َ َ ل‬
َّ‫كم أ َّو َل َمرة‬ َََ
Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their own children.

َٰ‫ى كما خلقن‬َٰ ‫جئتمونا فرَٰد‬

ِ ‫ولقد‬
“You have come to Us individually, just as We created you the first time,

69
 ‫ا‬
‫ َما‬+ ‫( إِن‬verily)
‫ا‬
Verily is ‫إن َما‬
‫َ ا‬ َ
ُ َٰ ‫ٱٓأۡلي‬ ‫ُۡ ا‬
ِ‫ِند ٱّلل‬ ‫تع‬ ‫قل إِن َما‬
ََٰ َ ‫َ ل‬
َ‫َع َطآئ َف َتي مِن َقبلنا‬ َ ‫َ َ ل ل ٓ َّ َ ٓ ل‬
Say, “Verily miracles are only with Allah,

ِ ِ ِ ‫نزل ٱلكِتَٰب‬ ِ ‫أن تقولوا إِنما أ‬

Lest you say, “Verily, The Scripture was revealed to two parties before us,

َ‫ ما‬+ ‫( أَ ان‬that)

‫َا‬
That ‫أنما‬

ُ ُ َٰ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ ُ ُ َٰ َ ۡ َ ٓ َ ‫َ ۡ َ ُ ٓ ْ َ ا‬
َ‫ك ۡم ف ِۡتنة‬ ‫وٱعلموا أنما أمولكم وأولد‬
ََٰ َ ُ َ ‫َ َ ۡ َ ُ ٓ ْ َ ا‬
And know that your possessions and your children are a test,
َ
ِ َٰ ‫و َِلعلموا أنما هو إِله و‬
‫حد‬
and that they may know that He is but one God

70
 َ‫ ما‬+ ‫( َكأَ ان‬as if)
َ
As if َ‫َكأ انما‬

‫َ َ َّ َ ٓ ل َ ل ل ل‬
ً‫وه لهم ق َِط ٗعا م َِن ٱ ََّّلل لمظلِما‬ َ َّ َ ‫َّ َ ل‬
ِ ‫شيت وج‬
ِ ‫صم كأنما أغ‬ ِ ‫ما لهم مِن ٱّللِ مِن َع‬
They will have from Allah no protector. It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night -

َٓ ‫ا‬ ‫ََا‬
so dark [are they].
ُ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ َ َ
ٰۚ ِ‫كأنما يصعد ِِف ٱلسماء‬
as though he were climbing up the sky.

‫ُا‬
َ‫ ما‬+ ‫ك‬ (every)
Every time َ‫َُكاما‬
Whenever
َ‫ت أُ ۡخ َتها‬
ۡ ‫ت أُ امة ال َع َن‬
ۡ َ‫َُكا َما َد َخل‬

‫خ لروا مِنهل‬ َ َ ‫َ َ َ ل ل َ َ ل َّ َ َ َ َ َ َ أ‬
Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister.

ِ ‫ويصنع ٱلفلك وُكما م َّر عليهِ مل مِن قو ِمهِۦ س‬

As he was building the ark, and whenever some of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him.

71
 َ‫ ما‬+ ‫( َأ ۡي َن‬where)

َ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ َ
Wherever ‫أينما‬ Where (?) ‫أين ما‬َ
ْٓ ُ ُ َ َ َۡ َ ُ ۡ ‫ا‬ ُ‫ار ًَك َأ ۡي َن َما ُكنت‬
َ ‫َو َج َعلَِن ُم َب‬
‫ملعون ِني أينما ثقِفوا‬ ِ
‫َ َ ۡ َ َ ُ َ ُّ ْ َ َ ا َ ۡ ُ ا‬ َ ُ ُ ۡ َ ۡ ُ ُ َ َ َۡ ۡ َُ َ َ
They are cursed; wherever they are found, And has made me blessed wherever I may be;

ِِۚ‫فأينما تولوا فثم وجه ٱّلل‬ ٩٢ ‫وقِيل لهم أين ما كنتم تعبدون‬
So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of And it will be said to them, “Where are those you
Allah. used to worship?”

‫ َما‬+ ‫ِعم‬
َ ‫(ن‬what good)

It’s excellent ‫نِعِ اما‬

َ‫ت فَن ِ ِع اما ِِه‬ َٰ َ َ ‫ُُۡ ْ ا‬
ِ ‫إِن تبدوا ٱلصدق‬
If you give charity openly, that is good.

ُ ُ َ ‫إ ان ا‬
‫ٱّلل نِعِ اما يَعِظكم بِهِۦ‬ ِ
Allah’s instructions to you are excellent.

72
 ‫ َما‬+ ‫ئس‬
َ ‫(ب‬what bad)
ِ
َ ‫ب‬
‫ئس َما‬
It’s bad ِ
ٍٓۖ‫قَ َال ب ۡئ َس َما َخلَ ۡف ُت ُموِن ِم ۢن َب ۡع ِدي‬
ِ ِ
ُ َ ٓ ََْۡ ۡ َ َ ۡ
“What an awful thing you did in my absence.
ۡ‫نف َس ُهم‬ ‫بِئسما ٱشَّتوا بِهِۦ أ‬
Miserable is what they sold their souls for—

َ‫ ما‬+ ‫(فَـ‬then)

َ َ َ َ
then … not ‫فما‬ So .. what is? ‫فما‬
َ ‫َف َما َو َه ُنوا ْ ل َِما ٓ أَ َص‬
ۡ‫اب ُهم‬ ُّ َٰ َ َٰ َ َ ُ ۡ َ َ َ َ َ
٩٥ ‫قال فما خطبك يس ِم ِري‬
He said, “So what do you have to say, O
They did not waver for what afflicted them
ٗ َ ۡ ۡ َ َ َ َٰ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ٓ َ َ َ َٰ َ ۡ ِ َ ُ ُّ َ َ َ
Samarian?”

‫فما أرسلنك علي ِهم حفِيظا‬ َ

٨٧ ‫ب ٱلعل ِمني‬ ِ ‫فما ظنكم بِر‬
Then we did not send you, [O Muhammad], as a So what is your opinion about the Lord of the
guardian. Worlds?”

As for ‫أَماا‬

َ َ َ ۡ َ ْ ُ ۡ َُ َ ‫ََا‬
٦ ‫يح َصَص َعتِي ٖة‬ ٖ ‫وأما َعد فأهلِكوا ب ِ ِر‬
ْ ُ َ َ َ ُ َٰ َ ۡ ‫َ َ ا‬
And as for Aad; they were annihilated by a furious, roaring wind.
ٗ َ َ َ ‫ا‬ َ
١٥ ‫سطون فكنوا ِِلهنم حطبا‬َ ِ ‫وأما ٱلق‬
But as for the unjust—they will be firewood for Hell.’”

73
 If /Either .. or ‫إ ِ اما‬
The word ‫ إ ِ اما‬can be used with the meaning of ‘if’ and ‘either .. or’, but it
is more commonly used in the Quran with the meaning of ‘if’. And when
it is used with the meaning of ‘either .. or’, ‫ إ ِ اما‬will always be repeated two
times as in this first example:

َ ۡ ُۡ ُ َۡ َ ُ ‫َ ُ ْ َ ُ َ ا ٓ َ ُۡ َ ا ٓ َ ا‬
١١ ‫ِق و إِما أن نكون َنن ٱلملقِني‬ َ ِ ‫قالوا يَٰموِس إِما أن تل‬

ۡ‫اي فَ َل َخ ۡو ٌف َعل ۡيهم‬

َ ُ ‫َ ا َۡ َا‬
They said, “O Moses! Either you throw, or we are the ones to throw.”
َ ‫كم ِم ِِِن ُه ٗدى َف َمن تَب َع ُه َد‬ ‫فإِما يأت ِين‬
ِ ِ ِ
And if there should come to you guidance from Me - then whoever follows My guidance will neither go
astray

74