A topic for those who study Classical Arabic
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Salam,
Here s the URL
www.alislam.org/quran/dictionary/dictionary_quran.pdf -
Hi there,
I'm studyig Classical Arabic, and I'm opening this thread to ask about help in various aspects of the Classical Arabic language.
The book I'm using,the one recommended by Brother Wakas, is called "Arabic through the quran" by Alan Jones. If someone has a copy of it, or has the knowledge it shares, I humbly ask for your assistance and help learning this language.
First out, is declension, inflection and cases in the Classical Arabic. I don't get it.
I generally don't get it, but to be precise, I don't understand this on page 23, under Declension of NounsType One -> "Partially Inflected" - using the word Makkata as example.
"The crucial difference between the fully and partially inflected form here (and in type 2) is in the genitive. This can be clearly seen when an adjective is added, al-mukarramatum, commonly used to describe Mecca in later times. The adjective has to have the definite article because makkatu, as a proper noun, is definite."
I don't see any difference in the genitive. All forms (nominative, genitive, accusative) have the definite article Lam wowelled by either O, A and A, respectively.
What's the difference?
Links and reading material is highly appreciated, as are examples. -)
There is more which I don't understand, but I'll spare that for next time.
Nadeem
The genative is heard at the end of the word - but since the last vowel is often not pronounced it can't be heard. (It has nothing to do with the definite article - you are getting confused by what he said - he was merely pointing out that the adjective needed the definite article because the word Makkah is a proper noun.
Makkatu Al-Mukarramatu (nomnative)
Makkata Al-Mukarramata (Accusative)
Makkati Al-Mukarramati (genitive)
OR you can do what most people do - not pronounce the last vowel and Just say "Makkah Al-Mukarramah" (Nomnative, accusative and genitive lol ;D )
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Peace,
Why is it "Tilka Aayaatu Allahi" and not "Ulaa'ika aayaatu Allahi"?
I thought that the plural Aayaat was a sound feminine plural of Aayat, not a broken plural.
Please explain peace
Nadeem
You're right about Aayaat being sound plural feminine. But since they are not human, they can be treated as single feminine, hence "tilka".
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Peace,
Can someone please tell me what these words mean
(Aatinn act. pcpl. masc. indef. )
(Al-Aatee act. pcpl. masc. def. )
(Aatiyatun. act. pcpl. fem. indef. )
(Al-Aatiyatu. act. pcpl. fem. def.)
Act. = active
pcpl. = participle
masc. = masculine
fem. = feminine
I'm going through active and passive participles, but the textbook doesn't translate the different forms - it's SOOOOOOO frustrating!
Nadeem
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Salam Nadeem,
You may benefit from purchasing a copy of Hans Wehr's Arabic-English Dictionary. The different forms of the words are usually defined.
The book usually runs around $40 or so, but it is worth it. My personal copy has been used so much that I have had to repair it with Very strong tape. It is very dog-eared and worn. It was a very good investment as far as I'm concerned.
Salam,
Arnab -
Peace Arnab,
Thanks for the recommendation. I've actually been somewhat reluctant to buy Modern Arabic dictionaries, because I am studying Classical Arabic, and I fear that I might mix them up.
But if the different forms are defined, then I'll certainly go for it -)
Nadeem
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Btw... It will take some time before Hans Wehr is in my hands... Could you look up those forms in your dictionary and tell me what they mean?
And, can someone tell me if "Maa Akhuzoohu laysa lahum" is valid for "That which they seized doesn't belong to them"?
Nadeem
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Peace,
Please take a look at this
http//bp3.blogger.com/_OlIFaRNTuoE/SAZVbRSSOVI/AAAAAAAAAAg/nm5fem1yQbg/s1600/image-upload-22-737701.jpeCan I translate nr. 5 (the one top of the page) as "They said 'We testified against ourselves, as the worldly life deluded us'. They testified against themselves that they were disbelievers!"
According to the key the translation goes "They said 'We bear witness against ourselves, for the worldly life deceived us'. They bore witness against themselves that they had been liars!"
I think the key is wrong.
Is there are difference been "had been" and "were"?
Nadeem
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In context - "had been" would imply that they used to be liars and are no longer whereas "were" would imply "had been" but not the "no longer" aspect. So presumably the key is correct.
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Peace,
Can someone please tell me what these words mean
(Aatinn act. pcpl. masc. indef. )
(Al-Aatee act. pcpl. masc. def. )
(Aatiyatun. act. pcpl. fem. indef. )
(Al-Aatiyatu. act. pcpl. fem. def.)
Act. = active
pcpl. = participle
masc. = masculine
fem. = feminine
I'm going through active and passive participles, but the textbook doesn't translate the different forms - it's SOOOOOOO frustrating!
Nadeem
These are called "declined nouns". They are nouns ending in a "yaa" with an "i" as a short vowel before it. Examples . Their rule is that they lose the yaa when in the indefinite and nominative or genetive cases. A genetive "tanween" replaces the "damma" and the "kasra". In the feminine form, the "yaa" is no more final, so it is no more a "declined" noun.
Examples(nominative) A lawyer came
(genetive) I went to a lawyer
(accusative) I saw a lawyerBut the feminine form is not affected by this rule
When in the definite form it keeps the yaa, but the "damma" and the "kasra" do not show. The "fatha" does -
Peace,
Good job, Samia. This is exactly how I would have explained it. So, Nadeem, when applied to ataa, Aat(in) is the indefinite active participle (Meaning that it describes the person, place or thing that does come, is coming or will be coming. It could be all of these depending on the context. Al-aatee is definite). This is also known in Arabic as ism faa3il. The weak radical on the end being yaa is condensed from what would have been aatiyin to aatin (this goes for all indefinite words with a ya as the final radical in its root letters). If vowels are written you will see a kasrah tanween, if not you will just see alif (madda) and taa. When these words with yaa as their last radical are in definite form the yaa is written, hence al-aatee. alif (maddah), taa, yaa. (it means the one (person, place or thing) coming). In feminine form you will always see the ya, for instance indefinite, feminine = aatiYat(un) and definite al-aatiYat(u). I hope you undersand. There are many other interesting things that you will find in traditional Quranic scripts that unlike this case are not written in modern Arabic scripts. For instance ya and kasra being interchangeable and even alifs and fatha's being interchangeable.
Godbless,
Anwar