the Adjectives in the Arabic language | الصِّفَاتُ

Introduction

 

Adjectives are words that describe the quality, colour or defect of the other noun. They are usually derived from intransitive verbs, which note a state or condition rather than an act.

  There are certain patterns to denote an adjective.  

1. فَاعِلٌ – active participle

  Examples:

• صَالِحٌ – righteous/good
• عَالِمٌ – knowledgeable
• عَابِدٌ – worshipper

 وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ

Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. (109:4)

 

2. Adjectives pattern: فَعِيلٌ

  Examples:

• كَرِمٌ – noble
• عَظِيمٌ – great
• رَحِيمٌ – merciful
• قَدِيرٌ – powerful

 

وَاللَّـهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

 and Allah is Knowing and Wise. (9:15)

 

لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ

For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision. (8:4)

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3. Adjectives pattern: فَعُولٌ

  Examples:

• ظَلُومٌ – great wrong-doer
• غَفُورٌ – forgiver
• رَءُوفٌ – compassionate

إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ

Indeed, humankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful. (14:34)

 

 وَاللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (2:218)

 

 وَاللَّـهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ

 and Allah is Kind to [His] servants.” (3:30)

 

4. Adjective patterns: فَعْلانُ

  Examples:

• غَضْبَانُ – angry
• رَحْمَانُ  – most gracious

 

الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ 

The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, (1:3)

 

فَرَجَعَ مُوسَىٰ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ غَضْبَانَ أَسِفًا

So Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved (20:86)

 

5. Adjectives pattern: فَعَّالٌ

  Examples:

• جَبَّارٌ – strong/powerful

 

 الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ

 the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior (59:23)

  The pattern used for colours and defect are:  

• Singular masculine: أَفْعَلُ
• Singular feminine:  فَعْلاءُ
• Dual masculine: أَفْعَلانِ
• Dual feminine: فَعْلَوَانِ
• Plural masculine: فُعْلٌ
• Plural feminine:  فُعْلٌ

Examples:  

وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ

And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].  (2:187)

 

 وَاضْمُمْ يَدَكَ إِلَىٰ جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ آيَةً أُخْرَىٰ

And draw in your hand to your side; it will come out white without disease – another sign, (20:22)

 

وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ

And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and [some] extremely black. (35:27)

 

صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ

Deaf, dumb and blind – so they will not return [to the right path]. (2:18)

 

You have now completed this Arabic lesson. The next one will be insha’Allah about the noun for pre-eminence in Arabic.

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