Introduction
The subjunctive mood – اَلْمُضارِعُ الْمَنْصُوبُ and the jussive moods – الْمُضارِعُ المَجْزُومُ changes the imperfect tense.
When a particle such as انْ (that) precedes the simple, imperfect tense يَفْعَلُ (he does/will do), it changes the case ending of the imperfect verb to fatha or nasab. The meaning differs from what it has in its absolute case. This is the subjunctive mood of the verb.
For example:
أَنْ يَفْعَلَ
That he does/will do
Similarly, if a particle such as ْإِن (if) precedes the simple, imperfect tense يَفْعَلُ (he does/will do), it will change the case ending of the imperfect verb to sukoon or jazm, and the meaning will differ from its absolute case. this is the jussive mood of the verb.
إِنْ يَفْعَلْ
If he does/will do
These two forms of the imperfect tense, the subjunctive, and jussive moods can be made by slight changes to the imperfect tense verb.
1. The Subjunctive اَلْمُضارِعُ الْمَنْصُوبُ
The prefixes particles – الْحُرُوفُ النَّاصِبَةُ change the mood of the imperfect tense to the subjunctive. They are listed below:
الْحُرُوفُ النَّاصِبَةُ
لَنْ
will never
أَلَّا = أَنْ + لَا
that that not
كَيْ كَيْلَا = لا + كَيْ
So that So that not
حَتَّى
Until
لِ
So that/ in order to
إِذَنْ
Therefore/then
Below is a table demonstrating, he of أَنْ on the imperfect tense يَفْعَلُ:
3rd person masculine
Singular
أَنْ يَفْعَلَ
that he does/will do
Dual
أَنْ يَفْعَلَا
that they both do/will do
Plural
أَنْ يَفْعَلُوا
That they all do/will do
3rd person feminine
Singular
أَنْ تَفْعَلَ
that she does/will do
Dual
أَنْ تَفْعَلَا
that they both do/will do
Plural
أَنْ يَفْعَلْنَ
That they all do/will do
2nd person masculine
Singular
أَنْ تَفْعَلَ
that you do/will do
Dual
أَنْ تَفْعَلَا
that you both do/will do
Plural
أَنْ تَفْعَلُوا
That you all do/will do
2nd person feminine
Singular
أَنْ تَفْعَلِي
that you do/will do
Dual
أَنْ تَفْعَلَا
that you both do/will do
Plural
أَنْ تَفْعَلْنَ
That you all do/will do
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
أَنْ أَفْعَلَ
that I do/will do
Dual
–
Plural
أَنْ نَفْعَلَ
That we all do/will do
Point to note from the above table:
The fatha which is evident in the imperfect tense is seen only on the singular third person masculine and feminine, the singular second person masculine, and on the first person singular and plural i.e., يَفْعَلَ, تَفْعَلَ, أَفْعَلَ, نَفْعَلَ. For all other forms, the ن of the duals and plurals are dropped except in the feminine plurals.
Examples of the subjunctive mood used in the Holy Quran
أَن – that
لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِن بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّا أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ
nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. (65:1)
Note: as يَأْتِينَ is feminine plural, the ن is not dropped.
كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ
Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do. (61:3)
Note: the ن is dropped from تَقُولُوا due to the addition of اَنْ
أَلَّا = أَنْ + لَا – that not
أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
“Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. (41:30)
لِ + اَنْ = لِأَنْ – for that
وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
And I have been commanded to be the first [among you] of the Muslims.” (39:12)
لَن
It gives the meaning of will never and is a strong negation of the future. When لَنْ is prefixed to the imperfect tense, it will indicate the future tense. For example:
فَلَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّـهُ لَهُمْ
never will Allah forgive them (9:80)
كَي – in order to
كَيْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًا
That we may exalt You much (20:33)
كَيْلا – so that not/in order not to
كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنكُمْكَ
so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. (59:7)
لِكَيْلا – so that not
لِكَيْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْئًا
so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. (16:70)
حَتَّى – until
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ
And do not approach them until they are pure. (2:22)
لِ – so that
وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّي وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي
And I bestowed upon you love from Me that you would be brought up under My eye (20:39)
لِ + أَلّا = لِئَلّا – so that not
لِّئَلَّا يَعْلَمَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ أَلَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِّن فَضْلِ اللَّـهِ ۙ وَأَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ
[This is] so that the People of the Scripture may know that they are not able [to obtain] anything from the bounty of Allah and that [all] bounty is in the hand of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills. (57:29)
2. The jussive case – mood of the imperfect tense
Introduction
The prefixed particles, which are called الْحُرُوفُ الْجازِمَةُ change the mood of the imperfect tense to the jussive case where the final radical takes a sukoon or jazm. these are listed below:
الْحُرُوفُ الْجازِمَةُ
لَمْ
was not/did not
لَمَّا
not yet
إِنْ
if
لِ
should
لَا
do not/should not
Table with the jussive case: إِنْ يَفْعَلَ
3rd person masculine
Singular
إِنْ يَفْعَلْ
If he does/will do
Dual
إِنْ يَفْعَلَا
If they both do/will do
Plural
إِنْ يَفْعَلُوا
If they all do/will do
3rd person feminine
Singular
إِنْ تَفْعَلْ
If she does/will do
Dual
إِنْ تَفْعَلَا
If they both do/will do
Plural
إِنْ يَفْعَلْنَ
If they all do/will do
2nd person masculine
Singular
إِنْ تَفْعَلْ
If you do/will do
Dual
إِنْ تَفْعَلَا
If you both do/will do
Plural
إِنْ تَفْعَلُوا
If you all do/will do
2nd person feminine
Singular
إِنْ تَفْعَلِي
If you do/will do
Dual
إِنْ تَفْعَلا
If you both do/will do
Plural
إِنْ تَفْعَلْنَ
If you all do/will do
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
إِنْ أَفْعَلْ
If I do/will do
Dual
–
Plural
إِنْ نَفْعَلْ
If we do/will do
Point to note from the above table:
The sukoon which is evident in the imperfect is seen only on the singular third person and second person masculine and feminine and on the first person singular and plural, i.e., يَفْعَلْ, تَفْعَلْ, أَفْعَلْ, نَفْعَلْ.
For all other forms, the ن of duals and plurals are dropped as in the subjunctive, except in the case of feminine plurals.
The prefixed particles of the jussive case
لَمْ – was not/did not
It is used to deny a statement. It changes the present future tense to past tense.
يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا
[He was told], “O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name.” (19:7)
لَمَّ – not yet
وَآخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
And [to] others of them who have not yet joined them. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (62:3)
وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ
for faith has not yet entered your hearts (49:14)
In the above example, we see that لَمْ of يَدْخُلْ bears kasrah on it (instead of sukoon. The general rule is that sukoon is changed to kasrah to join the following letter.
Note: When the imperfect tense follows لَمَّا, it gives the meaning of not yet. When it comes before the past tense, it means “when” without any effect on the harakah of the past tense.
فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِالْجُنُودِ
And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, (2:249)
إِنْ – if
It is a conditional particle and gives the meaning of “if.” It usually comes at the beginning of a conditional sentence and is followed by two imperfect verbs in the jussive case.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَنصُرُوا اللَّـهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ
O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant your feet firmly. (47:7)
It can also come along with لَا. For example:
إِنْ + لَا = إِلَّا – if not/unless
وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers.” (11:47)
لِ – should
it is also called “lam of command – لَمْ الْأَمْرُ.” We will deal with this detail in the imperative form.
لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِّن سَعَتِهِ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّا آتَاهُ اللَّـهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا آتَاهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّـهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا
Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted – let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah will bring about, after hardship, ease. (65:7)
لَا- The particle of prohibition
This is the particle of prohibition and is also called لا ناهِيَة. It is used with the second person imperfect tense to give a negative command.
وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ أَمْوَاتٌ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ
And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, “They are dead.” Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not. (2:154)
There is one more لَا named لَا النَّافِيَة, which is used for negation and means “no.” This لا will not affect the verb that follows it. It is just used as a statement.
لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّـهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ
Allah does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, (2:225)
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّـهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا آتَاهَا
Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. (65:7)
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3. The jussive hollow verbs – moods of the imperfect tense
Introduction
In this lesson, we are going to study the hollow verbs when prefixed with the jussive case. Assimilated verbs on the pattern of وَعَدَ and يَسِرَ and hamzated verbs will change when prefixed with حروف الجازمة with the same effect as that of the basic consonant pattern فَعَلَ.
Hollow verbs on the pattern of قَالَ and بَاعَ will undergo the following change:
3rd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ يَقُلْ
If he did not say
Dual
لَمْ يَقُولَا
If they both did not say
Plural
لَمْ يَقُولُوْا
If they all did not say
3rd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَقُلْ
If she did not say
Dual
لَمْ تَقُولَا
If they both did not say
Plural
لَمْ يَقُلْنَ
If they all did not say
2nd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ تَقُلْ
If you did not say
Dual
لَمْ تَقُولَا
If you both did not say
Plural
لَمْ تَقُولُوْا
If you all did not say
2nd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَقُولِيْ
If you did not say
Dual
لَمْ تَقُولَا
If you both did not say
Plural
لَمْ تَقُلْنَ
If you all did not say
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
لَمْ أقُلْ
If I did not say
Dual
–
Plural
لَمْ نَقُلْ
If We did not say
Table for the hollow verb لَمْ يَبِعْ
3rd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ يَبِعْ
If he did not sell
Dual
لَمْ يَبِيْعَا
If they both did not sell
Plural
لَمْ يَبِيْعُوْا
If they all did not sell
3rd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَبِعْ
If she did not sell
Dual
لَمْ تَبِيْعَا
If they both did not sell
Plural
لَمْ يَبِعْنَ
If they all did not sell
2nd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ تَبِعْ
If you did not sell
Dual
لَمْ تَبِيْعَا
If you both did not sell
Plural
لَمْ تَبِيْعُوْا
If you all did not sell
2nd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ يَبِيْعِي
If you did not sell
Dual
لَمْ تَبِيْعَا
If you both did not sell
Plural
لَمْ تَبِعْنَ
If you all did not sell
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
لَمْ أَبِعْ
If I did not sell
Dual
–
Plural
لَمْ نَبِعْ
If we did not sell
In the table above, we see that و and ى are dropped in the third person masculine and feminine singular, the second person masculine and first-person singular because the last letter is made sakin -ْ. Two sukoons cannot appear together, and therefore, the weak letter is dropped. The remaining pattern, however, will have the و and the ى respectively, in the conjugation.
Defective verbs on the patterns of دَعَا – رَمَى and لَقِيَ will have the following changes in their conjugation when prefixed with حروف الجازمة.
Table for the hollow verb لَمْ يَدْعُ
3rd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ يَدْعُ
If he did not call
Dual
لَمْ يَدْعُوَا
If they both did not call
Plural
لَمْ يَدْعُوْا
If they all did not call
3rd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَدْعُ
If she did not call
Dual
لَمْ تَدْعُوَا
If they both did not call
Plural
لَمْ يَدْعُوْنَ
If they all did not call
2nd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ تَدْعُ
If you did not call
Dual
لَمْ تَدْعُوَا
If you both did not call
Plural
لَمْ تَدْعُوْا
If you all did not call
2nd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَدْعِي
If you did not call
Dual
لَمْ تَدْعُوَا
If you both did not call
Plural
لَمْ تَدْعُوْنَ
If you all did not call
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
لَمْ أَدْعُ
If I did not call
Dual
–
Plural
لَمْ نَدْعُ
If we did not call
Table for the hollow verb لَمْ يَرْمِ
3rd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ يَرْمِ
If he did not throw
Dual
لَمْ يَرْمِيَا
If they both did not throw
Plural
لَمْ يَرْمُوْا
If they all did not throw
3rd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَرْمِ
If she did not throw
Dual
لَمْ تَرْمِيَا
If they both did not throw
Plural
لَمْ يَرْمِيْنَ
If they all did not throw
2nd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ تَرْمِ
If you did not throw
Dual
لَمْ تَرْمِيَا
If you both did not throw
Plural
لَمْ تَرْمُوْا
If you all did not throw
2nd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَرْمِي
If you did not throw
Dual
لَمْ تَرْمِيَا
If you both did not throw
Plural
لَمْ تَرْمِيْنَ
If you all did not throw
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
لَمْ أَرْمِ
If I did not throw
Dual
–
Plural
لَمْ نَرْمِ
If we did not throw
Table for the hollow verb لَمْ يَلْقَ
3rd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ يَلْقَ
If he did not meet
Dual
لَمْ يَلْقَيَا
If they both did not meet
Plural
لَمْ يَلْقَوْا
If they all did not meet
3rd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَلْقَ
If she did not meet
Dual
لَمْ تَلْقَيَا
If they both did not meet
Plural
لَمْ يَلْقَيْنَ
If they all did not meet
2nd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ تَلْقَ
If you did not meet
Dual
لَمْ تَلْقَيَا
If you both did not meet
Plural
لَمْ تَلْقَوْا
If you all did not meet
2nd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَلْقِي
If you did not meet
Dual
لَمْ تَلْقَيَا
If you both did not meet
Plural
لَمْ تَلْقَيْنَ
If you all did not meet
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
لَمْ أَلْقَ
If I did not meet
Dual
–
Plural
لَمْ نَلْقَ
If we did not meet
In the hollow verbs, we see that و and ى are dropped in the third person masculine and feminine singular, the second person masculine, and in the first person singular and plural. The remaining pattern will have the و and ى, respectively, in the conjugation.
Double lettered verb- الْمُضاعَفُ
The change in pattern is as follows: Table of ظَنَّ – لَمْ يَظْنُنْ
3rd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ يَظْنُنْ
If he did not think
Dual
لَمْ يَظُنَّا
If they both did not think
Plural
لَمْ يَظْنُّوْا
If they all did not think
3rd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَظْنُنْ
If she did not think
Dual
لَمْ تَظُنَّا
If they both did not think
Plural
لَمْ يَظْنُنَّ
If they all did not think
2nd person masculine
Singular
لَمْ تَظُنُنْ
If you did not think
Dual
لَمْ تَظُنَّا
If you both did not think
Plural
لَمْ تَظُنُّوا
If you all did not think
2nd person feminine
Singular
لَمْ تَظُنِّي
If you did not think
Dual
لَمْ تَظُنَّا
If you both did not think
Plural
لَمْ تَظْنُنَّ
If you all did not think
First-person (masculine/feminine)
Singular
لَمْ أَظْنُنْ
If I did not think
Dual
–
Plural
لَمْ نَظْنُنْ
If we did not think
Here the shaddah is opened in the third person masculine and the feminine singular and in the second person singular and first-person verbs.
Examples from the Holy Quran
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ
And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal – [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged. (2:279)
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ
But if you do not – and you will never be able to – then fear the Fire (2:24)
This Arabic lesson is now finished. The next one will be insha’Allah about the imperative verbs in Arabic.
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