The passive verb in Arabic | الْفِعْلُ الماضِي المَجْهُولُ

Introduction to the passive verb

 

The known verb اَلْفِعْلُ الْمَعْرُوْفُ is the active voice of the verb. Here we know the subject, i.e., the doer of the verb is specified. Also, we have discussed these kinds of verbs in all the preceding chapters on the pattern of فَعَلَ – فَعِلَ – فَعُلَ. Nevertheless,  in Arabic, it also exists what we call the unknown verb or a passive verb.

  Example:  

 أَن سَخِطَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِي الْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ

That Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment, they will abide eternally. (5:80)

 

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ

Until, when he reached the setting of the sun (18:86)

 

Thus, we call in Arabic the passive voice of the verb:  الَفِعْلُ المَجْهُوْلُ (unknown). Here we do not know the subject, i.e., the doer is not specified. Also,  from a transitive verb – الْفِعْلُ الْمُتَعَدَّي, we usually form the passive verb.

 

It has two components – the passive verb and the object as the subject اَلْفَاعِلُ is not present. Thus, the object will take the harakah of the subject, i.e., dammah. Also in Arabic, we call the deputy of subject نَائِبُ الفَاعِل.

  Example:

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ

And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open] (18:49)

  الْكِتَابُ = نَائِبُ الفَاعِل وُضِعَ= المَجْهُوْلُ  

In Arabic, we form the passive verb by changing the harakah of the active participle فَعَلَ – فَعِلَ – فَعُلَ to فُعِلَ. Thus, the change is standard for all verbs. In more, the dammah characterizes the change on the first radical and kasrah on the second radical.

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1. The passive verb of consonants – الصَّحِيحُ

Table of رُفِعَ:

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
رُفِعَ	رُفِعَا	رُفِعُوا
He was raised	They two were raised.	They all were raised.

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
رُفِعَتْ	رُفِعَتَا	رُفِعْنَ
She was raised	They two were raised.	They all were raised.

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
رُفِعْتَ	رُفِعْتُمَا	رُفِعْتُمْ
You raised	You both raised	You all raised

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
رُفِعْتِ	رُفِعْتُمَا	رُفِعْتُنَّ
You were raised	You two were raised.	You all were raised.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
رُفِعْتُ	–	رُفِعْنَا
I was raised	–	We were raised

 

Table of نُصِرَ and سُمِعَ:

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
نُصِرَ	نُصِرَا	نُصِرُوا
He was helped	They two were helped.	They all were helped.

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
نُصِرَتْ	نُصِرَتَا	نُصِرَنَ
She was helped	They two were helped.	They all were helped.

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
نُصِرَتَ	نُصِرَتُمَا	نُصِرَتُمْ
You helped	You both helped	You all helped

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
نُصِرَتِ	نُصِرَتُمَا	نُصِرَتُنَّ
You were helped	You two were helped	You all were helped

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
نُصِرَتُ	–	نُصِرَنَا
I was raised	–	We were raised

 

Examples used in the Holy Quran

 

وَجُمِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ

And the sun and the moon are joined (75:9)

 

 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحَادُّونَ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ كُبِتُوا كَمَا كُبِتَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ

Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger are abased as those before them were abased. (58:5)

 

 وَفُتِحَتِ السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ أَبْوَابًا

And the heaven is opened and will become gateways. (78:19)

 

2. Passive Hamzated verb

 

Introduction to the Passive Hamzated verb

 

The Passive Hamzated verb is when hamza أ comes as first, second, or third radical as in أَكَلَ – سَأَلَ or قَرَأَ the passive voice is on the same pattern as that of فُعِلَ. Thus, the first radical bears a dammah -ُ and the second radical bears a kasrah -ِ. The following tables demonstrate their conjugation.

 

Table of the passive hamzated verb  أُمِرَ:

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
أُمِرَ	أُمِرَا	أُمِرُوْا
He was commanded	They two were commanded	They all were commanded

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
أُمِرَتْ	أُمِرَتَا	أُمِرْنَ
She was commanded	They two were commanded	They all were commanded

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
أُمِرْتَ	أُمِرْتُمَا	أُمِرْتُمْ
You commanded	You both commanded	You all commanded

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
أُمِرْتِ	أُمِرْتُمَا	أُمِرْتُنَّ
You were commanded	You two were commanded.	You all were commanded.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
أُمِرْتُ	–	أُمِرْنَا
I was commanded	–	We were commanded

 

Table of the passive hamzated verb  سُئِلَ:

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
سُئِلَ	سُئِلَا	سُئِلُوْا
He was asked	They two were asked	They all were asked

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
سُئِلَتْ	سُئِلَتَا	سُئِلْنَ
She was asked	They two were asked	They all were asked

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
سُئِلْتَ	سُئِلْتُمَا	سُئِلْنَ
You asked	You both asked	You all asked

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
سُئِلْتِ	سُئِلْتُمَا	سُئِلْتُنَّ
You were asked	You two were asked.	You all were asked.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
سُئِلْتُ	–	سُئِلْنَا
I was asked	–	We were asked

 

 

Table of the passive hamzated verb  هُزِأَ:

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
هُزِأَ	هُزِأَا	هُزِأُوْا
He was ridiculed	They two were ridiculed	They all were ridiculed

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
هُزِأَ تْ	هُزِأَ تَا	هُزِأَ نَ
She was ridiculed	They two were ridiculed	They all were ridiculed

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
هُزِأَ تَ	هُزِأَ تُمَا	هُزِأَ تُمْ
You ridiculed	You both ridiculed	You all ridiculed

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
هُزِأَ تِ	هُزِأَ تُمَا	هُزِأَ تُنَّ
You were ridiculed	You two were ridiculed.	You all were ridiculed.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
هُزِأَ تُ	–	هُزِأَ نَا
I was ridiculed	–	We were ridiculed

 

3. Passive weak verb

 

Passive weak Assimilated verb – المِثَالى

When و comes as the first radical in place of ف in the active voice, the pattern will be the same as فُعِلَ, and we will not observe any changes.

 

Table of the passive weak verb وُعِدَ

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
وُعِدَ	وُعِدَا	وُعِدُوْا
He was promised	They two were promised.	They all were promised.

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
وُعِدَتْ	وُعِدَتَا	وُعِدْنَ
She was promised	They two were promised.	They all were promised.

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
وُعِدْتَ	وُعِدْتُمَا	وُعِدْتُمْ
You promised	You both promised	You all promised

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
وُعِدْتِ	وُعِدْتُمَا	وُعِدْتُنَّ
You were promised	You two were promised.	You all were promised.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
وُعِدْتُ	–	وُعِدْنَا
I was promised	–	We were promised

 

Verbs with the first radical “ى” are usually intransitive verbs – اَلْفِعْلُ اللَّازِمُ. Hence passive voice of these verbs cannot be formed. Example: يَئِسَ

 

Passive weak Hollow verbs – الأَجْوَفُ

 

When و comes as the second radical in place of ع as in قَالَ, the passive should be قُوِلَ according to the rule, but it is read as قِيْلَ for easy pronunciation.

 

Table of the passive hollow verb قِيْلَ

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
قِيْلَ	قِيْلَا	قِيْلُوْا
He was told	They two were told	They all were told

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
قِيْلَتْ	قِيْلَتَا	قُلْنَ
She was told	They two were told	They all were told

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
قُلتَ	قُلتُمَا	قُلتُمْ
You told	You both told	You all told

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
قُلتِ	قُلتُمَا	قُلتُنَّ
You were told	You two were told.	You all were told.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
قُلتُ	–	قُلنَا
I was told	–	We were told

 

As we see from the above table, the passive voice of the third person feminine plural is قُلْنَ. The pattern will then carry forward as the past tense table.

 

Table of the passive hollow verb خِيْفَ

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
خِيْفَ	خِيْفَا	خِيْفُوْا
He was feared	They two were feared.	They all were feared.

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
خِيْفَتْ	خِيْفَتَا	خِفْنَ
She was feared	They two were feared.	They all were feared.

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
خِفْتَ	خِفْتُمَا	خِفْتُمْ
You feared	You both feared	You all feared

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
خِفْتِ	خِفْتُمَا	خِفْتُنَّ
You were feared	You two were feared.	You all were feared.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
خِفْتُ	–	خِفْنَا
I was feared	–	We were feared

 

As خَافَ is an exception to the pattern of قَالَ, the third person feminine plural will be خِفْنَ, and then the table will carryforwards as in the past tense.

 

When ى comes as second radical in place of ع as in بَاعَ, the passive voice should have been يبُيِعَ according to the general rule. However, it is written as بِيْعَ for easy pronunciation.

 

Table of the passive hollow verb خِيْفَ

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
بِيْعَ	بِيْعَا	بِيْعُوْا
He was sold	They two were sold	They all were sold

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
بِيْعَتْ	بِيْعَتَا	بِعْنَ
She was sold	They two were sold	They all were sold

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
بِعْتَ	بِعْتُمَا	بِعْتُمْ
You sold	You both sold	You all sold

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
بِعْتِ	بِعْتُمَا	بِعْتُنَّ
You were sold	You two were sold.	You all were sold.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
بِعْتُ	–	بِعْنَا
I was sold	–	We were sold

 

From the above pattern, we see that the passive verb of the third person feminine plural is بِعْنَ and the pattern following it is the same as in the past tense.

 

Passive weak defective verbs – النَّاقِصُ

 

When و comes in place of ل as in دَعَا, then its passive verb instead of being دُعِوَ will be written as دُعِىَ.

 

Table of the passive defective verb دُعِيَ

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
دُعِىَ	دُعِيَا	دُعُوْا
He was called	They two were called.	They all were called.

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
دُعِيَتْ	دُعِيَتَا	دُعِيْنَ
She was called	They two were called.	They all were called.

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
دُعِيْتَ	دُعِيْتُمَا	دُعِيْتُمْ
You called	You both called	You all called

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
دُعِيْتِ	دُعِيْتُمَا	دُعِيْتُنَّ
You were called	You two were called.	You all were called.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
دُعِيْتُ	–	دُعِيْنَا
I was called	–	We were called

 

When ى comes in place of ل as in رَمَى and لَقَى, the passive verb pattern follows رَمِيَ respectively as according to the standard pattern of فُعِلَ.

 

4. Passive voice of the double lettered verb

Introduction

 

Double lettered verbs (Doubly weak verbs) such as وَقَى become وُقِيَ according to فُعِلَ and will follow the standard pattern.

 

Double lettered verbs – الْمُضَاعَفُ

 

Double lettered verbs like عَضَّ become عُضَّ and follow the standard pattern.

 

Table of the double lettered verb عُضَّ

 

3rd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
عُضَّ	عُضَّا	عُضُّوْا
He was bitten	They two were bitten.	They all were bitten.

 

3rd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
عُضَّتْ	عُضَّتَا	عُضِضْنَ
She was bitten	They two were bitten.	They all were bitten.

 

2nd person masculine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
عُضِضْتُ	عُضِضْتُمَا	عُضِضْتُمْ
You bitten	You both bitten	You all bitten

 

2nd person feminine

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
عُضِضْتِ	عُضِضْتُمَا	عُضِضْتُنَّ
You were bitten	You two were bitten.	You all were bitten.

 

First-person (masculine/feminine)

 

Singular	Dual	Plural
عُضِضْتُ	–	عُضِضْنَا
I was bitten	–	We were bitten

 

Examples of Double lettered verbs used in the Holy Quran:

 

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ

 

And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.” (2:11)

 

وَقِيلَ يَا أَرْضُ ابْلَعِي مَاءَكِ وَيَا سَمَاءُ أَقْلِعِي وَغِيضَ الْمَاءُ وَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ وَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِيِّ

 

And it was said, “O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain].” And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy. (11:44)

 

وَأَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

 

And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged. (39:69)

 

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ 

  And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it (18:49)  

قُلْ إِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ

  Say, “Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you invoke besides Allah.” (6:56)  

 

You have now completed this Arabic lesson. The next one will be insha’Allah about the double emphasis in Arabic.

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