Absolute negation in Arabic - لَا لِنَفِي الجِنْسِ
Introduction
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
“There is no god except God” (37:35)
ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ
This is the Book in which there is no doubt (2:2)
- The لا highlighted in the examples signifies absolute negation. It categorically denies the entirety of a species within the context presented by the sentences. Common nouns following لَا لِنَفِي الجِنْسِ will not bear nunnation (tanween). This specific لا precedes and renders the common noun accusative, while the predicate of the sentence remains nominative.
Example:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
There is no god but He (2:163)
Quranic Illustrations of Absolute Negation: لَا لِنَفِي الجِنْسِ
أُولَئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ
will have no share in the Hereafter (3:77)
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
God! There is no god except He, the Living, the Everlasting (2:255)
فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ
Whoever decides to perform the Hajj—there shall be no sexual relations, nor misconduct, nor quarrelling during the Hajj. (2:197)
لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ
You commit no error (2:236)
لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا
We have no knowledge except what You have taught us (2:32)
وَلَا أَصْغَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَلَا أَكْبَرَ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ
nor is there anything smaller or larger but is in a clear record. (10:61)
Conclusion
This lesson on Arabic nuances concludes here. Insha’Allah, our subsequent session will delve into the noun of place and time in Arabic.
Al-dirassa Institute invites you on a linguistic journey with our expert teachers to master the Arabic language. Should you wish to further your studies, we welcome your inquiries.
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