To add extra emphasis to the imperfect tense in Arabic, the prefix لَ is used along with نّ – noon thaqila or نْ – non khafeefa as a suffix, a linguistic feature known as double emphasis. For example:
Singular
لَيَفْعَلَنْ
Indeed He does/will do
Dual
لَيَفْعَلَانِّ
Indeed they both do/will do
Plural
لَيَفْعَلُنْ
Indeed they all do/will do
Singular
لَتَفْعَلَنْ
Indeed she does/will do
Dual
لَتَفْعَلَانِّ
Indeed they both do/will do
Plural
لَيَفْعَلْنَانَّ
Indeed they all do/will do
Singular
لَتَفْعَلَنْ
Indeed you do/will do
Dual
لَتَفْعَلَانِّ
Indeed you both do/will do
Plural
لَتَفْعَلُنْ
Indeed you all do/will do
Singular
لَتَفْعَلِنْ
Indeed you do/will do
Dual
لَتَفْعَلَانِّ
Indeed you both do/will do
Plural
لَتَفْعَلْنَانِّ
Indeed you all do/will do
Singular
لأفْعَلَنْ
Indeed I do/will do
Dual
–
Plural
لَنَفْعَلَنْ
Indeed we all do/will do
Lam atta’keed and Noon atta’keed can also be attached to the imperative and passive forms of the verb. For example:
وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَا آمُرُهُ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ
and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased. (12:32)
نّ – Noon Thaqeela for Emphasis in Arabic Imperfect Tense
Example:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you (7:27)
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ
O children of Adam, if there come to you messengers from among you relating to you My verses (7:35)
Lam Attakeed (لام التوكيد) in Arabic: Emphasizing Nouns, Pronouns, and Prepositions
Examples:
وَإِن تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَإِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا أَإِنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ
And if you are astonished, [O Muhammad] – then astonishing is their saying, “When we are dust, will we indeed be [brought] into a new creation?” (13:5)
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
Indeed, humankind is at a loss (103:2)
وَمَن جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
And whoever strives only strives for [the benefit of] himself. Indeed, Allah is free from the need of the worlds. (29:6)
لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَأَذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization.” (27:21)
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good. (29:69)
This lesson on Arabic nuances concludes here. Insha’Allah, our subsequent session will delve into the active particle in Arabic.
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