I'rab of Surah Abasa Ayah 37: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah Abasa (عبس) · Meccan · Ayah 37
لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ شَأْنٌۭ يُغْنِيهِ TransliterationLikulli imri'in minhum yawma'idhin sha'nun yughneeh
MeaningFor every person among them, that Day, there will be a matter that occupies him entirely.
This verse states that on that Day every single person will have a concern that fully occupies him. The fronted prepositional phrase 'for every person of them' serves as an advanced predicate, while 'a concern' is the delayed subject, and 'that occupies him' is a descriptive clause modifying it.
Word by word i'rab
prepositional phrase (fronted predicate)
The preposition 'li' governs 'kull' in the genitive, and together the phrase functions as a fronted predicate for the delayed subject.
genitivepossessed noun (mudaf ilayh)
It is the second term of the genitive construction with 'kull,' hence genitive.
genitiveprepositional phrase (attribute)
The phrase 'min-hum' attaches as a describing element to 'imri'in,' specifying 'every person of them.'
genitiveadverb of time (zarf)
It is an adverb of time fixed in the accusative position, linked to the meaning of the predicate.
accusativedelayed subject (mubtada' mu'akhkhar)
It is the delayed subject in the nominative, since its predicate (the prepositional phrase) was placed first.
nominativeverb in a descriptive clause
An imperfect verb in the nominative whose clause describes 'sha'n,' with the attached pronoun as its object.
nominativeDetailed i'rab
The verse opens with the prepositional phrase 'li-kulli imri'in,' where 'li' is a preposition putting 'kull' in the genitive, and 'imri'in' follows as the second term of the construct, also genitive. This whole phrase is fronted to function as the predicate. 'Min-hum' is a further prepositional phrase describing 'imri'in.' 'Yawma'idhin' is an adverb of time in the accusative, tied to the predicate's sense. The actual subject, 'sha'nun,' comes afterward and is therefore the delayed subject in the nominative. 'Yughneehi' is an imperfect verb in the nominative; its sentence stands as a descriptive clause qualifying 'sha'n,' and the attached pronoun 'hi' is its direct object, conveying that this concern wholly engrosses each individual.
Frequently asked
Why is 'sha'nun' nominative even though it comes after a preposition?
The preposition governs 'kull,' not 'sha'n.' Because the predicate (the prepositional phrase) was placed first, 'sha'nun' is the delayed subject and stays nominative.
What role does 'yughneehi' play?
It is an imperfect verb forming a clause that describes the indefinite noun 'sha'nun,' so the whole clause functions adjectivally, meaning 'a concern that occupies him.'
What is the case of 'yawma'idhin' here?
It is an adverb of time in the accusative position, connected to the meaning of the predicate, situating the statement on the Day of Resurrection.