I'rab of Surah Abasa Ayah 38: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah Abasa (عبس) · Meccan · Ayah 38
وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ مُّسْفِرَةٌۭ TransliterationWujoohun yawma'idhin musfirah
MeaningSome faces, that Day, will be bright and shining.
This verse describes certain faces on that Day as bright and shining. 'Faces' is the subject, 'on that Day' is an adverb tied to the predicate, and 'shining' is the predicate describing those faces.
Word by word i'rab
subject (mubtada')
It is the subject of the nominal sentence in the nominative, indefinite to suggest 'some faces.'
nominativeadverb of time (zarf)
An adverb of time in the accusative, connected to the predicate that follows.
accusativepredicate (khabar)
It is the predicate of 'wujooh' in the nominative, describing the faces as radiant.
nominativeDetailed i'rab
This is a nominal sentence. 'Wujoohun' is the subject (mubtada') in the nominative; its indefiniteness is acceptable here because it carries a partitive sense ('some faces') and because the adverb specifying it follows. 'Yawma'idhin' is an adverb of time in the accusative, linked to the predicate, locating the description on the Day of Resurrection. 'Musfiratun' is the predicate (khabar) in the nominative, agreeing with the subject and describing those faces as bright and beaming. The sentence thus introduces one of two contrasting groups on that Day, this group marked by light and joy, the other (in verse 40) by dust and gloom.
Frequently asked
How can 'wujoohun' be a subject when it is indefinite?
An indefinite subject is permitted when it gains specification, here through the partitive sense ('some faces') and the following descriptive context, so it validly serves as the mubtada'.
What is the predicate of this verse?
'Musfiratun' is the predicate, in the nominative, describing the faces as bright and shining.
Why is 'yawma'idhin' accusative?
It is an adverb of time, which takes the accusative, and it is connected to the meaning of the predicate.