I'rab of Surah Al-Fatihah Ayah 3: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah Al-Fatiha (الفاتحة) · Meccan · Ayah 3
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Transliterationar-raḥmāni ar-raḥīm(i)
MeaningThe Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
This short ayah consists of two adjectives, both in the genitive case. Each one describes the name of Allah mentioned in the previous verse, so they follow it in case as adjectives (na't). The whole ayah is therefore not an independent sentence but a continuation of the description begun in verse 2.
Word by word i'rab
adjective (na't)
This is an adjective describing the name of Allah from verse 2, so it takes the same genitive case, marked by the kasra.
genitivesecond adjective (na't thānin)
A second adjective likewise describing the name of Allah, agreeing with it in the genitive case, marked by the kasra.
genitiveDetailed i'rab
Both words in this verse are adjectives (na't) that continue describing the divine name "Allah" found in the previous ayah. Because an Arabic adjective must agree with the noun it qualifies in case, definiteness, gender, and number, each of these words takes the genitive case, shown by the kasra on its final letter, mirroring the genitive of the name it describes. "Ar-Raḥmān" is the first adjective and "ar-Raḥīm" is the second adjective following it. Since they are dependent descriptors rather than a fresh subject and predicate, this ayah does not form a stand-alone sentence; grammatically it is a tail attached to the structure of verse 2, deepening the praise of Allah by naming two of His attributes of mercy.
Frequently asked
Why are both words in the genitive case here?
They are adjectives (na't) describing the name of Allah in the previous verse, which is itself genitive. An Arabic adjective copies the case of the noun it describes, so both take the genitive, shown by the kasra.
Is this ayah a complete sentence on its own?
No. It contains only two adjectives with no subject or predicate. Grammatically it continues the description begun in verse 2 and depends on that structure rather than forming an independent clause.
What is the difference in role between the two words?
The first, ar-Raḥmān, is the first adjective (na't) of the divine name; the second, ar-Raḥīm, is a second adjective (na't thānin) added after it. Both qualify the same noun and so share the same genitive case.