I'rab of Surah Al-Inshiqaq Ayah 20: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah Al-Inshiqaq (الانشقاق) · Meccan · Ayah 20
فَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ TransliterationFama lahum la yu'minun
MeaningSo what is the matter with them that they do not believe?
A rhetorical question rebuking the disbelievers: what is the matter with them that they do not believe. The interrogative 'ma' serves as subject, the prepositional phrase 'lahum' supplies its predicate, and the negated verb that follows describes their state.
Word by word i'rab
connective particle
The fa links this to an implied condition, tying the rebuke to what precedes.
indeclinableinterrogative subject (mubtada')
It is an interrogative noun standing in the place of nominative as the subject of the sentence.
nominativepredicate (khabar): prepositional phrase
This prepositional phrase relates to the omitted predicate of the interrogative 'ma'.
genitivenegative particle
It negates the following present-tense verb.
indeclinableimperfect verb (circumstantial state)
Marfu' by the retained nun; the clause describes the condition of 'them', 'not believing'.
nominativeDetailed i'rab
The فَ at the head links this verse to an unstated conditional sense, giving it the force of 'and so...'. مَا is an interrogative noun placed at the start as the mubtada' (subject) in the position of nominative. The prepositional phrase لَهُمْ attaches to the omitted predicate (khabar) of this interrogative, yielding 'what is with/for them?'. The particle لَا is purely negating, and the verb يُؤْمِنُونَ is marfu' (its mark of raf' being the retained final nun of the sound plural). The negated verbal clause لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ functions as a circumstantial clause (hal) describing the disbelievers' condition while the question is posed, so the sense is 'what ails them that they remain in a state of disbelief?'
Frequently asked
What role does مَا play here?
It is an interrogative noun acting as the subject (mubtada') in the nominative position, asking 'what is the matter'.
How does لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ fit into the sentence?
It is a negated present-tense clause functioning as a circumstantial (hal) clause describing their state of not believing.