I'rab of Surah Al-Mutaffifin Ayah 23: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah Al-Mutaffifin (المطففين) · Meccan · Ayah 23
عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ يَنظُرُونَ Transliteration'Alal-araa'iki yanzuroon
MeaningOn couches, gazing.
This verse pictures the righteous at ease: the prepositional phrase 'ala al-ara'ik relates to a circumstantial state of the doers of yanzurun, and yanzurun is a present verb whose hidden plural subject refers to the righteous, describing them reclining on couches as they gaze.
Word by word i'rab
preposition
'Ala is a preposition introducing the place upon which the righteous recline.
indeclinableobject of preposition
Al-ara'ik is genitive after the preposition 'ala, and the phrase relates to a circumstantial state of the subject of yanzurun.
genitivepresent verb with its subject pronoun
Yanzuruna is a present verb in the indicative whose attached waw is the plural subject referring to the righteous.
indeclinableDetailed i'rab
This verse continues the description of the righteous from the previous ayah. The prepositional phrase 'ala al-ara'ik consists of the preposition 'ala and its genitive object al-ara'ik, 'the couches.' This phrase is connected to (muta'alliq) a circumstantial expression (hal) describing the state of the subject of the following verb. That verb, yanzuruna, is a present-tense verb in the indicative mood, marked by the retained nun; its attached waw serves as the plural subject (fa'il) referring back to the righteous. The whole clause portrays them reclining upon adorned couches while gazing, the prepositional phrase setting the scene of their repose and the verb conveying their serene contemplation in the gardens of bliss.
Frequently asked
What does the phrase 'ala al-ara'ik connect to grammatically?
It relates to an implied circumstantial state (hal) describing the subject of the verb yanzurun, meaning the righteous gaze while seated upon the couches.
Who is the subject of yanzurun?
The subject is the attached plural waw, which refers to the righteous (al-abrar) mentioned in the previous verse. The verb is indicative and means 'they gaze.'