I'rab of Surah An-Naba Ayah 12: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah An-Naba (النبأ) · Meccan · Ayah 12
وَبَنَيْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعًۭا شِدَادًۭا TransliterationWa banayna fawqakum sab'an shidada
MeaningAnd We built above you seven strong ones,
This verse says God built above mankind seven firm heavens. The verb "We built" governs an adverbial of place "above you" and an object "seven," which stands for an omitted noun "heavens." The final word "firm" is an adjective describing those seven, all in the accusative.
Word by word i'rab
conjunction (harf 'atf)
The connecting waw joins this verse onto the chain of divine acts of creation.
indeclinableverb with attached subject pronoun
A past-tense verb "we built" whose attached "na" is the subject (We).
indeclinableadverbial of place (zarf makan)
"Above" is an accusative locative tied to the verb, with attached "kum" (you) as a genitive possessive.
accusativedirect object (maf'ul bihi)
"Seven" is the accusative object standing in for an omitted described noun, namely "seven heavens."
accusativeadjective (na't)
"Firm" is an accusative adjective describing "seven," agreeing with it in case.
accusativeDetailed i'rab
The verse opens with the conjunction waw, continuing the list of God's creative works. The verb "We built" (banayna) is past tense with the attached "na" as its subject (We). The word "above you" (fawqakum) is an accusative adverbial of place attached to the verb, with the pronoun "kum" (you) as a genitive possessive joined by annexation. The numeral "seven" (sab'an) is the accusative direct object; it stands in place of an omitted noun that it describes, the intended sense being "seven heavens." The closing adjective "firm" or "strong" (shidadan) is an accusative qualifier (na't) describing "seven," agreeing with it in case. The structure thus presents the heavens as a firmly built canopy above humankind.
Frequently asked
Why is the numeral "seven" the object when no noun for what is counted appears?
The counted noun "heavens" is omitted but understood, and the adjective "seven" stands in its place as the accusative object. Arabic often allows such an omission when the meaning is clear from context, so "seven" carries the sense of "seven heavens."
What is the case and role of "above you"?
It is an accusative adverbial of place (zarf makan) connected to the verb "We built," indicating where the building occurred. The attached pronoun "you" is a genitive possessive joined to it by annexation.