I'rab of Surah An-Naba Ayah 22: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah An-Naba (النبأ) · Meccan · Ayah 22
لِّلطَّٰغِينَ مَـَٔابًۭا TransliterationLit-taagheena ma'aaba
MeaningFor the transgressors a place of return.
Continuing the description of Hell, this verse calls it a destination for the transgressors. The phrase 'for the transgressors' is grammatically attached to 'mirsaadan' of the previous verse, and 'a place of return' is a second predicate of the defective verb 'was,' both in accusative or genitive roles accordingly.
Word by word i'rab
preposition (harf jarr)
The laam of attachment introduces the following noun in the genitive, conveying 'for/belonging to.'
indeclinableobject of preposition (majrur bil-harf)
Governed by the laam, 'the transgressors' is genitive marked by yaa (sound masculine plural), and the phrase relates to 'mirsaadan' before it.
genitivesecond predicate of kana (khabar kana thaani)
As a second predicate of the earlier 'kaanat,' 'a place of return' is accusative with tanwin, restating Hell as their final resort.
accusativeDetailed i'rab
This verse continues verse 21. The prepositional phrase 'lit-taagheena' is formed by the laam of attachment governing 'al-taagheena,' which is genitive shown by the yaa of the sound masculine plural. This phrase is grammatically connected to 'mirsaadan' from the previous verse, specifying for whom Hell lies in wait. 'Ma'aaban' is a second predicate of the defective verb 'kaanat' encountered in verse 21, so it stands in the accusative with tanwin. The defective verb thus carries two predicates: 'mirsaadan' (an ambush) and 'ma'aaban' (a place of return). Together the verses portray Hell both as an ambush set against the transgressors and as the destination to which they ultimately return.
Frequently asked
What does the phrase 'lit-taagheena' attach to grammatically?
It is attached (muta'alliq) to 'mirsaadan' in the previous verse, clarifying that Hell lies in ambush specifically for the transgressors.
Why is 'al-taagheena' genitive?
It is the object of the preposition laam; as a sound masculine plural, its genitive case is marked by the yaa.
How can there be two predicates for one 'kana'?
A defective verb like 'kana' may take more than one predicate; here 'mirsaadan' and 'ma'aaban' are both accusative predicates describing Hell.