I'rab of Surah An-Nas Ayah 2: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah An-Nas (الناس) · Meccan · Ayah 2
مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ TransliterationMaliki n-nas
MeaningThe King of mankind.
This short ayah is a two-word genitive construct (idafah). "Malik" is in the genitive case because it stands in apposition to the earlier word "Rabb" from ayah 1 (as a substitute, an adjective, or an explanatory appositive). "an-Nas" follows as the second term of the construct, also genitive.
Word by word i'rab
apposition to Rabb (badal / na't / 'atf bayan)
This word is genitive because it parallels the earlier noun Rabb from ayah 1, functioning as a substitute, descriptive adjective, or explanatory appositive, and it is itself the first term of a genitive construct.
genitivegenitive noun (mudaf ilayh)
As the second term of the idafah it takes the genitive case, shown by the kasra, completing the phrase 'King of mankind.'
genitiveDetailed i'rab
Ayah 2 continues the chain of descriptions begun in ayah 1, where refuge is sought "with the Rabb (Lord) of mankind." The word "Malik" (King) appears in the genitive case because it is grammatically linked to that earlier noun "Rabb": grammarians treat it either as a substitute (badal), an adjective (na't), or an explanatory appositive ('atf bayan), all of which require it to match Rabb's genitive case. "Malik" is at the same time the first member (mudaf) of a possessive construct. The following word "an-Nas" (mankind) is therefore the second member (mudaf ilayh), pulled into the genitive and marked by the visible kasra. The two words together read "the King of mankind," reinforcing the divine attribute already introduced and preparing for the third description, "Ilah (God) of mankind."
Frequently asked
Why is مَلِكِ (Malik) in the genitive case here?
Because it is grammatically tied to the word Rabb in ayah 1. It can be parsed as a substitute (badal), an adjective (na't), or an explanatory appositive ('atf bayan) for Rabb, and in each of these roles it must follow Rabb in case: and Rabb is genitive after the preposition bi-, so Malik is genitive too.
What kind of grammatical structure is مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ?
It is an idafah (a possessive or genitive construct). Malik is the first term (mudaf) and an-Nas is the second term (mudaf ilayh). The second term is always genitive, here marked by the kasra, giving the meaning 'King of mankind.'
How does this ayah connect to the verse before it?
It extends the series of attributes attached to 'mankind' that began in ayah 1 with 'Rabb (Lord) of mankind.' Malik is in apposition to that Rabb, so the three ayat together form a parallel sequence: Lord, King, and God of mankind.