I'rab of Surah At-Takwir Ayah 28: word by word Arabic grammar
Surah At-Takwir (التكوير) · Meccan · Ayah 28
لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ TransliterationLiman shā'a minkum an yastaqīm
MeaningFor whoever among you wills to be upright.
This verse specifies who benefits from the reminder: whoever among you wills to walk straight. 'Liman' is a substitute (badal) for 'the worlds' with the preposition repeated. 'Sha'a' is the relative clause's verb, 'minkum' relates to its subject, and 'an yastaqima' forms a verbal-noun object meaning 'to be upright'.
Word by word i'rab
substitute (badal) with repeated preposition
'Li' + 'man' (whoever) stands as a substitute for 'al-'alamin' in verse 27, with the preposition repeated for clarity, so 'man' is in the genitive position.
genitiveverb of the relative clause
'Sha'a' (wills) is a past-tense verb whose subject is a hidden pronoun referring back to 'man'.
indeclinableprepositional phrase relating to a state (hal)
'Minkum' (among you) relates to an implied circumstantial state of the subject of 'sha'a'.
genitivesubordinating particle (masdariyyah) of subjunctive
'An' introduces a verbal-noun clause and puts the following verb in the subjunctive.
indeclinablesubjunctive verb (object via the implied verbal noun)
'Yastaqima' is in the subjunctive because of 'an'; together 'an yastaqima' acts as the object of 'sha'a' ('to become upright').
accusativeDetailed i'rab
This verse refines the scope of verse 27. The phrase 'liman' is composed of the preposition 'li' and the relative noun 'man'; it functions as a substitute (badal) for 'al-'alamin', with the preposition repeated to renew the link, so 'man' takes the genitive position. 'Sha'a' is a past-tense verb forming the relative clause, its subject a concealed pronoun pointing back to 'man'. 'Minkum' is a prepositional phrase relating to an implied circumstantial state (hal) of that subject. 'An' is a subordinating particle that turns the following clause into an interpreted verbal noun and renders the verb subjunctive. 'Yastaqima' is therefore in the subjunctive (mansub) with a fatha. The interpreted verbal noun 'an yastaqima' ('to be upright') occupies the place of the object of 'sha'a'.
Frequently asked
What does 'liman' substitute for?
It is a substitute (badal) for 'al-'alamin' (the worlds) from the previous verse, narrowing the audience to those who actually choose to be guided. The preposition 'li' is repeated to make the link explicit.
Why is 'yastaqima' in the subjunctive?
The particle 'an' before it requires the subjunctive mood. The 'an' plus the verb together form an interpreted verbal noun ('being upright') that serves as the grammatical object of 'sha'a' (he willed).