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Quranic Grammar - Adjectives (صفة)

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An adjective may depend on a nominal (a proper noun or noun) through a ṣifa (صفة) relation, with the adjective following the nominal word that it modifies. An adjective will agree with the noun it depends on in terms of gender, number and definiteness. It will also agree in grammatical case - nominative, genitive or accusative. An exception to this rule is that a feminine singular adjective can describe an irrational plural noun (see grammatical gender). More than one adjective can depend on the same noun, such as the two adjectives found in verse (1:3) of sūrat l-fātiḥah:

 (1:3:2)
l-raḥīmi
the Most Merciful.
 (1:3:1)
al-raḥmāni
The Most Gracious,
 (1:2:2)
lillahi
(be) to Allah,

Fig 1. Two adjectives in verse (1:3).

See Also

Language Research Group
University of Leeds
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