Mawsoof-Sifat Construction in Arabic
In the mawsoof sifat construction, the adjective (sifat) must match the noun (mawsoof) in:
- Gender
- Number
- Case
- Definiteness
For non-human plurals, the adjective should be in the feminine singular form.
1. Gender Agreement
Masculine noun → Masculine adjective:
كِتَابٌ جَدِيدٌ
(kitābun jadīdun) – "a new book"
Feminine noun → Feminine adjective:
سَيَّارَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ
(sayyāratun jadīdatun) – "a new car"
2. Number Agreement
Singular → Singular adjective:
طَالِبٌ مُجْتَهِدٌ
(ṭālibun mujtahidun) – "a hardworking student"
Dual → Dual adjective:
طَالِبَانِ مُجْتَهِدَانِ
(ṭālibāni mujtahidāni) – "two hardworking students"
Plural (human) → Plural adjective:
طُلَّابٌ مُجْتَهِدُونَ
(ṭullābun mujtahidūna) – "hardworking students"
3. Case Agreement
Nominative:
البَيْتُ كَبِيرٌ
(al-baytu kabīrun) – "The house is big."
Accusative:
رَأَيْتُ بَيْتَاً كَبِيراً
(ra'aytu baytan kabīran) – "I saw a big house."
Genitive:
مَرَرْتُ بِبَيْتٍ كَبِيرٍ
(marartu bi-baytin kabīrin) – "I passed by a big house."
4. Definiteness Agreement
Definite:
الكِتَابُ الجَدِيدُ
(al-kitābu al-jadīdu) – "the new book"
Indefinite:
كِتَابٌ جَدِيدٌ
(kitābun jadīdun) – "a new book"
Special Rule: Non-Human Plurals
Non-human plurals take feminine singular adjectives:
كُتُبٌ جَدِيدَةٌ
(kutubun jadīdatun) – "new books"
سَيَّارَاتٌ سَرِيعَةٌ
(sayyārātun sarīʿatun) – "fast cars"
Common Mistakes to Avoid
كُتُبٌ جَدِيدُونَ (Should be جَدِيدَةٌ)
رَأَيْتُ كِتَابٌ كَبِيرٌ (Should be كِتَاباً كَبِيراً)
الكِتَابُ جَدِيدٌ (Should be الجَدِيدُ)
Advanced Note: Exceptions
Some non-human plurals (like أَمْوَال "money," أَرْضِين "lands") may take masculine singular adjectives in certain dialects/classical usage.
Human-like entities (angels, jinn) may follow human plural agreement.
This is a fantastic explanation of the Mawsoof-Sifah structure! It's clear, uses excellent examples, and highlights the crucial importance for Quranic understanding.
Let's make it shine for a colorful blog post, emphasizing the Arabic font and adding visual flair, while keeping every word you've written.
📖 Unlocking Quranic Precision: Why Mawsoof-Sifah is a Translation Game-Changer! 🔑
Ever wonder how every word in the Quran carries such profound meaning? Part of that linguistic miracle lies in its precise grammatical structures. One of the most vital, yet often overlooked, is the Mawsoof-Sifah (مَوْصُوف - صِفَة) construction.
Simply put, Mawsoof-Sifah refers to a noun-adjective pair in Arabic, where the adjective (Sifah) directly describes the noun (Mawsoof). But here's the crucial part: getting this translation right isn't just about good grammar; it's absolutely critical for accurate Quranic interpretation and understanding Islamic rulings!
Let's dive in and see why!
1. A Perfect Example from the Quran: Hajj Timing
Consider this verse about the sacred pilgrimage:
Quran 2:197:
Here’s the breakdown:
Mawsoof (مَوْصُوف - The Described Noun): الْحَجُّ (Hajj)
Sifah (صِفَة - The Adjective/Descriptor): أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ (known months)
✅ The Crystal-Clear (Correct) Translation:
"Hajj is [during] known months."
Why This Precision Matters So Much:
The Sifah (أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ - known months) isn't just a casual description; it specifically defines when Hajj occurs: the months of Shawwal, Dhul-Qa'dah, and Dhul-Hijjah. This is a foundational Islamic ruling! Misplacing or misunderstanding this adjective could literally distort Islamic laws on the timing of Hajj.
2. The Dangers of a Mistranslation: What Goes Wrong?
Imagine if a translator wasn't precise with this structure.
Hypothetical (Incorrect) Mistranslation:
❌ "Hajj is a known [thing] for months."
Errors That Creep In:
Grammatical Confusion 🤯 – The vital and direct link between "Hajj" and its specific "months" is lost, making the sentence awkward and unclear.
Legal Misunderstanding ⚖️ – A reader might wrongly conclude that Hajj can be performed at any time throughout the entire year, or that its timing is merely "vaguely known." This directly impacts practice.
Loss of Divine Precision ✨ – The Quran's renowned linguistic miracle and its meticulous phrasing are unfortunately weakened, robbing the reader of its inherent beauty and accuracy.
3. Why Mawsoof-Sifah is Absolutely Vital in Quranic Translation
This isn't an isolated incident. The proper handling of Mawsoof-Sifah pairs is crucial across the entire Quran for several reasons:
Clarifies Descriptions 💡
For example, رَسُولٌ كَرِيمٌ (a noble messenger) – The adjective "noble" describes a specific, elevated honor of that messenger, not just any messenger.
Preserves Theological Nuance 🕌
Take اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ (Allah the Almighty). Here, "Almighty" is an inseparable and intrinsic attribute of "Allah." You can't separate the quality from the Divine Being.
Avoids Misinterpretation 🚫
Consider كِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ (a clear Book). This means the Book is inherently clear. An incorrect translation like "a Book is clear" could subtly imply that its clarity is a separate statement, potentially suggesting there might also be ambiguity elsewhere.
4. Another Powerful Quranic Example: The Book's Certainty
Let's look at one of the Quran's very first verses:
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:2):
Breaking it down:
Mawsoof: الْكِتَابُ (The Book)
Sifah: لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ (no doubt in it)
✅ The Precisely Accurate Translation:
"This is the Book about which there is no doubt."
❌ What if it's split or mistranslated?
"This is the Book. There is no doubt in it."
While seemingly minor, this incorrect splitting loses the immediate, inseparable quality of divine certainty. The phrase "no doubt in it" isn't a separate statement about the Book; it's an inherent, defining attribute of what kind of Book this is. It's fundamentally a Book of undeniable truth.
Conclusion: Why Mawsoof-Sifah is Your Key to Deeper Understanding
Understanding and accurately translating the Mawsoof-Sifah (مَوْصُوف - صِفَة) structure is absolutely foundational for grasping the Quran's profound message. It ensures:
✔️ Precision – Adjectives directly modify their nouns without any ambiguity, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
✔️ Theological Accuracy – Descriptions of Allah's attributes, the Prophets' characteristics, and clear Islamic rulings remain perfectly intact, just as intended.
✔️ Linguistic Beauty – It fully reflects the Quran’s unparalleled eloquence and miraculous nature.
The Consequences of Missteps in Translation:
If these delicate structures are mishandled, it can sadly lead to:
Legal errors (e.g., misunderstanding the precise timing for acts of worship like Hajj).
Doctrinal confusion (e.g., misinterpreting Allah’s Divine Names or attributes).
Loss of rhetorical power and the Quran's unique impact.
For every translator, student, and reader of the Quran: Always, always analyze مَوْصُوف - صِفَة pairs before rendering them into another language! This deep dive into the Arabic grammar unlocks a richer, more accurate understanding of Allah's divine words.
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