|
|
| Question: Can
you tell me why the word Ummah is in the accusative (Mansub)
rather than being in the genitive (Majrur) in verses 3:150 and 20:94
of the Qur’an?
Answer: It is very common in Arabic that when the word Ibn is used in the vocative case (Munada), particularly when used at the time of expressing affection and love, the appended noun (Mudaf-ilayh) can be declined in the nominative case (Marfu‘), accusative (Mansub) as well as the genitive (Majrur) case. All the three forms are used by the Arabs at such instances, as is specified by the celebrated grammarian Zamakhshari in his treatise on Arabic Grammar (section on Munada).* |
*. Zamakhshari, Mufassal, [Lahore: Daru’l-Nashr al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah] p. 43.