ISM and FI’L Reflections in Quran :

GEMS 1 :

Now that, we understand what ISM and FI’L is, we can now explore one of the GEMS in quran.

In sura faatiha, we recite “AL-HAMDU lillahi rabbil aalameen” meaning, “all praise and thanks belongs to allah, the lord of the worlds”.

Notice, the word “HAMD” here means “PRAISE & THANKS” is an ISM as it’s an IDEA (something abstract & intangible which cannot be touched but it exists). We already know that right?

Why did Allah use the ISM form here instead of a FI’L, such as “We praise and thank Allah, the Lord of the worlds”? At first, both may seem to mean the same thing. But Allah’s words are never random; each word is perfectly placed. Therefore, there must be a reason why an ISM is used here instead of a FI’L. Let’s look at this more closely.

When we say “Praise belongs to ALLAH” – we are making an universal statement which has nothing to do with time and place. So, by using an ISM word “PRAISE” Allah’s praise becomes timeless and not dependent on anyone doing it or not.

But if the statement is made using a Fi’L saying “We praise ALLAH”, then someone had to do the praise of Allah, so his praise would become dependent on the doer. By not using a verb (fi’l), now Allah made his praise independent of anyone doing it or no.

Also, Using a Fi’l, Praise of allah would have a time limit – past, present and future meaning, we have a choice to praise allah in the past, present or future. But, by not using a fi’l, Allah’s praise becomes timeless now and we know that Allah is beyond time and space right?

So, no matter we praise Allah or no, we even exist or no, past, present or future time exist or no, Allah’s praise was always been there and will always be there. This significant lesson and reflection is covered just by using a single ISM word. That’s how much perfect Allah’s word is.

How do you feel now ? – you just finished the first lesson in the quranic Arabic course and you already explored one of the beauty of Allah’s speech. Just imagine, what’s waiting for you next. Alhamdulillah.

GEM-2 :

An ISM is considered as something that is established and changes or varies with time. So, When Quran uses an ISM instead of FI’L for a quality, Allah wants that quality as an established fact for us which becomes part of our being or who we are. For examples, in Quran 3:134, Allah is talking about three qualities, one must have to achieve TAQWA (awareness of Allah). We’ll talk about two of them here, where Allah used ISM forms to describe the people having those qualities.

• الكاظِينَ الغَيْظَ – The one who controls his anger, and
• العافِينَ – The one who forgives completely.

By using ISM, Allah is telling us the quality of “being patient and merciful” are qualities which should be rooted in our character as a second nature. It is what who we are at all times. You cannot be sometimes patient and sometimes not. You cannot be sometimes merciful and sometimes not. These are constant traits should be built and stay inside us.