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29  إِنَّ and its sisters

Warning

THIS BOOK IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. IT IS INCOMPLETE AND MAY HAVE TYPOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER ERRORS. IT IS NOT YET READY FOR STUDY.

29.1 Introduction

The archetypical nounal sentence is governed by an abstract foundational government that governs a subject and its info, both in the u-state.

For example:

1. زَيْدٌ قَائِمٌ
   Zayd is standing. .

In example (1) above, an abstract foundational government governs the subject زَيْد and its info قَائِم both in the u-state.

إِنَّ and its sisters are a set of six foundational government particles that take an archetypical nounal sentence as their input and transform it, by governing the subject in the u-state and the info in the u-state. Furthermore, each particle has its own meaning that it imparts to the input sentence.

The set of إِنَّ and its sisters is:

1. إِنَّ indeed
2. أَنَّ that
3. كَأَنَّ as if
4. لَـٰكِنَّ but
5. لَيْتَ would that
6. لَعَلَّ perhaps

We will discuss them in the following sections.

29.2 إِنَّ inna

29.2.1 Basic meaning of إِنَّ

إِنَّ has an assertive meaning. It asserts the property which its info expresses about its subject. For example:

2. إِنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ
   Indeed Zayd is standing. .

As you can see, the foundational government particle إِنَّ has transformed the input example (1) by governing the subject زَيْد in the a-state and its info قَائِم in the u-state. It has also added the assertive meaning “indeed”.

29.2.2 إِنَّ with a pronoun subject

When the subject of إِنَّ (or any of its sisters) is a pronoun, then the attached pronouns are used. So we will say, for example:

3. إنه قائم وإنها جالسة و إنكما قائمان وإنهم جالسون

When the subject is a pronoun for the singular speaker-participant ي, then a guarding-ن may optionally be inserted. So we can say either إِنَّنِي or إِنِّي. Examples:

4. إني/إنني قائم

And when the subject is a pronoun for the plural speaker-participant نَا, then the two نs can optionally be combined. So we can say either إِنَّنَا or إِنَّا. Examples:

5. إنا/إننا قائمون

The above rules, which allow adding or dropping a ن, are common for all of the sisters of إِنَّ that end with ن: So we can say:

• إِنَّنِي or إِنِّي and إِنَّنَا or إِنَّا.
• أَنَّنِي or أَنِّي and أَنَّنَا or أَنَّا.
• كَأَنَّنِي or كَأَنِّي and كَأَنَّنَا or كَأَنَّا.
• لَـٰكِنَّنِي or لَـٰكِنِّي and لَـٰكِنَّنَا or لَـٰكِنَّا.

لَيْتَ and لَعَلَّ have modified rules, which will be covered in their respective sections, if Allāh wills.

29.2.3 An إِنَّ as part of a larger sentence

An إِنَّ sentence can itself, be a part of a larger sentence. For example:

6. زَيْدٌ إِنَّهُ قَائِمٌ [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/355]
   Zayd – indeed he is standing.
   (The sentence إِنَّهُ قَائِمٌ is the info of the subject زَيْدٌ.)

We will explore this more in section (inna vs anna) below).

29.3 أَنَّ anna

29.3.1 Interpretation of the أَنَّ clause as a maṣdar construction

أَنَّ may be translated as “that”. أَنَّ is unique amongst إِنَّ and its sisters that when it transforms an input nounal sentence the output is actually not a structurally complete sentence anymore. Here is its output after transforming example (1):

7. أَنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ
   that Zayd is standing

As you can see above, example (7) does not stand by itself as a complete sentence. Terminologically, زَيْدًا is the subject of أَنَّ and قَائِمٌ is its info. But once أَنَّ has been added to the sentence, then the resulting output actually only constitutes a single element of a sentence (in terms of sentence structure). Let’s explain what we mean by making example (7) a part of a larger sentence:

8. يُعْجِبُنِي أَنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ
   That Zayd is standing pleases me.

Now the sentence is structurally complete. In this sentence, the أَنَّ clause (i.e. أَنَّ, its subject, and its info together) constitutes the structure-starter element of the sentence as the doer of the verb يُعْجِبُنِي. The verb يُعْجِبُنِي is the structure-completer of the sentence.

The grammarians have theorized that the أَنَّ clause is able to constitute a single sentence element because it is interpreted as a maṣdar construction. And the maṣdar is then able to take the place of a single element of the sentence. In example (8) the maṣdar is interpreted as follows:

9. أَنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ = قِيَامُ زَيْدٍ that Zayd is standing = Zayd’s [being] standing

If we replace the أَنَّ clause in example (8) with this interpreted maṣdar construction, we get:

10. يُعْجِبُنِي قِيَامُ زَيْدٍ
    Zayd’s [being] standing pleases me..

Now we can see how the interpreted maṣdar construction قِيَامُ زَيْدٍ constitutes the structure-starter of the sentence. (Technically, the annexe noun قِيَامُ is the structure-starter and زَيْدٍ is it its base noun governee, but loosely speaking they can be considered one unit.)

By the way, the interpretation of the أَنَّ clause as a maṣdar construction does not mean that the sentence with the maṣdar construction will have exactly the same meaning as the sentence with أَنَّ. Rather the maṣdar interpretation only helps us analyze the sentence grammatically. And it will also help us determine when we can use the maṣdari أَنَّ as opposed to other alternatives.

29.3.2 أَنَّ clauses as different elements of a sentence

Let’s get back to example (8) يُعْجِبُنِي أَنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ That Zayd is standing pleases me. In this sentence, as we just discussed, أَنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ, because of its interpretation as the maṣdar construction قِيَامُ زَيْدٍ, constitutes a single element, in terms of sentence structure. In example (8), it constitutes the doer of a verbal sentence, which is a structural element. But an أَنَّ clause need not only constitute a doer, or a structural element for that matter. An أَنَّ clause may constitute various elements of a sentence. We will discuss them below:

The أَنَّ clause as a doer

We have already seen an example of the أَنَّ clause as the doer in example (8) يُعْجِبُنِي أَنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ. Here is another example:

11. بلغني أن زيدًا منطَلِقٌ [شرح شيخ زاده على قواعد الإعراب 1/176]
    [The news] that Zayd is setting out has reached me.

If we replace the أَنَّ clause with its interpreted maṣdar we get:

12. بلغني انطلاق زيدٍ [شرح شيخ زاده على قواعد الإعراب 1/176]
    Zayd’s setting out has reached me.

The أَنَّ clause as a deputy doer

13. عُرِفَ أَنَّ السَّارِقَ جَرِيءٌ [nawh_waadiH 1/264]
    That the thief is bold was known.

If we replace the أَنَّ clause with its interpreted maṣdar we get:

14. عُرِفَ جَرَاءَةُ السَّارِقِ [nawh_waadiH 1/264]
    The thief’s boldness was known.

The أَنَّ clause as a direct doee

The أَنَّ clause can occur in the position of a direct doee. Here is an example:

15. عَلِمْتُ أنّكَ فَاضِلٌ
    I knew that you are excellent.

If we replace the أَنَّ clause with its interpreted maṣdar we get:

16. عَلِمْتُ فَضْلَكَ
    I knew your excellence.

The أَنَّ clause in the i-state

The أَنَّ clause can occur after a preposition. For example:

17. عَجِبْتُ من أنّ بكرًا واقفٌ [شرح شيخ زاده على قواعد الإعراب 1/177]
    I wondered at that Zayd is stopped standing.

If we replace the أَنَّ clause with its interpreted maṣdar we get:

18. عجبت من وقوف بكرٍ [شرح شيخ زاده على قواعد الإعراب 1/177]
    I wondered at Zayd’s being stopped standing.

The أَنَّ clause can even occur as a base noun. For example:

19. قَالَ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ قَالَ أُرِيدُ أَخًا لِي فِي هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ قَالَ هَلْ لَكَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تَرُبُّهَا قَالَ لاَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أَحْبَبْتُهُ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
    [صحيح مسلم :2567a]
    [He said, “Where are you intending [to go]?” He said, “I intend [to go to] a brother of mine in this town.” He said, “Do you have upon him a favor that [you are seeking repayment for]?” He said, “No, except that I have loved him [for the sake of] Allāh the Exalted and Glorious.”

The أَنَّ clause as a info

20. أمرك أنك ذاهب [الجنى الداني 409]
    Your state-of-affairs is that you are going.
    (The interpreted maṣdar ذَهَابُكَ is the info.)

The أَنَّ clause as a subject

The أَنَّ clause as a subject is not as common as the other categories, and has some restrictions. Generally, it won’t begin the sentence. Instead, its info will usually precede it.¹ For example:

21. في ظني أنك فاضل [الجنى الداني 408]
    [It is] in my estimation that you are excellent.
    (في ظني is analyzed as a fronted info and the interpreted maṣdar construction فَضْلُكَ your excellence is the backed subject.)

22. وَمِنۡ ءَایَـٰتِهِۦۤ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ خَـٰشِعَةࣰ [سورة فصلت 41:39]²
    And of His signs is that you see the earth stilled

23. أحقا أنك ذاهب [أوضح المسالك لابن هشام 2/205]
    [Is it] really that you are going?
    (The interpreted maṣdar ذَهَابُكَ is the subject. حَقًّا is analyzed as an adverb info.³)

The أَنَّ clause may even be an subject of إِنَّ and كَانَ. Examples:

24. كان في ظني أنك فاضل [الجنى الداني 408]
    [It] was in my estimation that you are excellent.

As the subject of إِنَّ, the أَنَّ clause must be separated from إِنَّ:

25. إن عندي أنك فاضل [الجنى الداني 408]
    Indeed [it is your rank] with me that you are excellent.
    i.e. You are excellent in my sight.

When the أَنَّ clause is a governee of كَانَ then it can, in general, be either the subject or the info. For example:

26. فَكَانَ عَـٰقِبَتَهُمَاۤ أَنَّهُمَا فِی ٱلنَّارِ [سورة الحشر 59:17]
    So the outcome for both of them is that they will be in the Fire
    (In some recitations عَاقِبَة is in the u-state.⁴)

Compare also to section (masdar an in kaana chapter).

29.3.3 The interpreted maṣdar when the info of أَنَّ is a prepositional/adverbial phrase

Consider the following sentences, where the info of أَنَّ is a prepositional or adverbial phrase:

27. عجبتُ من أن زيداً عندك [haazimi 24/10]
    I wondered at that Zayd is at [your place].
    (The info of أَنَّ is an adverbial phrase: عِنْدَكَ at your place.)

28. علمت أن زيداً في الدار [haazimi 37/15]
    I knew that Zayd is in the house.
    (The info of أَنَّ is an prepositional phrase: فِي الدَّارِ in the house.)

In such cases, the interpreted maṣdar is general beingness, represented by the maṣdar كَوْن or اسْتِقْرَار, as below:

29. عجبت من استقرار زيدٍ عندك [haazimi 24/10]
    I wondered at Zayd’s being at [your place].

30. علمت كون زيد في الدار [haazimi 37/15]
    I knew Zayd’s being in the house.

29.3.4 The interpreted maṣdar when the info of أَنَّ is a substantive

Consider the following sentence, where the info of أَنَّ is a substantive:

31. علمت أن زيداً أسد [haazimi 37/15]
    I knew that Zayd is a lion.
    (The info of أَنَّ is a substantive noun: أَسَدٌ a lion.)

In this case as well, the interpreted maṣdar can be general beingness:

32. علمت كون زيد أسداً [haazimi 37/15]
    I knew Zayd’s being a lion.

Or the interpreted maṣdar can be formed from the substantive, using the suffix ـِيَّة -iyyah (see section (ref)), as below:

33. علمت أسدية زيد [haazimi 37/15]
    I knew Zayd’s lion-like-ness.

29.3.5 Optionally delete the preposition before أَنَّ

When the أَنَّ clause is in the i-state following a preposition, then it is allowed to (optionally) delete the preposition, for the same meaning, as long as the meaning remains clear. So, instead of saying:

34. عجبت من أنك قائم [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 2/151]
    I wondered at that you are standing.

we can say:

35. عجبت أنك قائم [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 2/151]
    I wondered that you are standing.

29.3.6 لِأَنَّ because

The preposition لِ when attached before أَنَّ can signify the meaning because.⁵ For example:

36. قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أُتِيَ بِطَعَامٍ أَكَلَ مِنْهُ وَبَعَثَ بِفَضْلِهِ إِلَىَّ وَإِنَّهُ بَعَثَ إِلَىَّ يَوْمًا بِفَضْلَةٍ لَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْهَا لأَنَّ فِيهَا ثُومًا فَسَأَلْتُهُ أَحَرَامٌ هُوَ قَالَ لاَ وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ رِيحِهِ [صحيح مسلم :2053]
    He said, “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ would, when he was brought some food, eat from it and send its extra to me. And indeed he sent to me, one day, some extra having not eaten from it because in it was some garlic. So I asked him, ‘Is it unlawful?’ He said, ‘No, but I dislike it because of its odor.’”

29.3.7 أَنَّ with the meaning of لَعَلَّ

As a niche use, أَنَّ can be used with the meaning of لَعَلَّ (see section (ref) below). For example:

37. ائتِ السوقَ أنكَ تشتري لَنَا شيئا [التذييل والتكميل لأبي حيان 5/178]
    Come to the market [so] that you may buy for us something.

38. ما أدري أنه صاحبها [التذييل والتكميل لأبي حيان 5/178]
    I don’t know, perhaps he is his companion.

29.4 كَأَنَّ kaʾanna

كَأَنَّ signifies as if. Examples:

39. كَأَنَّ الْعِلْمَ نُورٌ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/272]
    [It is] as if knowledge is a light.

40. كَأَنَّ عَلِيًّا أَسَدٌ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/272]
    [It is] as if Ɛaliyy is a lion.

41. فَجِيءَ بِنَا كَأَنَّا أَفْرُخٌ [سنن أبي داود :4192]
    So we were brought [and it was] as if we [were] chicks.

42. كَأَنَّهُمۡ حُمُرࣱ مُّسۡتَنفِرَةࣱ [سورة المدثر 74:50]
    As if they were alarmed donkeys

43. كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ [صحيح البخاري :65]
    It is as if I am looking at its whiteness in his hand.

29.5 لَـٰكِنَّ lākinna

لَـٰكِنَّ signifies but. It forms a complete sentence with its subject and its info. But it will usually follow a previous sentence and contrast it. Examples:

44. الشَّمْسُ مُشْرِقَةٌ لَكِنَّ الْجَوَّ بَارِدٌ
    [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/272]
    The sun is bright but the air is cold.

45. قَالَ یَـٰقَوۡمِ لَیۡسَ بِی ضَلَـٰلَةࣱ وَلَـٰكِنِّی رَسُولࣱ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ [سورة الأعراف 7:61]
    [Noah] said, “O my people, there is not error in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.”

29.6 لَيْتَ layta

لَيْتَ has a wishful meaning. For example:

46. ليت زيداً قائمًا [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/568]
    Would that Zayd were standing.

The vocative يَا is frequently used before لَيْتَ. For example:

47. قَالَ يَـٰلَيْتَ قَوْمِى يَعْلَمُونَ [سورة يس 36:26]
    He said, “I wish my people could know”

When the subject is a pronoun for the singular speaker-participant ي, then a guarding-ن is inserted by default, thus: لَيْتَنِي. For example:

48. وَيَقُولُ ٱلْكَافِرُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ تُرَٰبًۢا [سورة النبأ 78:40]
    and the disbeliever will say, “Oh, I wish that I were dust!”

Very rarely, the guarding-ن can be omitted thus: لَيْتِي.⁶

When the subject is a pronoun for the plural speaker-participant نَا, then the ن of the pronoun is never omitted, and we will say: لَيْتَنَا. For example:

49. يَـٰلَيْتَنَآ أَطَعْنَا ٱللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا ٱلرَّسُولَا۠ [سورة الأحزاب 33:66]
    How we wish we had obeyed Allāh and obeyed the Messenger.

أَنَّ can be combined with لَيْتَ thus:

50. ليت أنّ زيدًا خارجٌ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/569]
    Would that Zayd were going out.

51. لَيْتَ أَنَّهُ شَاعِرٌ [Fischer 180]
    Would that he were a poet.

29.7 لَعَلَّ laɛalla

لَعَلَّ signifies perhaps. It tends to be used in situations signifying hope for, or apprehension from, an impending event.⁷

Example of hope:

52. لعل زيدا يكرمني [معاني النحو 1/305]
    Perhaps (i.e. I hope) Zayd will honor me.

Example of apprehension:

53. لعلّ بكرًا يضرب [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/570]
    Perhaps (i.e. I fear) Bakr will beat.

Opposite to لَيْتَ, when the subject is a pronoun for the singular speaker-participant ي, then a guarding-ن is not inserted by default, thus: لَعَلِّي. For example:

54. إِذْ رَءَا نَارًۭا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًۭا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًۭى [سورة طه 20:10]
    When he saw a fire and said to his family, “Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance.”

Very rarely, a guarding-ن can be added thus: لَعَلَّنِي.⁸

But like لَيْتَ, the subject is a pronoun for the plural speaker-participant نَا, then the ن of the pronoun is not never omitted, and we will say: لَعَلَّنَا. For example:

55. أَخْبِرْ صَاحِبَكَ أَنَّا قَدْ جِئْنَا وَلَعَلَّنَا سَنَعُودُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ [صحيح البخاري :4359]
    Inform your companion that we came and perhaps we will come again, if Allāh wills.

Here are some more examples showing the semantic range of لَعَلَّ:

56. لَعَلَّكُمْ لَوْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا كَانَ خَيْرًا [صحيح مسلم :2362]
    Perhaps if you did not do [it], it would be better.

57. إِنَّكُمْ لاَ تَدْرُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ أَنْ تُبْتَلَوْا [سنن ابن ماجه :4029]
    Indeed you do not know, perhaps you will be tested.

58. قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَذْكُرُ الْفِتَنَ فَقَالَ قَوْمٌ نَحْنُ سَمِعْنَاهُ فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْنُونَ فِتْنَةَ الرَّجُلِ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَجَارِهِ قَالُوا أَجَلْ [صحيح مسلم :144a]
    We were with Ɛumar and he said, “Which of you has heard the Messenger of Allāh mention the tribulations?” Some people said, “We did hear him.” So he said, “Perhaps you are meaning the tribulation of a man in regard to his household and his neighbor?”

لَعَلَّ can also be used for a past event. For example:

59. لَعَلَّكَ قَبَّلْتَ أَوْ غَمَزْتَ أَوْ نَظَرْتَ [صحيح البخاري :6824]
    Perhaps you (only) kissed or winked or looked?

60. لَعَلَّنَا أَعْجَلْنَاكَ [صحيح البخاري :180]
    Perhaps we have forced you to hurry?

لَعَلَّ is often connected in meaning to a previous sentence. signifying in its meaning a connotation of in order to. In this sense, it approaches the meaning of كَيْ.⁹ For example:

61. فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَخَرَجَ مُسَيْلِمَةُ الْكَذَّابُ قُلْتُ لأَخْرُجَنَّ إِلَى مُسَيْلِمَةَ لَعَلِّي أَقْتُلُهُ فَأُكَافِئَ بِهِ حَمْزَةَ [صحيح البخاري :4072]
    When the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ passed away, and then Musaylimah the Liar appeared, I said, “I will surely go out to Musaylimah so that I may kill him and so make amends for [killing] Ḥamzah.

29.8 A prepositional/adverbial phrase as the info of إِنَّ and its sisters

A prepositional/adverbial phrase can occur as the info of إِنَّ and its sisters. For example:

62. إِنَّ زَيْدًا فِي الدَّارِ
    Indeed Zayd is in the house.

63. عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ زَيْدًا عِنْدَكَ Indeed Zayd is at [your place].

In such cases, based on what we have learned in section (ref), the info is actually implicated as general beingness, and the preposition or adverb is its governee. But loosely speaking we may say that the prepositional/adverbial phrase is the info.

29.9 A complete sentence as the info of إِنَّ and its sisters

The info of إِنَّ and its sisters may be a complete sentence. Examples:

64. إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ يُعَزِّزُ صَاحِبَهُ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 272]
    Indeed the knowledge – it makes esteemed its companion.
    (The info of إِنَّ is the verbal sentence يُعَزِّزُ صَاحِبَهُ it makes esteemed its companion.)

65. إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ قَدْرُهُ مُرْتَفِعٌ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/272]
    Indeed the scholar – his worth is high.
    (The info of إِنَّ is the nounal sentence قَدْرُهُ مُرْتَفِعٌ his worth is high.)

66. لَعَلَّكَ اجْتَهَدْتَ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/272]
    Perhaps you may exert yourself.
    (The info of لَعَلَّ is the verbal sentence اجْتَهَدْتَ you exert yourself.)

The info of إِنَّ (and its sisters) can even be a compound itself itself. Here is an example where the info of إِنَّ is a كَانَ sentence with its own subject and verbal sentence info:

67. وَإِنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ كَانَ يَلْزَمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِشِبَعِ بَطْنِهِ وَيَحْضُرُ مَا لاَ يَحْضُرُونَ وَيَحْفَظُ مَا لاَ يَحْفَظُونَ [صحيح البخاري :118]
    And indeed Abū Hurayrah used to stick with the Messenger of Allāh with the fill of his stomach and be present for what they [were] not present for, and memorize what they [were] not memorizing.

29.10 Word order of the subject and the info with إِنَّ and its sisters

29.10.1 Word order for a single element info

The subject of إِنَّ (and its sisters) must always follow it in word order. And its info must always follow the subject. So, for example, we cannot say:

68. ✗ إِنَّ قَائِمٌ زَيْدًا [شرح قطر الندى وبل الصدى 162]

We must say instead:

69. إِنَّ زَيْدًا قَائِمٌ
    Indeed Zayd is standing.

29.10.2 Word order for a prepositional or adverbial phrase info

When the info is itself (loosely speaking) the prepositional or adverbial phrase, then then it may be placed before the subject. Sometimes, placing the prepositional/adverbial phrase before the subject is optional. For example:

70. إِنَّ فِي الدَّارِ ضُيُوفًا كِرَامًا [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/273]
    Indeed in the house are noble guests.

71. لَيْتَ عِنْدَكَ مُحَمَّدًا [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/273]
    O that with you was Muḥammad

In such cases, where the prepositional/adverbial phrase info may be placed either before or after the subject, the signification can be slightly diferent. For example, if we say:

72. إِنَّ مَعَكَ صَاحِبَكَ. [Wright 2/80C]
    Indeed, with you, is your companion.

This puts the logical accent on the subject صَاحِبَكَ “your companion”. If the subject is placed first then this puts the logical accent on the info:

73. إِنَّ صَاحِبَكَ مَعَكَ. [Wright 2/80C]
    Indeed your companion is with you.

When the prepositional/adverbial phrase has a pronoun that refers to the subject, then it must obligatorily be placed before the subject. For example:

74. إِنَّ فِي الدَّارِ سَاكِنَهَا [ارتشاف الضرب من لسان العرب 3/1244]
    Indeed in the house is its resident.

75. إِنَّ عِنْدَ هِنْدٍ بَعْلَهَا [ارتشاف الضرب من لسان العرب 3/1244]
    Indeed with Hind is her husband.

29.10.3 Word order when the info has a governee

If the info has a governee, then the normal word order is for it to follow its governor. For example:

76. إن زيدا آكل طعامك [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/349]
    Indeed Zayd is eating your food.

Optionally, the governee of the info can be made to precede it. For example:

77. إن زيدا طعامك آكل [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/317]
    Indeed Zayd is eating your food.

But the governee of the info should not, in general, precede the subject. So we cannot say:

78. ✗ إن طعامك زيدا آكل [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/349]

However, when the governee of the info is a preposition or adverb, then there is some diagreement amongst the grammarians, with regard to whether the governee of the info can precede the subject.¹⁰ Some grammarians allowed sentences like:

79. إِنَّ عِنْدَكَ زَيْدًا جَالِسٌ [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/349]
    Indeed with you Zayd is sitting.

80. إن بك زيدا واثق [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/349]
    Indeed in you Zayd is trusting.

81. إنَّ اليَوْمَ زَيْدًا مُسافِرٌ [البحر المحيط لأبي حيان for سورة هود 11:8]
    Indeed today Zayd is a journeying-one.

82. علمت أن اليوم زيداً سائر [المساعد على تسهيل الفوائد لابن عقيل 3/65]]{.citex}
    I knew that today Zayd is a travelling-one.

Others disallowed such sentences and mandated that the governee of the info not precede the subject even in the case of preposition or adverb governee.¹¹: So they allow:

83. إِنَّ زَيْدًا جَالِسٌ عِنْدَكَ [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/349]
    Indeed Zayd is sitting with you.

84. إن زيدا واثق بك [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/349]
    Indeed Zayd is trusting in you.

It is also allowed to make the governee of the info precede it (but not the subject) (as in example (77) above). For example:

85. إِنَّ زَيْدًا عِنْدَكَ جَالِسٌ,

86. إن زيدا بك واثق

29.11 A state-of-affairs pronoun as the subject of إِنَّ and its sisters

A state-of-affairs pronoun can occur as the subject of إِنَّ and its sisters. In this case, as usual, the info will be a complete sentence.

As with كَانَ, when the subject is a state-of-affairs pronoun, then the info can be a nounal sentence or a verbal sentence.

For example:

87. إِنَّهَا تَكُونُ الظُّلْمَةُ وَالسَّيْلُ [صحيح البخاري :667]
    The state-of-affairs is: [there] is [at times] darkness and flooding

88. وَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدِ اجْتَمَعَ لَكُمْ فِي يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا عِيدَانِ
    https://sunnah.com/urn/504350

29.12 إِنَّ with a لَ of beginning

The لَ of beginning is a particle which generally occurs in the beginning of a sentence signifies an assertive meaning. For example, if we start with:

89. زَيْدٌ قَائِمٌ
    Zayd is standing.

then we can make the sentence more assertive by using لَ of beginning in its beginning:

90. لَزَيْدٌ قَائِمٌ
    Indeed Zayd is standing.

The لَ of beginning, in sentences without إِنَّ (as above), is placed in the beginning of the sentence and is attached only to the subject. If the info were fronted, we wouldn’t say:

91. ✗ لَقَائِمٌ زَيْدٌ [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/353]

29.12.1 The لَ of beginning placed before the info of إِنَّ

This لَ of beginning is frequently found used with إِنَّ. But instead of occurring before إِنَّ thus:

92. ✗ لَإِنَّ

it is placed between the subject of إِنَّ and its info, thus:

93. إِنَّ زَيْدٌ لَقَائِمٌ [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/352]
    Indeed Zayd is standing.

When إِنَّ is used together with لَ of beginning as in the example above, then the sentence signifies extra assertion, compared to if had only إِنَّ or only the لَ of beginning.

In a similar manner to example () above, we can say:

94. إن زيدًا لفي الدار [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/352]
    Indeed Zayd is in the house.

The لَ of beginning has certain restrictions placed on its usage, when used with إِنَّ:

Firstly, it can only be used with إِنَّ and not with any of its sisters.

Secondly, the إِنَّ sentence should be an affirmative sentence, not a negative sentence. So we cannot say:

95. ✗ إِنَّ عَلِيًّا لَمَا حَضَرَ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/288]

Instead, we should say (without the لَ of beginning):

96. إِنَّ عَلِيًّا مَا حَضَرَ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/288]
    Indeed Ɛaliyy was not present.

Additionally, when the info of إِنَّ is a verbal sentence with a perfect verb, then the لَ of beginning is not attached to the perfect verb. But if قَدْ is used before the perfect verb, then the لَ of beginning may be attached before it. So we cannot say:

97. ✗ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ لَرَفَعَ قَدْرَ صَاحِبِهِ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/288]

But we can say:

98. إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ لَقَدْ رَفَعَ قَدْرَ صَاحِبِهِ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/288]
    Indeed the knowledge – it has raised the worth of its companion.

Or we can say without both the لَ of beginning and قَدْ

99. إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ رَفَعَ قَدْرَ صَاحِبِهِ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/288]
    Indeed the knowledge – it raised the worth of its companion.

This restriction is not placed on a ;xabar which is a verbal sentence with a stateful verb. So we can say:

100. إن زيدًا ليخرج اليوم [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/352]
     Indeed Zayd – he will go out today.

When the stateful verb has سَوْفَ, then grammarians have disagreed with regards tp allowing لَ of beginning to attach to it.¹²(https://shamela.ws/book/20562/1015#p1)]

101. إن زيدا لسوفَ يقوم [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/354]
     Indeed Zayd – he will soon stand.

Also, rigid perfect verbs are exempted from being restricted and may be used with لَ of beginning directly. For example:

102. إنّ زيدًا لنِعْم الرجلُ [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/352]
     Indeed Zayd – how excellent the man.

103. إنّ عمرًا لِبِئْسَ الغلامُ [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/352]
     Indeed Zayd – how wretched the boy.

However, لَيْسَ is a rigid verb, but لَ of beginning does not attach to it because of the undesirableness of two لs coming togather. So we won’t say:

104. ✗ إنّ زيدًا لليس بقائم [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/352]
     Indeed Zayd – he is not standing.

When a governee of the info is placed before it in word order (but still after the subject), such that it comes between the subject and the info, then لَ of beginning will attach to the fronted governee, thus:

105. إنّ زيدًا لَفِى الدار قائمٌ [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/354]
     Indeed Zayd, in the house is standing.

106. إن زيدًا لطعامَكَ آكلٌ [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/355]
     Indeed Zayd, your food he is eating.

But if the governee of the info is placed after the info then the info will have لَ of beginning, not its governee. So we won’t say:

107. ✗ إنَّ زيدًا آكلٌ لطعامكَ [الأصول في النحو لابن السراج 2/235]

Instead, we will say:

108. إنَّ زيدًا لآكلٌ طعامَكَ [الأصول في النحو لابن السراج 2/235]
     Indeed Zayd is eating your food.

Also, if the subject has a attribute which occurs between it and the info, then again لَ of beginning is placed with the info. For example:

109. إِنّ زيدًا الفاضِلَ لَقَائِمٌ [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/355]
     Indeed the excellent Zayd is standing

29.12.2 The لَ of beginning placed before the subject of إِنَّ

So far, we have seen the لَ of beginning attached before the info of إِنَّ. But, if the info occurs before the subject in word order, then لَ of beginning is actually atached before the subject. In this way, لَ of beginning again occurs between the subject and the info. For example:

110. إن في الدار لزيدا [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/373]
     Indeed in the house is Zayd.

If the info occurs after the subject in word order, but a governee of the info occurs before the subject, then we have two options: لَ of beginning may optionally be attached before the subject or before the info. For example:

111. إن فيها زيدًا لقائم
     إن فيها لزيدًا قائم
     [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/357]
     Indeed in it Zayd is standing.

29.12.3 The لَ of beginning with a separating-pronoun

If a separating-pronoun occurs between the subject and the info of إِنَّ, and a لَ of beginning is to be used, then the لَ of beginning will be attached before the separating-pronoun. For example, if we start with:

112. إن زيدًا هو القائم [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/357]
     Indeed Zayd is the standing one.

and we add لَ of beginning, we get:

113. إن زيدًا لَهو القائم [شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/357]
     Indeed Zayd is the standing one.

29.13 When to use إِنَّ vs أَنَّ

29.13.1 The basic principle

The basic principle in choosing whether to use إِنَّ vs أَنَّ is:

• إِنَّ is used to begin a complete sentence. As a complete sentence, it can then be a part of an larger sentence.
• أَنَّ is used to begin a clause which is part of a larger sentence. The larger sentence, in order for its meaning to work, requires a maṣdari interpretation of the أَنَّ clause.

In theory, this is a pretty clear demarcation. But in practice it can be a little tricky to tell when to use إِنَّ vs أَنَّ. Let’s work through some examples:

114. نُطْقِي اللَّهُ حَسْبِي
     [Wright 2/256D, شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/204, previously cited in section (ref)]
     My utterance is “Allāh is sufficient for me.”

In the example above, the sentence info اللَّهُ حَسْبِي Allāh is sufficient for me, is simply being reported as speech. It’s not an interpreted maṣdar of the info which is expressing a property about the subject نُطْقِي. Rather, the info, as a complete sentence, is the complement of the subject. So it can begin with إِنَّ but not أَنَّ, thus: نُطْقِي إِنَّ اللَّهُ حَسْبِي.

Here are a couple more examples:

115. خَيْرُ الْقَوْلِ إِنِّي أَحْمَدُ [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/355]
     The best of speech is: Indeed I praise.

116. قَوْلِي إِنَّهُ فَاضِلٌ [أوضح المسالك لابن هشام 1/325]
     My saying is: Indeed he is excellent.

But if the info expresses a property about the subject, not as a complete sentence, but as an interpreted maṣdar, then أَنَّ is used. For example:

117. اعْتِقَادِي أَنَّهُ فَاضِلٌ [أوضح المسالك لابن هشام 1/325]
     My belief is that he is excellent.
     (i.e. اعْتِقَادِي فَضْلُهُ My belief is his being excellent.)

In the example above, it is not exactly the sentence هُوَ فَاضِلٌ “he is excellent” which is my belief. Rather my belief is his being excellent.

Here are some more examples of a complete sentence with إِنَّ in a larger sentence. In all the examples, the إِنَّ sentence is part of the larger sentence, as is. It does not need to be interpreted as a maṣdar construction.

118. زَيْدٌ إِنَّهُ فَاضِلٌ [أوضح المسالك لابن هشام 1/324]
     Zayd – indeed he is excellent.

119. مَرَرْتُ بِرَجُلٍ إِنَّهُ فَاضِلٌ [أوضح المسالك لابن هشام 1/323]
     I passed by a indeed-he-is-excellent man.
     (The sentence إِنَّهُ فَاضِلٌ is the attribute of رَجُل.)

120. أَحْتَرِمُ الَّذِي إِنَّهُ مُخُلِصٌ فِي عَمَلِهِ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/275]
     I respect the one who – indeed he is sincere in his work.
     (The إِنَّ sentence إِنَّهُ مُخُلِصٌ فِي عَمَلِهِ is the connecting sentence of the connected noun الَّذِي. See chapter (ref).)

121. جِئْتُ وَإِنَّ الشَّمْسَ تَغْرُبُ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/276]
     I came while the sun was setting.
     (The إِنَّ sentence جِئْتُ وَإِنَّ الشَّمْسَ تَغْرُبُ is a ḥāl. See chapter (ref).)

Now let’s again consider some tricky areas:

29.13.2 When إِنَّ or أَنَّ occur as a base noun

Consider the following sentence:

122. اجْلِسْ حَيْثُ إِنَّ زَيْدًا جَالِسٌ [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/355]
     Sit where – indeed Zayd is sitting.

In the above example حَيْثُ is an adverb of place (see chapter (ref)) which is a annexe noun to the sentence-base noun إِنَّ زَيْدًا جَالِسٌ. The إِنَّ sentence does not require the maṣdari interpretation جُلُوس for the meaning to work.

Now consider this sentence:

123. قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَطُّ إِلاَّ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي قَدْ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ … [صحيح مسلم :2769a]
     Kaɛb ibn Mālik said, “I didn’t remain behind the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ in any expedition that he went on, ever, except in the expedition of Tabūk, other than that I remained behind in the expedition of Badr …

In this example, the أَنَّ clause أَنِّي قَدْ تَخَلَّفْتُ is base noun of غَيْرَ. أَنَّ is used instead of إِنَّ because, in order for the meaning to work, the maṣdar of تَخَلَّفَ is interpreted, thus: غَيْرَ تَخَلُّفِي other than my remaining behind.

29.13.3 In reported speech

When a sentence is reported as (direct or indirect) speech, then إِنَّ is used instead of أَنَّ in the beginning of the reported speech. (By the way, direct speech can also begin without إِنَّ.) Here are examples with إِنَّ:

124. تُعَيّرنا أنَّا قليلٌ عَدِيدنا فقلتُ لها إنّ الكرام قليلُ [النحو الوافي 1/650]
     She reproaches us that we – our number is few. So I said to her, “Indeed the noble are few.”

125. فَقِيلَ لَهَا إِنَّهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم [صحيح البخاري :1283]
     Then it was said to her Indeed he is the Prophet ﷺ

In the following example, the pronoun in إِنَّهَا indicates indirect speech, yet still إِنَّ is used instead of أَنَّ:

126. قَالَتْ إِنَّهَا حُبْلَى مِنَ الزِّنَا [صحيح مسلم :1695a]
     She said that she had become pregnant as a result of fornication.

The reason for using إِنَّ instead of أَنَّ is, again, that that the reported speech is not interpreted as a maṣdar in order to connect it to the verb قَالَ before it. Rather, the entire reported speech is, as is, the direct doee of the verb قَالَ.

With other verbs that may indicate reported speech, أَنَّ is typically used. For example:

127. صَلَّى بِنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ بِجَمْعٍ الْمَغْرِبَ ثَلاَثًا بِإِقَامَةٍ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ وَذَكَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ [سنن النسائي :483]
     Sa’eed bin Jubair led us in prayer in Jam’. (He prayed) Maghrib, three Rak’ahs with an Iqamah, then he prayed ‘Isha’, two Rak’ahs. Then he mentioned that ’Abdullah bin ’Umar had done that, and he mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had done that.

The reason is that now, the maṣdari meaning of the speech is interpreted as the direct doee of ذَكَرَ. That is, he mentioned [#3abd] Allāh’s doing that.

Ocassionally, we will find أَنَّ used with قَالَ. And that is when قَالَ is not simply reporting speech, but signifying the speaker’s belief, estimation, or claim of the maṣdari content of the following speech.¹³ For example:

128. أتقول المراصدُ أن الجو بارد فى الأسبوع المقبل [النحو الوافي 1/650]
     Does the forecaster say that the weather is cold in the upcoming week?
     (i.e. Does the forecaster estimate the weather to be cold …)

29.13.4 After verbs of perception

After, verbs of perception (see chapter (ref), if a sentence suspends its government (see section (ref)), then either إِنَّ or أَنَّ may be used. For example:

129. علمت إن الرياءَ بلاءٌ
     علمت أَن الرياءَ بلاءٌ
     [النحو الوافي 1/651]
     I knew that showing off is a trial.

If لَ of beginning is used, then, of course; it would only be used with إِنَّ not أَنَّ. For example:

130. علمت إن الإسراف لطريق الفقر [النحو الوافي 1/651]
     I knew indeed extravagance is the path to poverty.

29.13.5 After إِذَا or suddenness

After إِذَا or suddenness (see chapter (ref)), either إِنَّ or أَنَّ may be used¹⁴:

131. خرجت فإذا إن زيدا قائم
     خرجت فإذا أن زيدا قائم
     [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/356]
     I came out [and] suddenly Zayd was standing.

29.13.6 After an oath

النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 278

النحو الوافي 1/650

29.13.7 After ف in a condition-response

When the condition-response begins with a فَ, either إِنَّ or أَنَّ (or neither) may be used.¹⁵ For example:

132. إِنْ تَجْتَهِدْ فَإِنَّكَ/فَأَنَّكَ نَاجِحٌ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/279]
     If you exert yourself then you will be successful.

29.14 A conjunction following إِنَّ and its sisters

When a conjunction is used with the subject of إِنَّ, and the post-conjunction is placed after the info of إِنَّ then it can optionally either be put in the a-state or the u-state. For example:

133. إن زيدا قائم وعمرا [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/375]

134. إن زيدا قائم وعمرو [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/376]

If the post-conjunction is put in the u-state (وَعَمْرٌو), then it can be thought of as the subject of a new sentence, i.e.:

135. إن زيدا قائم وَعَمْرٌ [كَذَلِكَ] [modified from شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/376]
     Indeed Zayd is standing and Ɛamr [is like that as well].

When post-conjunction is put before the info of إِنَّ, then according to the dominant view, the post-conjunction must be in the a-state. So we will say:

136. إن زيدا وعمرا قائمان [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/376]

137. إنك وزيدا ذاهبان [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/376]

Some grammarians permitted the post-conjunction to be in the u-state in this case as well.¹⁶

The rules for أَنَّ and لَـٰكِنَّ are the same as the rules for إِنَّ. So we will say, for example:

138. علمت أن زيدا قائم وعمرو/وعمرا [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/377]

139. علمت أن زيدا وعمرا قائمان [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/377]

140. لكن عمرا منطلق وخالدا/خالد [modified from شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/377]

141. لكن عمرا وخالدا منطلقان [modified from شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/377]

As for كَأَنَّ, لَيْتَ, and لَعَلَّ, only the a-state is permitted for the ;,a3toof;, whether or not it is after the info or before. So we will say, for example:

142. ليت زيدا وعمرا قائمان [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/377]

143. ليت زيدا قائم وعمرا [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/377]

As mentioned, كَأَنَّ and لَعَلَّ are treated similarly to the above two examples.

29.15 The lightened إِنْ

النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 296

The particles إِنَّ, أَنَّ, كَأَنَّ, and لَـٰكِنَّ, because of the s͡haddah on the ن, can be termed heavy. They have have lightened-from-the-heavy versions: إِنْ, أَنْ, كَأَنْ, and لَـٰكِنْ. The lightened particles have somewhat different rules from their original heavy counterparts. In this section we will treat the lightened إِنْ. We will treat the rest of the lightened particles in subsequent sections, if Allāh wills.

29.15.1 Governance of the lightened إِنْ

The lightened إِنْ is less assertive in meaning than the heavy إِنَّ.¹⁷. In using it there are two optional possibilities:

The first, and more common, option is that the lightened leaves the state of its subject in the u-state, just like a basic nounal sentence. But now, a لَ is almost always required. For example:

144. إِنْ سَعِيدٌ لَمُجْتَهِدٌ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/296–297]
     Indeed Saɛīd is an exerter [of himself].

Note that the subject سَعِيدٌ is in the u-state, and that a لَ is used with the info: لَمُجْتَهِدٌ. This لَ is now called the differentiator لَ, because it differentiates the lightened إِنْ from another type of إِنْ called the negating-إِنْ (see chapter (ref)). Occasionally, when the meaning is clear without it, the differentiator لَ may be omitted.¹⁸ For example:

145. إِنِ الْعَاقِلُ يَتَّبِعُ سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/297]
     Indeed the sensible one follows the path of right conduct.

The second, and less commonly used, option is for the lightened إِنْ to govern its subject in the a-state, just like the heavy إِنَّ. Now the لَ (called لَ of beginning again) is optional, as it was with إِنَّ. Examples:

146. إِنْ سَعِيدًا مُجْتَهِدٌ [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/297]
     Indeed Saɛīd is an exerter [of himself].

147. وَإِنَّ كُلࣰّا لَّمَّا لَیُوَفِّیَنَّهُمۡ رَبُّكَ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡۚ [سورة هود 11:111 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/297]
     And indeed, each [of the believers and disbelievers] - your Lord will fully compensate them for their deeds.

29.15.2 A verbal sentence after the lightened إِنْ

Unlike the heavy إِنَّ, the lightened إِنْ can be followed directly by a verb. But the verb that follows it is usually constrained to be a canceling verb. Examples:

148. وَإِن كَانَتۡ لَكَبِیرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِینَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُۗ [سورة البقرة 2:143 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/297]
     And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allāh has guided.

149. قَالَ تَٱللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرۡدِینِ [سورة الصافات 37:56 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/297]
     He will say, “By Allāh, you almost ruined me.

150. وَإِن نَّظُنُّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِینَ [سورة الشعراء 26:186 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/297]
     and indeed, we think you are among the liars.

151. وَإِن یَكَادُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَیُزۡلِقُونَكَ بِأَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ [سورة القلم 68:51 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/298]
     And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes [i.e., looks]

Rarely, a non-canceling verb is found to occur after the lightened إِنْ. For example:

152. إِنْ قَتَلْتَ لَمُسْلِمًا [النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/298, شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/382]
     Indeed you killed a Muslim

The analysis of this sentence is that the subject of the lightened إِنْ is implicated to be a deleted state-of-affairs pronoun. And the verb which follows with its governees is a sentence which is the info of the lightened إِنْ.¹⁹

29.16 The lightened أَنْ

29.16.1 Governance of the lightened أَنْ

The lightened أَنْ retains the governance of the the heavy إِنَّ.²⁰ But its subject is (almost) always a deleted state-of-affairs pronoun. And its info is then a complete sentence. For example:

153. علمت أن زيد قائم [شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/383]
     I knew that [the state-of-affairs is:] Zayd is standing.

Note, in the above example, that زَيدٌ is in the u-state because it is the subject of an independent sentence زَيْدٌ قَائِمٌ. The subject of أَنْ is a deleted state-of-affairs pronoun, implicated thus: أَنْهُ.

Occasionally, the subject the lightened أَنْ is not deleted, in which case it won’t be a state-of-affairs pronoun.²¹ In this case the info may either be a single noun or a complete sentence.²²

154. أظنُّ أنْكَ قائمٌ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/552]
     I estimate that you are standing.

155. أحسبُ أنْهُ ذاهبٌ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/552]
     I deem that he is going.

But most of the time, the subject of the lightened أَنْ will be a deleted state-of-affairs pronoun, and its info will be a sentence. The sentence which is the info of this lightened أَنْ can begin either with a noun or with a verb.

When it begins with a noun, then it does not need any separation between it and the أَنْ. For example:

156. وَءَاخِرُ دَعۡوَىٰهُمۡ أَنِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ [سورة يونس 10:10 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 301]
     And the last of their call will be, “Praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds!”

Similarly, if the sentence info begins with a underived verb, then again no separation is needed between it and the أَنْ. For example:

157. وَأَن لَّیۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ [سورة النجم 53:39]
     And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

158. أَوَلَمۡ یَنظُرُوا۟ فِی مَلَكُوتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَیۡءࣲ وَأَنۡ عَسَىٰۤ أَن یَكُونَ قَدِ ٱقۡتَرَبَ أَجَلُهُمۡۖ [سورة الأعراف 7:185 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 301]
     Do they not look into the realm of the heavens and the earth and everything that Allāh has created and [think] that perhaps their appointed time has come near?

But if the verb is flexible, then it is preferred that it be separated from the lightened أَنْ by one of the following:

• قَدْ. For example:

  159. قَالُوا۟ نُرِیدُ أَن نَّأۡكُلَ مِنۡهَا وَتَطۡمَىِٕنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعۡلَمَ أَن قَدۡ صَدَقۡتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَیۡهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِینَ [سورة المائدة 5:113 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 301]
       They said, “We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses.”

• The particles سَ or سَوْفَ. For example:

  160. عَلِمَ أَن سَیَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرۡضَىٰ [سورة المزمل 73:20 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/301]

• One of the particle of negation لَا, لَنْ, or لَمْ

  161. أَفَلَا یَرَوۡنَ أَلَّا یَرۡجِعُ إِلَیۡهِمۡ قَوۡلࣰا [سورة طه 20:89 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/302]

  162. أَیَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ یَرَهُۥۤ أَحَدٌ [سورة البلد 90:7 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/302]

  163. أَیَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنُ أَلَّن نَّجۡمَعَ عِظَامَهُۥ [سورة المزمل 73:3 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/302]

  In non-Qurʾānic Standard Arabic, أَنْ is not joined in writing to the following particle. So we will write أَنْ لَا²³, أَنْ لَنْ, and أَنْ لَمْ. But in pronunciation, the ن is assimilated with the ل, as usual, so we will say ʾallā, ʾallan, and ʾallam, respectively. For example:

164. تَيَقَّنْتُ أَنْ لاَ أُسَافِرُ [النحو الوافي 4/298]
     I was sure that I will not journey.

• The conditional particle لَوْ For example:

  165. وَأَلَّوِ ٱسۡتَقَـٰمُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلطَّرِیقَةِ لَأَسۡقَیۡنَـٰهُم مَّاۤءً غَدَقࣰا [سورة الجن 72:16 cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/302]

29.16.2 When to use the lightened أَنْ vs the a-state-izing أَنْ

When أَنْ is to be followed by a stateful verb (whether or not separated by a particle like لَا), then the question is should we use the lightened أَنْ or the a-state-izing أَنْ?

If we choose the lightened أَنْ, then the stateful verb is put in the u-state. For example:

166. عَلِمْتُ أَنْ لاَ يَخْرُجُ زَيْدٌ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/553]
     I knew that Zayd will not go out.

And if we choose the a-state-izing أَنْ, then the stateful verb is put in the u-state. For example:

167. اشْتَهَيْتُ أَنْ لاَ يَخْرُجَ زَيْدٌ [شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/406]²⁴
     I desired that Zayd not go out.

The general principle is that the lightened أَنْ is used when the verb before it signifies certainty, like عَلِمَ to know. This is because it is the lightened from the heavy أَنَّ, which is used assertively.

As for the a-state-izing أَنْ, it is used when the verb before it signfies a wanting for something to happen, or a fearing that something not happen. Here are some examples that can illustrate this:

168. عَلِمْتُ أَنْ سَيَخْرُجُ زَيْدٌ [modified from شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]
     I knew that Zayd will go out.

169. أَرْجُو أَنْ تُحْسِنَ إِلَيََّ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]
     I hope that you will do good to me.

170. أَخَافُ أَنْ تُسِيءَ إِلَيََّ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]
     I fear that you will do evil to me.

There are a class of verbs that vary in the amount of certainty or wanting that they signify. Such verbs include: ظَنَّ to conjecture, حَسِبَ to deem, خَالَ to imagine, رَأَىٰ to opine, etc. In this context, they can be translated in idiomatic English as to think. Furthermore, the perfect verb can be used where in Eng;ish we would use the present tense (in accordance with what we learned in section (madi used for moment of utterance)).

With such verbs, both the lightened أَنْ (and therefore also the heavy أَنَّ), and the a-state-izing أَنْ can be used. In theory, the lightened أَنْ (and the heavy أَنَّ) is used when the speaker believes the following statement to be true.²⁵

For example:

171. ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكَ تَخْرُجُ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]
     I [believe] that you are going out.
     or I [believe] that you will go out.

172. ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ سَتَخْرُجُ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]
     I [believe] that you will go out.

173. حسبت أن زيدا منطلق [شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/406]
     I [believe] that Zayd is setting out.

174. ظننت أنك أخونا [شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/406]
     I [believe] that you are our brother.

175. قَدْ حَسِبْتُ أَنْ لَا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ [شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/406]
     I [believe] that you will not say that.

176. أَرَىٰ أَنْ سَيَفْعَلُ [شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/407]
     I [believe] that he will do [it].

Conversely, the a-state-izing أَنْ is used when the the speaker feels the following statement, without any strong evidence or indicator which is guiding his feeling.²⁶

177. ظننت أن تَخْرُجَ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]
     I [feel] that you will go out.

178. ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ لاَ تَفْعَلَ [شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/407]
     I [feel] that you will not do [it]

Despite this theoretical difference between the two uses, practically, the a-state-izing أَنْ is used more commonly in such situations because it is the default.²⁷

When أَنْ is followed directly be a perfect verb (without an intervening قَدْ), then it seems that the أَنْ is a-state-izing (despite their being no effect of the a-state-izing أَنْ on the perfect verb). This is because the lightened أَنْ would have required قَدْ.²⁸ For example:

179. كرِهتُ أن قمتَ [شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 5/97]
     I disliked that you stood.

We list the following examples to illustrate the range of أَنْ.

180. تَظُنُّ أَن یُفۡعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَةࣱ [سورة القيامة 75:25 cited by شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/407]

181. فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیۡهِمَاۤ أَن یَتَرَاجَعَاۤ إِن ظَنَّاۤ أَن یُقِیمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِۗ [سورة البقرة 2:230 cited by شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/407]

182. وَحَسِبُوۤا۟ أَلَّا تَكُونَ فِتۡنَةࣱ [سورة المائدة 5:71 cited by شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/407; شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]
     And they thought there would be no [resulting] punishment
     (Some recitations have the verb following أَنْ in the u-state.²⁹)

183. أَیَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ یَرَهُۥۤ أَحَدٌ [سورة البلد 90:7 cited by شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]

184. عَلِمَ أَن سَیَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرۡضَىٰ [سورة المزمل 73:20 cited by شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]

185. أَفَلَا یَرَوۡنَ أَلَّا یَرۡجِعُ إِلَیۡهِمۡ قَوۡلࣰا [سورة طه 20:89 cited by شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]

186. وَٱلَّذِیۤ أَطۡمَعُ أَن یَغۡفِرَ لِی خَطِیۤـَٔتِی یَوۡمَ ٱلدِّینِ [سورة الشعراء 26:82 cited by شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554]

187. وَأَنَا أَرْجُو أَنْ يُبَرِّئَنِي اللَّهُ، وَلَكِنْ وَاللَّهِ مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ يُنْزِلَ فِي شَأْنِي وَحْيًا [صحيح البخاري :2661]

188. فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَفَخِذُهُ عَلَى فَخِذِي فَثَقُلَتْ عَلَىَّ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ سَتُرَضُّ فَخِذِي [سنن النسائي :3099]

189. وَحَسِبْتُ أَنْ قَدْ قَالَ وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ فِي مَالِ أَبِيهِ [صحيح البخاري :2751]

190. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنْ لَنْ يُدْخِلَ أَحَدَكُمْ عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ [صحيح البخاري :6464]

191. عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ اللَّهَ مَسْأَلَةً وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ سَأَلْتُهُ ذَكَرْتُ رُسُلَ رَبِّي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَبِّ سَخَّرْتَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ وَكَلَّمْتَ مُوسَى فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَلَمْ أَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَيْتُكَ وَضَالًّا فَهَدَيْتُكَ وَعَائِلًا فَأَغْنَيْتُكَ؟ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَوَدِدْتُ أَنْ لَمْ أَسْأَلْهُ [https://hadithunlocked.com/hakim:3944]

192. تَمَنَّيْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ أَسْلَمْتُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ [صحيح مسلم :96b]

193. وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي نَجَوْتُ مِنْهَا كَفَافًا لاَ لِي وَلاَ عَلَىَّ [صحيح البخاري :7218]

194. إِنِّي وَدِدْتُ أَنْ أَتَخَلَّصَ مِنْهَا لَا عَلَيَّ وَلَا لِي [https://hadithunlocked.com/ibnhibban:4478]

195. مَا زَالَ بِكُمْ صَنِيعُكُمْ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنْ سَتُكْتَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ [سنن أبي داود :1447]³⁰

196. فَزَعَمْتَ أَنْ قَدْ فَعَلَ [صحيح البخاري :2940]

197. فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا وَعَرَفْتُ أَنْ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ [صحيح مسلم :2769a]
     So I fell down prostrating and I knew that a relief had come.

198. ثُمَّ يُخَلِّلُ بِيَدِهِ شَعَرَهُ، حَتَّى إِذَا ظَنَّ أَنْ قَدْ أَرْوَى بَشَرَتَهُ، أَفَاضَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ [صحيح البخاري :272]
     Then he [would] get the water in the interstices of his hair with his hand until when he thought that he had wettened his skin, he poured on it water three times.

29.17 The lightened كَأَنْ

Similar to the lightened أَنْ, the lightened كَأَنْ has a deleted state-of-affairs pronoun as its subject and its info is sentence.

النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/303

29.18 The lightened لَـٰكِنْ

النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/304

29.19 إِنَّمَا and أَنَّمَا

النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 290

TODO

29.20 FINI

29.20.1 Difference between interpreted maṣdar and actual maṣdar

Move to chapter on subjunctive verb:

https://shamela.ws/book/150600/124#p1:

قَالَ السّهيلي: إذا قُلت: “كرهتُ خروجك” احتمل أن يكون المكروه نفس الخروج أو هيئته، وإن قلت: “كرهتُ أنْ خرجت” كان المكروه نفس الفعل

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1. See الجنى الداني 408 for an exception. See also شرح الأشمونى لألفية ابن مالك 1/204 (editor’s footnote) for another example.

2. See إعراب القرآن للدعاس for سورة فصلت 41:39 and أوضح المسالك لابن هشام 2/206 (editor’s footnote).

3. See أوضح المسالك لابن هشام 2/206 (editor’s footnote).

4. البحر المحيط لأبي حيان for سورة الحشر 59:17; معاني القرآن وإعرابه للزجاج 5/149; معاني القرآن للفراء for سورة الأعراف 7:5

5. Wright 1/293B

6. شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 1/332

7. شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/569

8. شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 1/333

9. See (with caution) also الكشاف للزمخشري for سورة البقرة 2:21 and تفسير ابن عاشور for سورة البقرة 2:21 یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعۡبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ; and تفسير ابن عاشور for سورة البقرة 2:183 یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلصِّیَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

10. ارتشاف الضرب من لسان العرب 3/1244; شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 2/464

11. شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/349

12. شرح ألفية ابن مالك للشاطبي 2/354

13. النحو الوافي 1/650; see also شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/319

14. النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/277; شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/356. Also see editor’s footnote.

15. النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/279

16. شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/376

17. النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/299

18. النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/297

19. شرح ألفية ابن مالك للعثيمين 26/6

20. النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/300

21. النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/300; شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/384

22. شرح ابن عقيل على الألفية 1/385 editors footnote

23. النحو الوافي 4/298

24. The term مخخفة is used by the authour here to mean أن الخفيفة الناصبة للمضارع as can be seen from the statement أفعال العلم واليقين والمعرفة وما جرى مجراها من أفعال التحقيق تختص به ” أنّ ” المشددة الناصبة للأسماء دون ” أن ” المخففة الناصبة للأفعال

25. شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/406

26. شرح كتاب سيبويه للسيرافي 3/407

27. شرح قطر الندى وبل الصدى 64

28. But see البحر المحيط لأبي حيان for سورة النور 24:9 for the recitation أَنْ غَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ (cited by النحو العربي: أحكام ومعان 1/301). See also تفسير ابن عاشور for سورة النور 24:9 for a counter-argument.

29. شرح ابن يعيش على المفصل 4/554 footnote 7

30. It is not clear to us why the source has سَتُكْتَبَ in the a-state.