Quranic Grammar Reference Companion

Seven rules. Ninety percent of the Quran. Keep this orientation close while you study — each principle is a cheat-code that unlocks a whole category of meaning.

The rule: Every Arabic word — no exceptions — belongs to one of three categories: ism (noun), fiʿl (verb), or ḥarf (particle).

Why it matters: Once you know what kind of word you're reading, every other rule becomes easier — because rules apply to types, not random words.

Examples:

• ٱللَّهُ — noun (names Allah)
• كَتَبَ — verb (he wrote — past time)
• فِي — particle (in — meaningless without what follows)

Cheat shortcut: If a word has ال or tanween, it is definitely a noun. If it has a tense prefix (يَ, تَ, نَ, أَ), it is definitely a verb.