Marfūʿāt in Arabic: The example of Surah Yusuf

In the Arabic language, the main components of a sentence are musnad (the predicate) and musnad ilayh (the subject). These two primary elements consist of the verb and the subject (fāʿil) in verbal sentences, while in nominal sentences, they are composed of the topic (mubtadaʾ) and the predicate (khabar). These elements belong to the category of marfūʿāt (nominally inflected words), which form the foundational topics of Arabic grammar. In this respect, marfūʿāt constitute the basis of syntax (naḥw). The focus of our research, marfūʿāt, is the most important of the four types of inflection (iʿrāb). The topics covered under marfūʿāt include the subject (fāʿil), the substitute subject (nāʾib al-fāʿil), the topic (mubtadaʾ), the predicate (khabar), the noun of kāna and its sisters, the predicate of inna and its sisters, the noun of qāda and its sisters, the noun of mā and lā resembling laysa, the predicate of the negating lā, and the vocative types such as the proper noun (mufrad ʿalam) and the intended indefinite (nakira maqṣūda). These elements form the core components of a sentence. On the other hand, topics such as the direct object (mafʿūl bih), the adverbial object (mafʿūl fīh), the purposive object (mafʿūl li-ajlih), the absolute object (mafʿūl muṭlaq), the comitative object (mafʿūl maʿah), the specifying noun (tamyīz), and the circumstantial qualifier (ḥāl) fall under manṣūbāt (accusatively inflected words) and constitute the secondary elements of a sentence. This study is limited to marfūʿāt and does not cover other types of inflection. In this study, the marfūʿ elements in Sūrat Yūsuf are identified and analyzed, with examples provided from the verses for each topic. In cases where numerous examples exist, only ten have been selected for brevity. The first section of the study discusses the definition, significance, types, and markers of iʿrāb, providing general background information. Subsequently, the topics related to marfūʿāt in Arabic are briefly examined with examples. The second section begins with an overview of Sūrat Yūsuf, followed by the identification and analysis of the marfūʿ elements found in the surah. The verses containing these elements are examined, and statistical data on their frequency of occurrence are presented.