لن

Root entry · 9 derived lemmas

This entry discusses the Arabic particle 'lan' (لن), which functions as a particle of نصب (accusative case), نفي (negation), and استقبال (future tense). It explores its etymology, contrasting different grammatical theories about its origin and function, and clarifies its semantic scope regarding negation and its use in supplication and oaths.

Derived headwords

لَنْparticle

1.
will notboth
A particle used to negate the future tense of a verb, indicating a definitive 'will not' or 'shall not'.
2.
may you notclassical
Used in supplication (du'a) to express a plea for something not to happen.

لاparticle

1.
no, notboth
A general particle of negation, often contrasted with 'lan' in discussions of its origin.

أنْparticle

1.
toboth
A particle that, when combined with a verb, can indicate purpose or a subjunctive mood, discussed in relation to the origin of 'lan'.

أَبَدًاadverb

1.
ever, neverboth
An adverb indicating eternity or perpetuity, used here to discuss the scope of negation with 'lan'.

تَزَالُverb

1.
you continue toboth
A verb from the 'kana and its sisters' group, meaning to continue or persist in a state.

خَالِدًاadjective

1.
eternal, everlastingboth
An adjective describing something that is permanent or lasts forever.

يَصِلُverb

1.
they reachboth
The third-person masculine plural present tense verb meaning to arrive at or attain something.

يُحِلُّverb

1.
it is permissibleboth
The third-person masculine singular present tense verb meaning to be lawful or permissible.

مَنْظَرnoun

1.
sight, viewboth
A noun referring to what is seen, a spectacle, or a scene.

Parallel reading

لن: حرف نصب ونفي واستقبال، وليس أصله "لا"

'Lan': a particle that makes the following verb accusative, negates it, and indicates the future; its origin is not 'la'.

فأبدلت الألف نونا، خلافا للفراء

So the alif was changed to a noon, contrary to Al-Farra'.

ولا "لا أن"، فحذفت الهمزة تخفيفا، والألف للساكنين، خلافا للخليل والكسائي

Nor is it 'la an', where the hamza was deleted for ease, and the alif for the two silent letters, contrary to Al-Khalil and Al-Kisa'i.

ولا تفيد توكيدا للنفي ولا تأبيده، خلافا للزمخشري فيهما

It does not provide emphasis for the negation nor its perpetuity, contrary to Al-Zamakhshari in both aspects.

وهما دعوى بلا دليل

And these are claims without proof.

ولو كانت للتأبيد، لم يقيد منفيها باليوم في قوله: {فلن أكلم اليوم إنسيا}

And if it were for perpetuity, its negated object would not be restricted by 'today' in His saying: {So I will not speak to mankind today}.

ولكان ذكر الأبد في قوله تعالى: {ولن يتمنوه أبدا} تكرارا، والأصل عدمه

And mentioning 'forever' in His saying: {And they will never wish for it} would be redundant, and the principle is to avoid redundancy.

وتأتي للدعاء، كقوله: لن تزالوا كذالكم ثم لا زل ... ت لكم خالدا خلود الجبال

And it comes for supplication, as in his saying: May you not cease to be like that, then may you not be removed from you, eternal, the eternity of mountains.

قيل: ومنه: {قال رب بما أنعمت علي فلن أكون ظهيرا للمجرمين}

It is said: And from this is: {He said, 'My Lord, because of the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be a supporter of the criminals'}.

ويلقى القسم بها، كقول أبي طالب: والله لن يصلوا إليك بجمعهم

And an oath is placed with it, like the saying of Abu Talib: By God, they will not reach you with their gathering.

حتى أوسد في التراب دفينا

Until I am laid down in the earth, buried.

وقد يجزم بها، كقوله: فلن يحل للعينين بعدك منظر

And it may make the following verb jussive, as in his saying: Then no sight will be permissible to the eyes after you.