When navigating immigration and border regulations, you frequently need to cite the rules that dictate your actions. In Arabic, there are two primary ways to express "according to" or "pursuant to" in official contexts.
According to: وفقا لـ
وفقا means "according to" or "in accordance with." It is followed by the preposition لـ (to/for) to connect to the cited rule.
| according to (in accordance with) | وفقاwifqan |
When لـ attaches to a noun starting with the definite article (ال), the alif is dropped, as seen in للقانون (according to the law).
| The resident renewed the visa according to the law. | جددت المقيمة التأشيرة وفقا للقانون.jaddadati al-muqeematu at-ta'sheerata wifqan lil-qânooni |
| The consulate issued a permit for the immigrant according to the rule. | أصدرت القنصلية تصريحا للمهاجرة وفقا للقاعدة.asdaratil qunsuliyyatu tasrihan lilmuhajirati wafqan lilqa'idah |
Pursuant to: بموجب
The preposition بموجب means "pursuant to," "under," or "by virtue of." Unlike وفقا, it does not require an extra preposition. It connects directly to the following noun to form an Idafa (genitive construct).
| in accordance with | بموجبbimûjibi |
| Pursuant to the agreement, the foreigner can enter the country. | بموجب الاتفاقية، يمكن للأجنبي أن يدخل البلد.bimujabi al-ittifâqiyyah, yumkinu lil'ajnabiyyi an yadkhula al-balada. |
| Pursuant to the new rules, the immigrant requested asylum at the consulate. | بموجب القواعد الجديدة، طلبت المهاجرة اللجوء في القنصلية.bimujibi al-qawa'idi al-jadidati, talabati al-muhajiratu al-luju'a fi al-qunsuliyyati |
Stating Rules and Exceptions
Regulations rarely exist without exceptions. To state strict conditions, Arabic commonly pairs a negative word (like لا or ليس) with إلا (except) or إلا إذا (unless).
| There is no exemption for the immigrant unless he is a resident. | ليس هناك إعفاء للمهاجر إلا إذا كان مقيما.laysa hunâka i'fâ'un lil-muhâjiri illâ idhâ kâna muqîman. |
You can combine these conditional structures with authority prepositions to articulate complex regulations.
| Pursuant to the law, there is no asylum for the foreigner unless he reaches the crossing. | بموجب القانون، ليس هناك لجوء للأجنبي إلا إذا وصل إلى المعبر.bimûjibi al-qânûni, laysa hunâka lujû'un lil'ajnabiyyi illâ idhâ wasala ilâ al-ma'bari. |
| The resident will not travel except with a valid passport, according to the rule. | لن تسافر المقيمة إلا بجواز صالح وفقا للقاعدة.lan tusâfira al-muqîmatu illâ bijawâzin sâlihin wafqan lilqâ'idah |