When you need to protect a deep secret or uphold a solemn covenant, a simple promise might not be enough. In Arabic, swearing formal oaths (أسلوب القسم) is a powerful way to assert absolute truth and assure your friends that their secrets are safe.
Particles of Swearing (حروف القسم)
To swear "by" someone or something, Arabic uses three specific single-letter particles that attach directly to the beginning of a noun: و , تـ , and بـ.
Because these function grammatically just like prepositions, the noun immediately following them is forced into the genitive case.
The most common swearing particle is و. You will most frequently see it attached to the word God (الله) to mean "By God."
| By God, I did not reveal this secret to anyone. | والله لم أبح بهذا السر لأحد.wallâhi lam abuh bihâdhâ as-sirri li'ahadin |
You can also use و to swear by other revered concepts, such as the "Lord" (رب).
| By the Lord of the heaven, this betrayal has made me very angry. | ورب السماء، لقد جعلتني هذه الخيانة غاضبا جدا.wa rabbi s-samâ'i, laqad ja'alatnî hâdhihi l-khiyânatu ghâdiban jiddan. |
The Formal Particle تـ
The particle تـ has the exact same meaning, but it is highly formal and has a very specific restriction: it is ONLY ever attached to the word الله.
| By God, if I had known the truth, I would not have concealed it. | تالله لو عرفت الحقيقة ما كتمتها.tallâhi law 'araftu l-haqîqata mâ katamtuhâ |
| By God, I have never betrayed my friend. | تالله ما غدرت بصديقي أبدا.tallâhi mâ ghadartu bisadîqî abadan |
Explicit Swearing with بـ
The particle بـ can be used on its own to form an oath (بالله).
| By God, do you think I am a liar? | بالله، هل تظنني كاذبا؟billâhi, hal tazhunnunî kâdhiban? |
Additionally, بـ is the particle you must use when you want to explicitly state the verb "to swear." Whether you are using the verb أقسم or حلف, it pairs directly with بـ.
| I swear by God that I will preserve this covenant without you asking that of me. | أقسم بالله أنني سأصون هذا العهد دون أن تطلب مني ذلك.uqsimu billâhi annanî sa'asûnu hâdhâ al-ahda dûna an tatluba minnî dhâlika |
| Swear to me by God that you will not betray the promise. | احلف لي بالله أنك لن تغدر بالعهد.ihlif lî billâhi annaka lan taghdira bil-ahdi. |