Question 1

Why doesn't القاضي have a visible case vowel at the end, since it is the subject of كان?

Accepted Answer

القاضي (the judge) is a defective noun (an ism manqūṣ), meaning it ends in a fixed ـي. For these nouns, the nominative case marker (damma) and the genitive case marker (kasra) are 'assumed' or hidden because they are too heavy to pronounce. It is still grammatically in the nominative case as the subject of كان (kāna).

Question 2

Why do وصيا and عادلا end with an alif?

Accepted Answer

They form the predicate (the 'news' or khabar) of كان (kāna), which must always be in the accusative case (manṣūb). The extra alif acts as a seat for the tanwīn fatha ('-an' sound) to mark this case. عادلا (fair) is an adjective describing وصيا (executor), so it copies its accusative case.

Question 3

Why is the hamza in لأبنائه written on a little chair (ئ) instead of on the line?

Accepted Answer

This is due to Arabic spelling rules for the middle hamza. The preposition لِـ (for) puts the noun أبناء (children) in the genitive case (majrūr), so the hamza takes a kasra ('i' sound) before the suffix ـه (his). When a middle hamza is pronounced with a kasra, it must be written on a nabira (a yaa-shaped chair), changing its shape in أبنائه.

Question 4

What is the root of وصيا, and how does it relate to its meaning here?

Accepted Answer

The root is و ص ي (w-s-y), which carries the core meaning of enjoining, recommending, or making a will (like the verb أوصى, to bequeath or advise). A وصيّ is a person entrusted with a will or a child's care, which translates here as a guardian, trustee, or executor.

كان القاضي وصيا عادلا لأبنائه.

Breakdown of كان القاضي وصيا عادلا لأبنائه.

Questions & Answers about كان القاضي وصيا عادلا لأبنائه.

Learn كان القاضي وصيا عادلا لأبنائه and more in Arabic