Question 1

Why does الإيمان have the preposition بـ attached to it if it is the subject of the verb كفى?

Accepted Answer

This is the special structure of كفى (to suffice). It frequently attaches an extra or redundant بـ to its logical subject. Even though الإيمان is doing the action (faith is what suffices), the بـ forces it into the genitive case, which is why it is read as بالإيمانِ with a kasra ending.

Question 2

Why is طمأنينة in the accusative case (ending in -an)?

Accepted Answer

It functions as an accusative of specification, known in Arabic grammar as tamyiiz. After the كفى بـ structure, an indefinite accusative noun is often used to clarify in what way the subject is sufficient. Here, it specifies that faith suffices as, or in terms of, peace of mind.

Question 3

Could this sentence be written without the بـ on الإيمان?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You could write وكفى الإيمانُ طمأنينةً where الإيمان is just a standard nominative subject. However, adding the redundant بـ is a highly frequent, elegant stylistic feature in MSA that gives a slightly more emphatic and classical tone to the sentence.

Question 4

What is the difference between السكينة and طمأنينة in this context?

Accepted Answer

They are near-synonyms used together for literary effect. السكينة often implies an active descent of calmness or stillness, especially in a spiritual sense, whereas طمأنينة refers to an ongoing state of reassurance or freedom from anxiety. The rhetorical parallel emphasizes that true peace relies on faith.

السكينة في القلب، وكفى بالإيمان طمأنينة.

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