The Imperative in Arabic (al-Amr)

The Imperative in Arabic (al-Amr) describes the ordinary linguistic system of Arabic imperative constructions. For the rhetorical device in which an imperative construction is used for a purpose other than genuinely commanding, see IMPERAT: The Imperative. That article treats the rhetorical mechanism and purposes of imperative expression in Arabic rhetoric.

Overview

From the sources

The sources identify four grammatical forms (ṣīgh) through which the Imperative is realised.

Types of Imperative

From the sources

1) fiʿl al-amr (The Imperative Verb)

The action word appears in the dedicated imperative verb form.

Source Example

يَا يَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ

O John, take the Scripture with determination
Quran 19:12

Explanation

khudh is a verb in the dedicated imperative form, addressed by God to Yaḥyā (John), illustrating the basic morphological realisation of the Imperative. Cited by al-Hāshimī as the first of the four ṣīgh immediately following his definition of the Imperative.

Constructed Example

اُدرسْ جيدًا لهذه الاختبارات!

"Study well for these exams!"

Explanation

udrus is a verb in the imperative form, directly requesting an action from the addressee.

2) al-muḍāriʿ al-majzūm bi-lām al-amr (The Jussive Present Prefixed with the Lām of Command)

A present-tense verb, prefixed with the lām of command and placed in the jussive mood.

Source Example

لِيُنْفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِن سَعَتِهِ

Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth.
Quran 65:7

Explanation

li-yunfiq is a present-tense verb prefixed by the lām of command and placed in the jussive mood, functioning as an imperative. Cited by al-Hāshimī as the second of the four ṣīgh.

Constructed Example

لِيَحْضُرْ كُلُّ طَالِبٍ فِي الْمَوْعِدِ الْمُحَدَّدِ.

"Let every student attend at the appointed time."

Explanation

li-yaḥḍur shows the jussive present verb prefixed with lām al-amr, functioning as a command directed at a third party.

3) ism fiʿl al-amr (The Imperative Verbal-Noun/Name)

A dedicated word standing in for the imperative verb, e.g. ṣah ("be silent").

Source Example

عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ

Hold fast to / attend to yourselves; he who has gone astray cannot harm you if you are rightly guided.
Quran 5:105

Explanation

ʿalaykum functions as an imperative verbal-noun/name meaning "hold fast to" or "attend to", standing in for a verb of command. Cited by al-Hāshimī as the third of the four ṣīgh.

Constructed Example

صَهْ! الاجتماعُ بدأ.

"Quiet! The meeting has begun."

Explanation

ṣah is an imperative verbal-noun/name meaning "be silent", used in place of an inflected imperative verb.

4) al-maṣdar al-nāʾib ʿan fiʿl al-amr (The Verbal Noun Substituting for the Imperative Verb)

A verbal noun (maṣdar) is used in place of the imperative verb.

Source Example

سَعْيًا فِي سَبِيلِ الْخَيْرِ

"[Strive] in the path of good."

Explanation

saʿyan is a verbal noun (maṣdar) standing in for an imperative verb such as "strive" (isʿa), illustrating the substitution of a verbal noun for the imperative verb.

Constructed Example

سَعْيًا فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ.

"[Strive] in the pursuit of knowledge."

Explanation

saʿyan is a verbal noun substituting for an imperative verb such as "strive", consistent with the mechanism attested in the sources.

See also

• IMPERAT: The Imperative — the main Encyclopedia article on the rhetorical use of imperative constructions.