لَامُ المُزَعلَقَة — The Skidding Lam
Lām al-muzaʿlaqa (لام المزعلقة) — also called lam al-faraqa — is the lam of emphasis used together with إِنَّ to produce the highest level of emphasis in Arabic.
The name "muzaʿlaqa" (skidding) comes from the image that the lam slips/skids from the beginning of the sentence (where lam al-ibtidāʾ would normally stand) to a later position because إِنَّ has taken the front.
Three Levels of Emphasis
| Level | Structure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0. Plain | بِلَالٌ مَرِيضٌ | No emphasis |
| 1. Moderate | إِنَّ بِلَالًا مَرِيضٌ | Inna alone |
| 2. Maximum | إِنَّ بِلَالًا لَمَرِيضٌ | Inna + lam al-muzaʿlaqa |
Where Does It Attach?
The lam always attaches to whatever element comes after the ism of inna:
| Scenario | Lam Attaches To | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Khabar comes after ism (normal) | Khabar | إِنَّ زَيدًا لَقَائِمٌ |
| Khabar is fronted (before ism) | Ism of inna | إِنَّ فِي الدَّارِ لَزَيدًا |
| Ḍamīr al-faṣl is present | Ḍamīr al-faṣl | إِنَّهُ لَهُوَ الغَنِيُّ |
Key Rule
Lam al-muzaʿlaqa attaches to the element that comes later after the ism. It cannot go before the ism of inna.
Examples from the Quran
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ — Indeed Allah is free of need from the worlds.
Inna + lam al-muzaʿlaqa on khabar غَنِيٌّ.إِنَّهُ لَهُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ — Indeed it is He who is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
Lam attaches to ḍamīr al-faṣl هُوَ, not directly to the khabar.
Session References
- Surah An-Noor Session 5: Three levels of emphasis; the name "muzaʿlaqa" explained; rules for where the lam attaches; examples including khabar-first and ḍamīr al-faṣl scenarios.