Mafʿūl Muṭlaq — Absolute Object
Summary: A manṣūb noun derived from the verb itself placed after it for emphasis or specification; its deputy (نائب عن المفعول المطلق) substitutes another word in the same role.
What Is Mafʿūl Muṭlaq?
Mafʿūl muṭlaq (مَفعُولٌ مُطلَق) is a maṣdar of the verb, placed after it, always manṣūb. It serves two functions:
- Emphasis — reinforces the action: سَجَدْتُ سُجُودًا (I truly prostrated)
- Specification — limits the action: سَجَدْتُ سَجْدَةً (I made one sajda)
(source: surah_yusuf_session2.md)
Nāʾib ʿan al-Mafʿūl al-Muṭlaq — The Deputy
When a word other than the verb's own maṣdar performs the same function, it is called نائب عن المفعول المطلق (deputy for the absolute object). Still manṣūb.
Example: سَجَدْتُ وَاحِدَةً — وَاحِدَةً is not the maṣdar of سَجَدَ but deputizes for سَجْدَةً.
Example from Surah Yusuf, Ayah 1 study: (source: surah_yusuf_session2.md)
مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ ... إِلَّا كَانُوا ... كَثِيرًا
كَثِيرًا is manṣūb and deputizes for إِتْيَانًا كَثِيرًا (how frequently/how much). It specifies the degree of the action.
Pre-Verb Position for Restriction (Ḥaṣr)
Moving the mafʿūl (or its deputy) before the verb creates restriction/emphasis (حَصْر):
نَعْبُدُكَ — We worship you (neutral) إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ — It is only you we worship (mafʿūl before verb = exclusivity)
This is a key rhetorical device in the Quran. (source: surah_yusuf_session2.md)
مَا الزَّائِدَة
مَا الزَّائِدَة (redundant/extra مَا) is grammatically unnecessary but adds emphasis. The sentence is complete without it; its presence intensifies the meaning. (source: surah_yusuf_session2.md)
From Session 3 — Surah Al-Hujuraat
Two Key Identifiers
- Always manṣūb
- It is the maṣdar of the same verb — not any other maṣdar
These two features together distinguish the mafʿūl muṭlaq from a mafʿūl bih.
The Dropped Verb — Standalone Mafʿūl Muṭlaq
It is very common for the verb to be dropped because it is understood from context, leaving only the mafʿūl muṭlaq standing alone:
شُكْرًا (Shukran)
Full construction: أَشْكُرُكَ شُكْرًا — I thank you a thanking.
In practice: شُكْرًا — the verb أَشْكُرُ is dropped. شُكْرًا is the mafʿūl muṭlaq (manṣūb, from شَكَرَ). This is also more eloquent — conciseness is a feature of good Arabic style.
| Expression | Hidden Verb | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| شُكْرًا | أَشْكُرُ | I thank (you) — a thanking |
| عَفْوًا | أَعْفُو | I pardon — a pardoning |
| صَبْرًا | أَصْبِرُ | Be patient — a patience |
Application in Sūrat Al-Ḥujurāt 49:2
In the āyah:
وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُم لِبَعْضٍ
The phrase كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُم is a jarr-majrūr phrase that must attach to something. The solution: a dropped mafʿūl muṭlaq (جَهْرًا) is understood before it, and كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُم is its ṣifah (adjective):
Full grammatical form: لَا تَجْهَرُوا ... [جَهْرًا] كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُم لِبَعْضٍ
"Do not speak loudly to him [a loudness] like the loudness of some of you to one another."
From Session 4 — Surah An-Noor
Emphasis vs. Quantity
Two distinct uses of mafʿūl muṭlaq:
| Use | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis | ضَرَبَنِي ضَرْبًا — "He really hit me" | Distinguishes from casual/accidental |
| Quantity/Number | سَجَدتُ سَجدَةً — "I made one sajdah" | Specifies how many times |
Innama Does Not Always Signal Manṣūb
The particle إِنَّمَا (= only/none but) cancels the effect of إِنَّ, making the following word marfūʿ (not manṣūb). In the poetic example "old age is only for the one who crawls", the word after innama is marfūʿ.
From Session 14 — Selections from the Glorious Quran
Four Uses (Complete List)
| Use | Example | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis | ضَرَبتُهُ ضَرباً | "I really hit him" |
| Number/quantity | سَجَدتُ سَجدَةً | One prostration (how many times) |
| Type of action | مَاتَ مَوتَ الشَّهِيدِ | Death of a martyr (what kind of death) |
| Substitute for the verb | شُكراً | Verb dropped; maṣdar stands alone |
Eight Deputies of the Maṣdar
| # | Deputy | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Partials (كُلّ، بَعض، نِصف) | عَرَفتُهُ كُلَّ المَعرِفَة |
| 2 | Numbers (with tamyīz rules) | اِجلِدُوهُم ثَمَانِينَ جَلدَة |
| 3 | Naʿt/adjective (maṣdar dropped) | مَاتَ مَيِّتاً شَرِيفاً |
| 4 | Ism maṣdar | كَلَّمتُهُ كَلَاماً |
| 5 | Maṣdar muʾawwal (أَن/مَا) | أُحِبُّ أَن تَقُومَ |
| 6 | Ismu ishārah (كَذَلِكَ، هَذَا) | كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللهُ |
| 7 | Pronoun referring to implied maṣdar | اِجتَهَدتُ لَا يَجتَهِدُ مِثلَهُ |
| 8 | Synonym | عِشتُ حَيَاةً |
Session reference: Selections from the Glorious Quran Session 14b.