المصدر المؤوَّل — The Constructed Masdar
A مصدر مؤوَّل (constructed / interpreted masdar) is a multi-word phrase that functions grammatically as a single masdar (verbal noun). It is so called because although it is not a single word, it is interpreted (مُؤَوَّل) as one — it occupies any grammatical slot a one-word masdar can occupy.
Two Types
Type 1: أَنْ + المضارع
The particle أَنْ followed by a present-tense verb creates a constructed masdar:
أُحِبُّ أَن تَزُورَنِي — I love your visiting me.
The entire phrase أَن تَزُورَنِي is one grammatical unit — a مصدر مؤوَّل functioning as the مفعول of أُحِبُّ.
Replacement test
To confirm something is a مصدر مؤوَّل, replace it with a single masdar: أُحِبُّ زِيَارَتَكَ**. If the meaning holds and the sentence works, it was indeed a مصدر مؤوَّل.
Type 2: أَنَّ + اسمها + خبرها
The heavy particle أَنَّ with its subject and predicate also forms a constructed masdar:
بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ نَجَحتَ — The news of your success reached me.
Here أَنَّكَ نَجَحتَ is the مصدر مؤوَّل — functioning as the فاعل of بَلَغَ.
Grammatical Positions
A مصدر مؤوَّل can occupy any position a masdar can:
| Position | Example |
|---|---|
| فاعل | بَلَغَنِي أَن يَبقَى هُنَا — that he stay here reached me |
| مفعول به | أُحِبُّ أَن تَحضُرَ — I love that you attend |
| مبتدأ | أَن تَصُومَ خَيرٌ لَكَ — That you fast is better for you |
| خبر | حُلمِي أَن أَزُورَ مَكَّةَ — My dream is to visit Makkah |
| مجرور (after preposition) | سُرِرتُ بِأَن نَجَحتَ — I was pleased at your success |
The "Box" Mental Model
Think of أَن/أَنَّ + its clause as a sealed box. The outer sentence assigns a grammatical label to the box (فاعل, مفعول, etc.). When you open the box, you find a full internal clause with its own فاعل, مفعول, and so on.
Opening the box
يَسُرُّنِي أَن تَحضُرَ الدَّرسَ
Outer analysis: يَسُرُّنِي [Box: فاعل]
Inside the box: أَن + تَحضُرَ (verb, hidden فاعل = أنت) + الدَّرسَ (مفعول)
Hadith of Jibreel — A Famous Example
الإِسلامُ أَن تَشهَدَ أَن لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ... — Islam is that you testify there is no god but Allah...
Here أَن تَشهَد is the مصدر مؤوَّل, functioning as the خبر of الإِسلامُ.
Distinction: أَنْ vs. أَنَّ
| أَنْ | أَنَّ | |
|---|---|---|
| What follows | مضارع (present verb) directly | اسم + خبر (full noun-predicate clause) |
| What comes after | Verb (منصوب by أَن) | Noun as its اسم (منصوب) |
| Both produce | A مصدر مؤوَّل | A مصدر مؤوَّل |
Session References
- From Esfahaan to Madinah Session 2: introduced — أَنْ construction, box analogy, relationship to إيَّا
- From Esfahaan to Madinah Session 5: مصدر مؤوَّل as مفعول مطلق context
- From Esfahaan to Madinah Session 6: أَنَّ construction; both types compared