The Governors

By
Zaynud-Din Muhammad ibn Bir Ali
al-Birgivi

Translated
by
Amienoellah Abderoef


In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
All Praise be to Allah, the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds. Blessings and
Peace be upon our Master Muhammad and all of his family (and companions).
Thereafter, know that it is incumbent on everyone who desires to know
(the science and art of syntactic analysis) to know a hundred things:
Sixty of which are called ( governor i.e. that which causes the ending
of another word to change),
Thirty of which are called ( governed / governee i.e. the word whose
ending is changed by the governor) and
Ten of which are called ( \ governing effect / declension i.e. the
particular change that is effected by the
at the end of the ) .
I will explain to you with Allahs Permission these three (categories) briefly
in three sections:

Section One: The Governor

()
It is of two types:

( i.e. a concrete word) and

( i.e. an abstract idea).

1 The

constitutes two groups:

(i.e. it is confined to oral

transmission and hearsay) and

( i.e. it follows a rule instead of being

confined to oral transmission and hearsay).
The

comprises forty-nine (words) and its classes are five:

1.1

The first class constitutes particles which cause only one

, and are called

and

particles), and they are twenty:
1)

"

(with, through, by means), like:

"

(I believe in Allah and, By Him! I will be raised)

2)

"

(from, of), like:

"

(I repented from every sin)

3)

(to, towards), like:

"

"

(I turn to Allah Most High in repentance)

4)

(from, about, of), like:

"

"

(I was restrained from what is unlawful)

5)

"

(on, on top), like:

"

(Repentance is incumbent on every sinner)

to become

(prepositions / genitive

6)

"

(for, belonging to, to), like:

"

(I am a small and insignificant servant of Allah Most High)

7)

(in, at), like:

"

"

(The obedient one is in Paradise)

8)

(like, same as), like:

[



(There is nothing like unto Him)
9)

"

(until, up to including), like:

"

(I will worship Allah until death)

10)
( perhaps, sometimes), like:
"

"

(Perhaps there is a reader whom the Quran curses)

11)

"

(the
indicating oath i.e. by), like:

"

(By Allah, I will never perform major / grave sins)

12)

((the indicating oath i.e. by), like:

"

"

(By Allah, I will perform the obligatory acts_

13)

(except, excluding), like:
"

"
4

(All the people are doomed except the learned person)

14)
(since, from the time), like:
"

"

(I repented from every sin I performed since puberty)

15)
(since, from the time), like:
"

"

(Ritual prayer is compulsory since the day of puberty)

16)

(except, excluding), like:

"

"

(The learned people are doomed except the one who acts in accordance with
his knowledge)
17)
(except, excluding), like:
"

"

[All those who act (in accordance with their knowledge) are doomed except the
sincere person]
18)
( had it not been for, if it was not for, was it not for), like:
"

"

(Had it not been for You O Mercy of Allah then all the people would have
been doomed)
19)
( for), like:
"

"

(For what i.e. Why did you disobey?)

20)
( hopefully) in the dialect of Uqail, like:
"

"

(Hopefully, Allah Most High will forgive my sin)






(particles that govern the

in the case of
and the
in the case of ) and they are

The second class is

eight (particles):
1)

(indeed, truly, definitely), like:

"

"

(Indeed, Allah the Most High knows everything)

2)

(that, to), like:

"

"

(I believe that Allah Most High has power over everything)

3)

"

(as if), like:

"

(As if the unlawful is fire)

4)

"

(but), like:

"

(The ignorant person is not victorious but the learned person is victorious)
5)

"

(how I wish), like:

"

[How I wish that knowledge was a means of subsistence provided to everyone]

6)

"

(hopefully), like:

"

(Hopefully Allah Most High will forgive my sin)

These six (particles) are called
likened to the verb).
7)

(the particles that are

" ] "

( "" i.e. but) used in a sentence where the
object is different in kind from the whole from which it is excluded], like:
6

"

"

[Disobedience distances from Paradise but obedience brings (one) close to it]
8)

" ]"


( "" i.e. No) used to deny the whole genus / class in the
absolute sense], like:

"

"

(No doer of evil is victorious)

(two particles that govern

in the case of and the

in the case of
), and they

The third class is

the
are:

1)
(not)
and
2)
(not)
(both of) which are likened to
"

(in meaning and function), like for example:

"

(Allah Most High is not firmly located/positioned in a place)

"

"

(Nothing resembles Allah Most High)

(particles

in the case of
), and they are four particles:

The fourth class is

1)

"

(to, that), like:

"

(I love to obey Allah Most High)

2)

(will / shall never), like:

"

"

(Allah Most High will never forgive the unbelievers)

that govern the

3)

"

[(in order) to, that], like:

"

(I love long life in order that I may acquire knowledge)

4)

(In that case), like when you say:

"

"

(In that case you will enter Paradise)

(in response) to someone who says:
"

"

(I obey Allah Most High)

The fifth class constitutes

1)

in the case of

) , and they are fifteen (words):

(did not, has / have not), like His Statement:

[
(He does not give birth nor was He given birth to)
2)

(did not yet, has / have not yet), like:

"

"

(My life has not been of benefit yet)

3)

"

(the
denoting a command), like:

"

(Let him do righteous deeds)

4) "

"

(words that govern the

"

(the "
" used for prohibition), like:

"

(Do not sin)

these four cause one to be

,
8

5) "
( "if , ), like:
"

"

(If you repent your sins will be forgiven)

6)

"

(whatever ... , ), like:

"

(Whatever you do, you will be asked about)

7)

"

(whatever , ), like:

"

(Whatever you do of good you will find it with Allah)

8) "
( "whoever , ), like:
"

"

(Whosoever does righteous works will be successful)

9) "
( "wherever , ), like:
"

"

(Wherever you are death will overtake you)

10)
(whenever , ), like:
"

"

(Whenever you show jealousy you will be doomed)

11) ( wherever , ), like:
"

"

(Wherever you sin, Allah knows you Most High)

12)
( whichever , ), like:





"

"

(Whichever scholar is arrogant, Allah Most High hates him)

13)

(wherever , ), like:
"

"

(Wherever you do something your action will recorded)

14)
( whenever , .), like:
"

( " Whenever you repent, your repentance will be accepted)

15)
( whenever , ), like:
"

"

(Whenever you act according your knowledge, you will be the best of people)
These eleven cause two

to be

which are called "

"

(condition) and "

" (response / result of the condition) respectively.

1.2

The

comprises nine (categories):

1) The
like:
"

generally speaking; for every

makes

and

"

(Allah Most High created everything)

"

"

(The Quran came down definitely)

to have a and if the sentence is complete

) then it (i.e. the ) is called "( " a

It is necessary for every

with it (i.e. with that
complete verb), like:
"

"

(Allah Most High knows)

10

and if the sentence is not complete with it but instead requires a

, it (i.e. the ) is called "

that is

( "an incomplete verb), like:

"

"

(Allah Most High is All-knowing, All-wise)

"

"

(The disobedient one has become deserving of punishment)

"

"

(The sinner continues to be distant from Allah Most High)

"

"

(Repentance is accepted for as long as the soul is inside the body)

"

"

(Allah Most High is not a body)

( Active
which is
, like:

2) The

"

Participle); for it performs the

of its

of its

"

(Every jealous person s jealousy burns down his action)

( Passive
which is

, like:

3) The

"

Participle); for it performs the

"

(Every one that repents his repentance is accepted)

)

( )Descriptive noun

) , for it also performs the of its , like:

4) The

"

resembling the

"

(Worship has a good reward)

5) The

, for it also performs the

of its , like:

11

"

"

(There is no man in whom clemency is better than the scholar)

6) The

(Infinitive / Verbal Noun), for it also performs the

of its

, like:

"

"

(Allah Most High loves his servant to give a dirham for His Sake)
7) The
( Annexed Noun), for it also performs the of
, like:

"

"

(Worshiping Allah Most High is good)

of
, like:

8) The

"

(Complete Vague Noun), for it also performs the

"

(Tarawih is twenty bowings)

9)

( Verbal Meaning), that is, every word from which the meaning of
a is understood, like:

"

"

(Distant is the sinner from the Mercy of Allah Most High)

"

"

(Abandon sinning)
"

"

(There is no peace of mind in this Life)

"

"

(It is necessary for the scholar to be Muhammadi / Muhammad-like in his

character
2.

The
is of two (types):
12

2.1 The

"

(that which causes the

and

to be

), like:

(



)
"

[Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah]

2.2

The

), like:

"

"

(that which causes the

(Allah Most High shows mercy to the one who repents)

13

to be

Section Two: The Governed / Governee

()

It is of two kinds:

( governed directly) and
(governed by succession), that is, its declension is the same as the declension
of its
( the noun which it follows).
The first kind (i.e. the

,
,

, and
which is

) is of four types:

(the latter of) which is specific to the

specific to the .
As for the
it comprises nine (things):
1.

The
( Doer / Subject of the Verbal Sentence), like:

"

"

(Allah Most High showed mercy to the one who repents / May Allah Most
High show mercy to the one who repents)
2.

The

(Agent of the Doer), like:

"

( "The one who repented was shown mercy to / May the one who
repents be shown mercy to)
3.

The
( Subject of the Nominal Sentence), and

4.

the
( Predicate)

"

"

(Muhammad On him be Peace and Blessings is the Seal of the Prophets

and Messengers)
5.

The

"

"
"

(Noun of "
"and its Sisters), like:

"

(Allah Most High is All-knowing and All-wise)

14

6.

The

"

"

"
"

(Predicate of "
"and its Sisters), like:

(The Resurrection is real)

7.

The


""
(Predicate of " "used for the absolute
negation of the genus), like:

"

"

(The deeds of the show-off will not be accepted)

8.

"

"" ""
( "Noun of " "and " "which are
likened to "
) ", like:
The

"

"

(Arrogance is not befitting for the scholar)

"

"

(Jealousy is not lawful)

9.

is stripped of the
and
) , like:
The

"

(the

"

(Allah loves humbleness / humility)

As for the
1.

The

"

it comprises thirteen (things):

(Absolute / Unrestricted Object), like:

"

(I made sincere repentance)

2.

The

"

(Direct Object), like:

"

(I worship Allah Most High)

15

that

3.

The

"

(Adverbial Object), like:

"

(Fast the month of Ramadhan)

4.

The

"

(Object of Purpose / Reason), like:

"

(Do deeds seeking the pleasure of Allah Most High)

5.

The

"

(Object of Accompaniment), like:

"

(Wealth will perish and you will remain with your deeds)
6.

The
( State / Condition), like:

"

"

(Worship Allah Most High fearing and hoping)

7.

The

"

(Specification), like:

"

(The scholar is good in ibadah)

8.

The

"

(Exceptive / Noun Excluded), like:

"

(The people will enter Paradise except the unbeliever)

9.

The
"

"

" (Predicate of the Class of "

"verbs), like:

"

(The angels are the servants of Allah Most)

10. The
"
"

( "Noun of the Class of "
"particles),like:

"

16

[Truly, the questioning (on the Day of Judgment) is real]

11. The



genus), like:
"

" "

(Noun of "
" for the absolute negation of the

"

(The obedience of the backbiter is not accepted)

"

"" ""
"
are likened to "
) ", like:

12. The

"

(Predicate of "
" and " "that

"

(Backbiting is not lawful)

"

"

(Slandering is not permissible)

( the

that has one of the
preceding and governing it), like:

13. The

"

"

(I love that my sins would be forgiven)

As for the

it comprises two (things):
1.

the

( the Noun governed in the case of
means of the genitive particle / preposition), like:

"

by

"

(Do deeds with sincerity)

2.

the


( the Noun governed in the case of
of annexation), like:

"

"

(The sin of the servant blackens his heart)

17

by means

As for the

it comprises one (thing only):

( the

one of the

preceding and governing it), like:
The

"

that has

"

(If you are sincere your deeds will be accepted)

The second kind (i.e. the

) is of five types:

The first is the

( attributive adjective), like:
"

( "Worship Allah, the Magnifecent)

The second is
1.

(conjunction) by means of one of the ten

the
( and), like:

"

"

(Obey Allah and the Messenger)

2.

the ( immediately after), like:

"

"

(The Takbirah of Consecration is compulsory, then the standing position)

3.

"

(after awhile), like:

"

(Knowledge is compulsory then action)

4.

"

(even, until, up to including), like:

"

(People are mortal and will die even the Prophets May Peace and Blessings
be upon them)
5.

(or), like:

18

"

"

[Prayer the Dawn prayer four or eight (bowings)]

6.

(or), like:

"

"

(Do either what is compulsory or what is highly recommended)

7.

(or), like:

"

"

(Is it the Pleasure of Allah that you seek or His Anger)

8.

"

"

(not), like:

(Do what is righteous not what is evil)

9.

"

"

(even better, rather, instead), like:

(Seek what is lawful even better the good things)

10.

"

(but), like:

"

(Showing-off is not lawful but sincerity is)

The third is the ( corroboration), like:
"

"

(Seek sincerity sincerity)

"

"

(Abandon sin, all of it)

The fourth is the ( Substitute), like:

19

"

"

(Worship Allah, your Lord and Cherisher)

"

"

(Hate the people, those who disobey Allah amongst them)

"

"

(Protect Allah Most High His Right)

The fifth is the

"

(Explicative / Explanatory Apposition)

"

(We believe in our Prophet, Muhammad Upon him be Peace and Blessings)

20

Section Three: The Governing Effect / Declension

() \

It is either a

(vowel), a
(letter/consonant) or

(omission).

The
constitutes three (things):
1.

2.

3.

The

constitutes four (things)

1.

2.

3.

4.

constitutes three (things) that are specific to the al-fil:

1.

(omission of the vowel)

2.

(omission of the letter)

3.

(omission of the
) . The sum total is ten.

The types of
( declinable word) with reference to what they have been
afforded of these ten (signs) are nine, because their declension is either by
means of


( i.e. pure vowel-markings), or


( i.e.

or by means of

( vowel-markings plus omission) or



(letters plus omission) which are specific to the .
pure letters) which are specific to the

The first (i.e. that which is declined by means of

21

) is either:

( complete in its declension) by being with the ,


with
and
with the
and that is the

( fully-declinable singular noun), like:

"

"

(The Messenger Upon him be Peace came to us)

"

"

(We believe the Messenger Upon him be Peace)

"

"

(We believe in the Messenger Upon him be Peace)

"

"

(Books descended from Heaven)

"

"

(We believe the Books)

"

"

(We believe in the Books)

(incomplete in its declension), which is of two groups: a

group which is

"

with the

, like:

"

(Ahmad Upon him be Peace came to us)

"

"

(We believe Ahmad Upon him be Peace)

"

"

(We believe in Ahmad Upon him be Peace)

22

and

with the

and a group which is

with the

and

with

the

, like:
"

"

(Miracles came to us)

"

"

(We believe Miracles)

"

"

(We believe in Miracles)

The second (i.e. that which is declined by means of

) is either:

( complete in its declension), by being with the ,

with the and

with the and that is the




( i.e.
the six weak-ended nouns annexed to a noun other than the of the
first person singular and which are singular and non-diminutive), and they
are:
( his father),
( his brother),
(her in-law), ( his
shameful object),
wealthy), like:
"

(his mouth) and

(possessor of wealth i.e.

"

(The Father of Qasim Upon him be Peace came to us)

"

"

(We believe Father of Qasim Upon him be Peace)

"

"

(We believe in Father of Qasim Upon him be Peace)

(incomplete in its declension), which are two groups:

23

 with the
, and
with the
, which is the

(sound masculine plural) as well as "
"and "


" and its sisters, like:

(a) a group which is

"

"

(The Messengers Upon them be Peace came to us)

"

"

(We believe the Messengers Upon them be Peace)

"

"

(We believe in the Messengers Upon them be Peace)

with the
, and
with the
( dual) as well as "
"and "
"annexed to a

(b) a group which is

, which is the

( personal pronoun), like:

"

"

(The two, both of them, came), that is, the Book and the Sunnah
"

"

(We follow the two, both of them)

"

"

(We act according to the two, both of them)

The third (i.e. that which is declined by means of


complete in its declension, and comprises two groups:

) is only

with the
,
with the
and

with the

(omission of the vowel), which is the

( i.e. the

that does not have a personal pronoun attached at its ending with the

(a) a group which is

latter being a strong letter), like:

"

"

24

[We would like that you (O Muhammad) intercede (for us) and that we not be
deprived)

with the
,
with the
and

with the

(omission of the ending), which is the

( i.e. the

that does not have a personal pronoun attached at its ending with the

(b) a group which is

latter being a weak letter), like:

"

"

(We beseech Allah Most High to pardon us and not cast us in the Fire)
The

fourth

is

only

incomplete

in

its

declension,

which is the
( i.e. the

that has a personal pronoun that is other than the

attached at its ending). It is
with the , and
and

with the

, like:
"

"

[The Friends (of Allah) and Scholars will intercede on the Day of Resurrection,
so we hope that they will intercede for us and not turn away from us]

( declension) if it is evident in ( oral expression) it

is called

( orally expressed / explicit), like in the case of the previous

examples, and if it is not evident in but instead is implied at its ending
it is called
( implied / implicit), like:
Thereafter,

"

"

(I am the one that is disobedient)

and if it is not evident at its ending (whether in

(place-related), like:

"

"

or

) it is called

(We put our trust in the One from Whose Direction alone Good comes)
End

25

26