Level B2

Emphasis and Oath (التَّوْكِيدُ وَالقَسَمُ)

Learn how to express emphasis using verbal and nominal emphatic constructions, and how to form oath sentences using وَاللَّهِ, تَاللَّهِ, and the associated grammatical rules for the oath response.

Verbal Emphasis (التَّوْكِيد اللَّفْظِيّ)

Verbal emphasis (التَّوْكِيد اللَّفْظِيّ) repeats a word or phrase to strengthen its meaning. Any part of speech can be repeated for emphasis: • Repeating a noun: الحَقَّ الحَقَّ أَقُولُ (The truth, the truth I say) • Repeating a verb: اُكْتُبْ اُكْتُبْ (Write! Write!) • Repeating a particle: لَا لَا أُرِيدُ (No, no, I don't want) • Repeating a sentence: جَاءَ الحَقُّ، جَاءَ الحَقُّ (Truth has come, truth has come) The repeated word is called تَوْكِيد لَفْظِيّ and follows the same case as the original word. It is considered تَابِع (a follower) grammatically. In Quranic Arabic, repetition is a powerful rhetorical device: • كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ (Nay, you will know. Then nay, you will know - Quran 102:3-4)

اِجْتَهِدْ اِجْتَهِدْ فِي دِرَاسَتِكَ

ijtahid ijtahid fī dirāsatika

Strive, strive in your studies

Verbal repetition for emphasis. The repeated imperative intensifies the command.

جَاءَ الحَقُّ جَاءَ الحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ البَاطِلُ

jāʾa al-ḥaqqu jāʾa al-ḥaqqu wa-zahaqa al-bāṭilu

Truth has come, truth has come, and falsehood has perished

Full sentence repetition. Based on Quran 17:81.

أَنَا أَنَا الَّذِي فَعَلْتُ ذٰلِكَ

anā anā alladhī faʿaltu dhālika

I, I am the one who did that

Pronoun repetition for emphatic self-identification.

هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ لِمَا تُوعَدُونَ

hayhāta hayhāta limā tūʿadūna

Far-fetched, far-fetched is what you are promised

Quranic repetition (23:36). هَيْهَاتَ is an exclamatory particle meaning 'how far/impossible.'

3 more sections and 5 practice questions

"Emphasis and Oath (التَّوْكِيدُ وَالقَسَمُ)" is one of 38 grammar lessons in Fahm Premium, each with worked examples and self-checking practice. The first 3 grammar lessons are free to try.

Also in this lesson

Nominal Emphasis (التَّوْكِيد المَعْنَوِيّ)
Emphasis with إِنَّ and لَـ
Oath Constructions (القَسَم)

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Frequently asked questions

What is Emphasis and Oath in Arabic?

How do you use Emphasis and Oath in Arabic?

Verbal emphasis (التَّوْكِيد اللَّفْظِيّ) repeats a word or phrase to strengthen its meaning. Any part of speech can be repeated for emphasis:

What are common examples of Emphasis and Oath in Arabic?

Examples from this lesson include "ijtahid ijtahid fī dirāsatika" (Strive, strive in your studies), "jāʾa al-ḥaqqu jāʾa al-ḥaqqu wa-zahaqa al-bāṭilu" (Truth has come, truth has come, and falsehood has perished), "anā anā alladhī faʿaltu dhālika" (I, I am the one who did that) and "hayhāta hayhāta limā tūʿadūna" (Far-fetched, far-fetched is what you are promised).