What are the grammatical analyses (facets of i'rab) for the Almighty’s saying: "And do not boast, seeking to gain more" {Al-Muddaththir:6}, along with an explanation of the meaning of each analysis?
"Do not bestow a favor seeking to receive more in return" (wa lā tamnun tastakthir). The waw is a conjunction, and lā is a prohibitory particle. Tamnun is a jussive imperfect verb (majzūm) due to lā, and the subject pronoun is hidden, meaning "you." Tastakthir is a nominative imperfect verb (marfūʿ), and the sentence is in the accusative case as a circumstantial adverb (ḥāl), meaning: "Do not give while expecting to receive more in return." The meaning of the verse is: Do not give a gift intending to get more back from it. As for the anomalous recitation (qirāʾah shādhdhah) where tastakthir is jussive (majzūm), it allows for three interpretations: either it is a substitute for tamnun, meaning: "Do not consider what you give to be much," or it was rendered quiescent (sukkina) for the sake of a pause because it is the end of a verse, or it was rendered quiescent to conform with the rhyme of the verse endings. It could also be jussive as a response to the prohibition, meaning: if you do not bestow a favor seeking more in return, your reward will increase, similar to His (the Exalted) saying: "Do not invalidate your charities with reminders of your generosity or injury."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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