Sara C. answered • 08/13/19
Arabic language with 4+ Years of Teaching Experience
In Arabic, a noun can be in one of three cases of E'raab إعراب (which is something related to grammar and context, affects tashkeel, spelling, and pronunciation): raf' (the noun is then called marfoo'), nasb (mansoob), and jur (majroor).
Since E'raab is related to context, then it changes according to meaning. For example, according to if the noun is the subject (actor) the verb, or the object the verb. A subject of the verb is usually marfoo', while the object of the verb is usually mansoob. (The meaning of the noun itself is not changed, but the meaning of the context is changed, I'll give some examples below).
On the other hand, a noun can be in one of three count cases:
- Singular: In our example it's كافر (pronounced Kafir in the silence form, which means the noun ends with neither damma, nor fatha, nor kasra, but silence). In this case, the E'raab case changes only the tashkeel and pronounciation of the noun; If the noun is marfoo' then it ends with damma كافرُ (damma is a light pronounced O); if majroor it ends with kasra كافرِ (kasra is a light pronounced E); if mansoob it ends with fatha كافرَ (fatha is a light pronounced A). In fact it's difficult to write the pronounciations in English letters here.
- Dual, in this case the noun referes to two enitites, this doesn't exist in english, instead plural is used. The E'raab case mainly changes the spelling of the noun here, it attaches either Alef and Noon ان or Yaa and Noon ين to the end of the singular form of the noun. If the noun is marfoo' then Alef and Noon ان is attached, so in our example it becomes كافران (Kafiraan); if the noun is mansoob or majroor, then Yaa and Noon ين is attached, and the final letter of the singular form has a fatha, so in our exmaple it becomes كافرَين (Kafirain).
- Plural, in this case the noun referes to three or more. Just like in english, plural can be either regular prular or irreular prular:
- Irregular plural (called jam' Takseer جمع تكسير in Arabic) has no general rule in Arabic (like in English), an example is that Kafir كافر does has an Irregular plural form, and it's كُفّار Kuffar. Irregular plurals are treated in matter of E'raab just like singular nouns.
- Regular plural can be either masculine or feminine:
- Feminine regular plural جمع مؤنث سالم: it's formed by attaching Alef and Taa ات to the end of the singular noun, in our example it becomes كافرات (Kafiraat in the silence form). The E'raab case changes the tashkeel and pronounciation: if the noun is marfoo' then it ends with damma كافراتُ, if mansoob or majroor then it ends with kasra كافراتِ.
- Masculine regular plural جمع مذكر سالم: THIS IS WHAT WE WANT (FINALLY :D) The E'raab case mainly changes the spelling of the noun here, it attaches either Wao and Noon ون or Yaa and Noon ين to the end of the singular form of the noun. If the noun is marfoo' then Wao and Noon ون is attached, so in our example it becomes كافرون (Kafiroon); if the noun is mansoob or majroor then Yaa and Noon ين is attached, and the last letter in the singular form has kasra, so in our example it becomes كافرِين (Kafireen).
Examples of how :
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ
Sahih International
Say, "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away - then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers (Kafireen).
Surat 'Āli `Imrān - 32
In the above Aya, Kafireen is the object of the verb "like".
يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ
Sahih International
They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers (Kafiroon) dislike it.
Surat At-Tawbah - 32.
In the above Aya, Kafiroon is the subject of the verb "dislike".
Hope that's clarifying enough (and sorry for writing a journal!).
