5.7 - Negative of All Kinds
Section 5.7 - Particle لَا For Negative of All Kinds لَا لِلنَّفِيُّ الْجِنْسِ laa lil-nafi-ul jin-si
لَا laa is sometimes used to indicate that Noun right after it includes all kinds/any kind/any type and is always in the accusative state (نَصْبٌ nas-bun) and is used without (اَلْ al) implying that it is always an indefinite Noun (نَكِرَةٌ naki-ra-tun).
The best example for لَا laa is the first part of the kalimah لَا اِلٰهَ اَلَّا اللّٰهُ laa ilaa-ha illal-laa-hu meaning there is no god except Allah (SWT). اِلٰهَ ilaa-ha here implies no deity of any type since an indefinite Noun (نَكِرَةٌ naki-ra-tun) is used.
The way to differentiate between normal (لَا laa) and لَا لِلنَّفِيُّ الْجِنْسِ laa lin-nafi-ul jin-si is that Noun after الْجِنْسِ لَا لِلنَّفِيُّ is always accusative (نَصْبٌ nas-bun).
Other Qur’anic Examples:
1) Al-Baqara - Verse 2
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
Zaa-li-kal kitaa-bu laa rai-bafi-hi hudal lil-mut-taqee-na
This is the Book about which there is no doubt of any kind, a guidance for those conscious of Allah
2) As-Saaffaat - Verse 35
لَاإِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
Laa ilaa-ha illal lahu
There is no deity (of any kind) but Allah
3) Al-Baqara - Verse 32
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَاعِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا
Qaa-loo subha-naka laa ilma lana illa maa allam-tana
They (the angels) said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge (of any kind) except what You have taught us”.
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