A Conversational Course in Qur'ānic Arabic
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Part 5 · Chapter Thirty-Nine · Form III — فَاعَلَ

فَاعَلَ

Form III — Doing It With Someone

Form III lengthens the vowel after a root's first letter — جَاهَدَ, سَافَرَ, قَاتَلَ — and that long ا almost always signals an action involving another party: doing something with, to, or against someone else. It's the verb form behind جِهَاد and مُجَاهِد, words you've certainly heard, now placed in their proper grammatical family.

Every Arabic passage has a small circle button — click it to hear it read aloud using your browser's own Arabic voice.

BY THE END OF THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

TEACHER NOTES
Pacing: 40 min
Prerequisite check: Form II (Chapter Thirty-Eight) for pattern contrast.
Watch out for: Form III's ‘doing something to/with someone’ sense is the trickiest of the ten forms to gloss cleanly in English.
01 — THE FULL PICTURE, FIRST

رُكْنُ الْقَوَاعِدِGrammar Corner

Nine word-forms, one root.

Perfect (active)Imperfect (active)Active participlePerfect (passive)Imperfect (passive)Passive participleMaṣdar (verbal noun)Imperative (positive)Imperative (negative)
جَاهَدَ
jāhada
he strove
يُجَاهِدُ
yujāhidu
he strives
مُجَاهِدٌ
mujāhid
one who strives
جُوهِدَ
jūhida
striving was done against him
يُجَاهَدُ
yujāhadu
striving is being done against him
مُجَاهَدٌ
mujāhad
one against whom striving is done
جِهَادٌ / مُجَاهَدَةٌ
jihād / mujāhadah
striving, struggle
جَاهِدْ
jāhid
strive!
لَا تُجَاهِدْ
lā tujāhid
don't strive!
Root ج-ه-د, Form III — جَاهَدَ ‘to strive’

The ‘with/against another party’ meaning. Where Form II's doubling often causes a state in someone else, Form III's long ا typically involves doing the action together with, toward, or against another person.

قَتَلَ (I) → قَاتَلَ (III)
qatala → qātala
he killed → he fought (an opponent, mutual combat)

Form III's maṣdar has two common shapes: مُفَاعَلَةٌ (مُجَاهَدَةٌ) or فِعَالٌ (جِهَادٌ) — both are valid and you'll see either depending on the root.

Quick check: what does the long ا after a root's first letter usually signal in Form III? (An action involving another party — with, toward, or against someone.)

02 — LISTEN & REPEAT

حِوَارٌDialogue

Yūsuf and Maryam talk about effort and travel, both Form III concepts. Listen twice, then read aloud.

MARYAM
هَلْ سَافَرْتَ كَثِيرًا هَذَا الْعَامَ؟
hal sāfarta kathīran hādha-l-‘ām?
Have you travelled a lot this year?
YŪSUF
سَافَرْتُ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَقَطْ، لَكِنِّي جَاهَدْتُ نَفْسِي كَثِيرًا فِي الدِّرَاسَةِ.
sāfartu marratayni faqaṭ, lākinnī jāhadtu nafsī kathīran fi-d-dirāsah.
I only travelled twice, but I struggled against myself a lot in my studies.
MARYAM
الْمُجَاهَدَةُ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ عِبَادَةٌ.
al-mujāhadatu fī ṭalabi-l-‘ilmi ‘ibādah.
Striving in the pursuit of knowledge is worship.
YŪSUF
صَحِيحٌ، وَحَاوَلْتُ أَلَّا أُقَاطِعَ دِرَاسَتِي أَبَدًا.
ṣaḥīḥ, wa ḥāwaltu allā uqāṭi‘a dirāsatī abadan.
True, and I tried never to interrupt my studies.
03 — CORE WORDS

الْمُفْرَدَاتُVocabulary

Notice the long ا after the first root letter in every one of these — that's Form III's signature.

ArabicSaysMeaningNote
NEWجَاهَدَ / يُجَاهِدُ jāhada / yujāhiduhe strove, struggled / he strivesRoot ج-ه-د — gives جِهَاد and مُجَاهِد.
NEWسَافَرَ / يُسَافِرُ sāfara / yusāfiruhe travelled / he travelsRoot س-ف-ر.
NEWقَاتَلَ / يُقَاتِلُ qātala / yuqātiluhe fought (someone) / he fightsRoot ق-ت-ل — compare قَتَلَ (I), ‘he killed.’
REVIEWحَاوَلَ / يُحَاوِلُ ḥāwala / yuḥāwiluhe tried / he triesYou've used this verb since much earlier in the course.
NEWقَاطَعَ / يُقَاطِعُ qāṭa‘a / yuqāṭi‘uhe interrupted / he interruptsRoot ق-ط-ع.
NEWمُجَاهِدٌ mujāhidone who strivesActive participle, Form III pattern مُفَاعِلٌ.
NEWعِبَادَةٌ ‘ibādahworship—
NEWنَفْسٌ nafsself, soulجَاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ — he struggled against himself.

Also in this chapter's dialogue and reading.

ArabicSaysMeaningNote
EARLYسَبِيلٌsabīla way, a path—
EARLYالْكَسَلُal-kasallaziness—
04 — READING THE SOURCE

وَقْفَةٌ قُرْآنِيَّةٌQur'ān Connection

A verse using the Form III verb at the very heart of this chapter, describing sincere effort.

SŪRAT AL-‘ANKABŪT — 29:69
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا
And those who strive for Us — We will surely guide them to Our ways.
وَالَّذِينَ
wa-lladhīna
and those who
جَاهَدُوا فِينَا
jāhadū fīnā
strove for/in Us
لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ
lanahdiyannahum
We will surely guide them
سُبُلَنَا
subulanā
Our ways
جَاهَدُوا is the exact Form III perfect verb from this chapter, ‘they-plural’ form. This root ج-ه-د appears throughout the Qur'ān describing sincere, effortful striving — not necessarily armed conflict, but any serious struggle in the path of good.
05 — SAY IT LIKE A NATIVE

عِبَارَاتٌ يَوْمِيَّةٌEveryday Phrases

Everyday phrases built from Form III verbs.

حَاوِلْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
ḥāwil marratan ukhrā — try again
سَافَرَ بِأَمَانٍ
sāfara bi-amān — he travelled safely
جَاهِدْ نَفْسَكَ
jāhid nafsak — struggle against yourself
لَا تُقَاطِعْنِي
lā tuqāṭi‘nī — don't interrupt me
رَافَقَنِي فِي الرِّحْلَةِ
rāfaqanī fi-r-riḥlah — he accompanied me on the trip
عَامَلَنِي بِلُطْفٍ
‘āmalanī bi-luṭf — he treated me kindly
شَارَكَنِي فِي الْعَمَلِ
shārakanī fi-l-‘amal — he shared the work with me
بِالتَّوْفِيقِ فِي مُحَاوَلَتِكَ
bi-t-tawfīq fī muḥāwalatik — good luck in your attempt
SKILLS PRACTICE

الِاسْتِمَاعُListening

Audio track 39.1

Aḥmad and Salmā talk about an upcoming trip. Listen first, script second.

AḨMAD
سَأُسَافِرُ الْأُسْبُوعَ الْقَادِمَ لِزِيَارَةِ جَدِّي.
SALMĀ
مَنْ سَيُرَافِقُكَ؟
AḨMAD
أَبِي، وَسَنُحَاوِلُ أَنْ نَصِلَ قَبْلَ الْمَغْرِبِ.
SALMĀ
جَاهِدْ نَفْسَكَ لِتَنَامَ مُبَكِّرًا اللَّيْلَةَ إِذًا!
  1. Where is Aḥmad travelling to?
  2. Who will accompany him?
  3. What does Salmā advise him to do?
Reveal answers
1. To visit his grandfather.   2. His father.   3. To make himself sleep early tonight.
SKILLS PRACTICE

التَّحَدُّثُSpeaking

Pair work

Partner drill. Use حَاوَلَ or سَافَرَ to describe something you tried or somewhere you travelled recently.

LettersWord 1Word 2Tip
قَتَلَ vs قَاتَلَقَتَلَقَاتَلَThe long ا after the first letter is the entire difference between ‘he killed’ (I) and ‘he fought’ (III, mutual combat).
SKILLS PRACTICE

الْقِرَاءَةُReading

Read silently, then aloud

Read once for meaning, then aloud.

جَاهَدَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ الْأَوَائِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ. سَافَرَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى بِلَادٍ بَعِيدَةٍ لِنَشْرِ الْعِلْمِ. حَاوَلْتُ أَنْ أَقْتَدِيَ بِهِمْ فِي جِهَادِي الْخَاصِّ ضِدَّ الْكَسَلِ. الْمُجَاهَدَةُ الْحَقِيقِيَّةُ تَبْدَأُ مِنَ النَّفْسِ.
1) بِمَاذَا جَاهَدَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ الْأَوَائِلُ؟
2) لِمَاذَا سَافَرَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ؟
3) مِنْ أَيْنَ تَبْدَأُ الْمُجَاهَدَةُ الْحَقِيقِيَّةُ؟
Reveal answers
1. أ — بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ   2. ب — لِنَشْرِ الْعِلْمِ   3. ب — مِنَ النَّفْسِ
SKILLS PRACTICE

الْكِتَابَةُWriting

On paper or in your notebook

Sentence building. Put these words in the correct order, then translate.

  1. اللَّهِ   سَبِيلِ   فِي   جَاهَدَ   الْمُسْلِمُونَ
  2. الْعِلْمِ   لِنَشْرِ   سَافَرُوا
  3. النَّفْسِ   مِنَ   تَبْدَأُ   الْمُجَاهَدَةُ

Guided writing. Write three sentences using جَاهَدَ, سَافَرَ, and حَاوَلَ about your own efforts and travels.

06 — CHAPTER EXERCISES

التَّدْرِيبَاتُExercises

1اخْتَرِ الْإِجَابَةَ الصَّحِيحَةَChoose the correct answer
1. Form III is formed by:
2. Form III's meaning usually involves:
3. مُجَاهِدٌ is:
4. جَاهَدُوا فِينَا in 29:69 means:
Reveal answers
1. b   2. b   3. b   4. b
2صِلْ كُلَّ كَلِمَةٍ بِمَعْنَاهَاMatch each item to its meaning
  1. جَاهَدَ
  2. سَافَرَ
  3. قَاتَلَ
  4. حَاوَلَ
  5. قَاطَعَ
  1. he interrupted
  2. he tried
  3. he fought
  4. he travelled
  5. he strove
Reveal answers
1–e, 2–d, 3–c, 4–b, 5–a
3تَرْجِمْ إِلَى الْإِنْجِلِيزِيَّةِTranslate into English

Self-check — type your answer, then compare with the model answer below. This one isn’t scored.

  1. جَاهَدْتُ نَفْسِي فِي الدِّرَاسَةِ.
  2. سَافَرْتُ مَرَّتَيْنِ هَذَا الْعَامَ.
  3. حَاوَلْتُ أَلَّا أُقَاطِعَ دِرَاسَتِي.
  4. جَاهَدُوا فِينَا.
Reveal answers
1. I struggled against myself in my studies.
2. I travelled twice this year.
3. I tried not to interrupt my studies.
4. They strove for Us.
4تَرْجِمْ إِلَى الْعَرَبِيَّةِTranslate into Arabic

Self-check — type your answer, then compare with the model answer below. This one isn’t scored.

  1. He struggled against himself.
  2. I will travel next week.
  3. Try again.
Reveal answers
١) جَاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ.
٢) سَأُسَافِرُ الْأُسْبُوعَ الْقَادِمَ.
٣) حَاوِلْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى.
5أَكْمِلِ الْحِوَارَComplete the dialogue
Word bank: سَافَرْتَ — سَافَرْتُ — جَاهَدْتُ — أُقَاطِعَ
مريم: هَلْ كَثِيرًا هَذَا الْعَامَ؟
يوسف: مَرَّتَيْنِ فَقَطْ، لَكِنِّي نَفْسِي فِي الدِّرَاسَةِ.
يوسف: حَاوَلْتُ أَلَّا دِرَاسَتِي.
Reveal answers
سَافَرْتَ — سَافَرْتُ — جَاهَدْتُ — أُقَاطِعَ
6صَحِيحٌ أَمْ خَطَأٌ؟True or false? (based on the reading passage)
يُوسُفُ سَافَرَ كَثِيرًا جِدًّا هَذَا الْعَامَ.true / false
يُوسُفُ جَاهَدَ نَفْسَهُ فِي الدِّرَاسَةِ.true / false
مَرْيَمُ تَقُولُ إِنَّ طَلَبَ الْعِلْمِ لَيْسَ عِبَادَةً.true / false
Reveal answers
1. False — only twice.   2. True.   3. False — she says it is worship.
SKILLS PRACTICE

قِرَاءَةٌ حُرَّةٌFree Reading

Hover to check — no test, just read

A short passage using only words you've met so far. Just read for meaning — hover any word if you get stuck. Flip the switch to check whole sentences instead of single words.

Word Sentence
جَاهَدَ أَخِي كَثِيرًا. سَافَرَ أُسْتَاذُنَا إِلَى بَلَدٍ جَدِيدٍ. لَا تُقَاطِعْ أَخَاكَ عِنْدَمَا يَقْرَأُ. الْمُجَاهِدُ يَعْمَلُ مِنْ أَجْلِ نَفْسِهِ. الْعِبَادَةُ سَبِيلٌ لِلسَّعَادَةِ. الْكَسَلُ عَدُوٌّ لِلْعِلْمِ.
SKILLS PRACTICE — NEW

مُحَادَثَةٌ حُرَّةٌConversation Practice

Chat with Yūsuf or Maryam using only what you've learned so far — type it or say it out loud, your choice.

تَمَّ الدَّرْسُ التَّاسِعُ وَالثَّلَاثُونَ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ
Chapter Thirty-Nine complete — next chapter: Form IV (أَفْعَلَ)
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