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Lesson 7.2: Idafa Rules & Chain Idafa Next
Lesson 7: Part 1 ▶ Part 2: Idafa Rules & Chain Idafa Dialogue Exercises Vocabulary

Rule 1: No AL on the First Noun (Mudhaf)

❌ WRONG
الْكِتَابُ الْمُعَلِّمِ
Al-kitaabu al-mu'allimi
The first noun has AL AND is in Idafa — impossible!
✅ CORRECT
كِتَابُ الْمُعَلِّمِ
Kitaabu al-mu'allimi
The Teacher's Book — No AL on the Mudhaf
Why? The Mudhaf (first noun) is already made specific by the Mudhaf Ilayh (second noun). Adding AL would make it doubly definite — which is not allowed.

Rule 2: Chain Idafa (Three or More Nouns)

You can link more than two nouns together in a chain. All the middle nouns end in Kasra (Majroor). Only the LAST noun can take AL.

كِتَابُ مُعَلِّمِ الْمَدْرَسَةِ
Kitaabu mu'allimi al-madrasati
The book of the teacher of the school
1st Noun (Mudhaf)
كِتَابُ
No Tanween. No AL. Damma (Marfoo').
2nd Noun (Middle)
مُعَلِّمِ
No Tanween. No AL. Kasra (Majroor).
3rd Noun (Last — Mudhaf Ilayh)
الْمَدْرَسَةِ
Can take AL. Kasra (Majroor).
بَابُ بَيْتِ الْمُعَلِّمِ
Baabu bayti al-mu'allimi
The door of the house of the teacher
كِتَابُ طَالِبِ الْمَدْرَسَةِ
Kitaabu talibi al-madrasati
The book of the student of the school
مَفْتَاحُ بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ
Miftaaḥu babi al-masjidi
The key of the door of the mosque

Practice — Correct or Wrong? Tap to reveal!

❌ WRONG — First noun cannot have AL in Idafa
بَيْتُ الطَّالِبِ
The student's house
اَلْبَيْتُ الطَّالِبِ
Correct Idafa or not?
Tap to reveal
✅ CORRECT — No AL on Mudhaf
كِتَابُ الْمُدَرِّسِ
The teacher's book
كِتَابُ الْمُدَرِّسِ
Correct Idafa or not?
Tap to reveal
✅ CORRECT — Valid 3-noun chain
مَكْتَبُ مُدِيرِ الْمَدْرَسَةِ
The office of the school principal
مَكْتَبُ مُدِيرِ الْمَدْرَسَةِ
Correct Idafa or not?
Tap to reveal
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