The Shape-Shifting Plural

You learned the Sound Masculine Plural ends in -uuna (مُسْلِمُونَ). But now look at this famous Quranic phrase:

مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

Minal-muslimeen — "from the Muslims"

Why مُسْلِمِينَ and not مُسْلِمُونَ?

Marfoo' (Subject)

مُسْلِمُونَ

Muslimuuna

Ending: ـُونَ (-uuna)

Used when: the plural is the Mubtada or Khabar or Fa'il

Majroor / Mansoob

مُسْلِمِينَ

Muslimiina

Ending: ـِينَ (-iina)

Used when: after a preposition or in certain other positions

Memory Rule: The وَ disappears and becomes a يَ. ـُونَ → ـِينَ. Think: "The WAW runs away when forced!"

The Sound Feminine Plural (مُسْلِمَاتٌ) also changes in the Majroor state — the Dammatayn becomes Kasratayn.

Marfoo' (Subject)

مُسْلِمَاتٌ

Muslimaatun

Tanween Damma (ـٌ)

Majroor (After Prep.)

مُسْلِمَاتٍ

Muslimaatin

Tanween Kasra (ـٍ)

Position	Arabic	Translation	Form
Subject	الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِخْوَةٌ	The Muslims are brothers.	-uuna / Marfoo'
After مِنَ	مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ	From the Muslims	-iina / Majroor
After مَعَ	مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ	With the believers	-iina / Majroor
Subject	الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ صَابِرَاتٌ	The believing women are patient.	-uuna / Marfoo'
After فِي	فِي الْمُسْلِمَاتِ	Among the Muslim women	-iina / Majroor

الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مُفْلِحُونَ
→ -uuna (Marfoo')

Subject: The believers (M) are successful.

Tap to reveal

مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
→ -iina (Majroor)

After مِنَ: from the believers (M)

Tap to reveal

الْمُسْلِمَاتُ حَاضِرَاتٌ
→ -aatun (Marfoo')

Subject: The Muslim women are present.

Tap to reveal

مَعَ الْمُعَلِّمِينَ
→ -iina (Majroor)

After مَعَ: with the teachers (M)

Tap to reveal