Multiple Broken Plurals of a Singular Noun in the Holy Qur'an

Abstract

Multiplicity of broken plurals of a singular noun is a noteworthy case both in the Arabic language in general and the Qur'anic text in particular. It is sensible to attribute such a phenomenon in the Arabic language to dialectical variation, but the case should not be the same with such a homogeneous and eloquent text as the Qur' an. After extracting all examples of this kind used in the Qur'an and thinking deeply about them, I have come to the conclusion that the following reasons may be the most important ones: First: Expressing the meaning of fewness in opposition to abundance. The Qur'an in this connection follows four ways: a) Using a plural of fewness in opposition to a plural of abundance, such as (ancum) and (nicam). b) Using a rare-pattern plural in opposition to a widespread one, such as (dhukrān) and (dhukūr), regardless of the plural form meaning. c) Using a plural in opposition to a plural of the plural, such as (aswira) and (asāwir). d) Using a sound plural in opposition to a broken plural, such as (sunbulāt) and (sanābil). Second: Changing the pattern of the plural to specify the intended meaning of the singular, wherever it has two different meanings. In this connection I may refer to the two plurals of the singular (cyn) which are (acyun) and (cuyūn). The Qur'an confined the first to the meaning of an eye and the second to the meaning of a spring. Third: Changing the pattern of the plural to denote totality in opposition to specialness. In this connection I may refer to the two plurals (hamīr) and (humur) where the first one refers to a domestic donkey and the second to a wild one. Fourth: Changing the kind of plural to be either a broken plural or a sound plural where the first refers to nominality such as (rawāsī), whereas the second refers to descriptiveness such as (rāsiyāt). Fifth: Changing the pattern of the plural to specify either femininity or masculinity. The first is a plural such as (qawācid) and the second is such as (qucud) and (qācidūn).