💯 Miscellaneous benefits from Yemen
11 December 2021 • 3.0K views
BENEFIT 46: THE PAST TENSE VERB IS NOT ALWAYS USED TO INDICATE THE PAST
In principle, the past tense verb is used to refer to something that has already taken place. But in some cases, it may be used to indicate the future.
Such as to:
1⃣- Emphasise the fact that something will definitely take place.
Ibn Kathīr raḥimahullāh mentioned:
((كثيرا من أمور يوم القيامة ذكر بلفظ المضي، ليدل على الوقوع والثبوت))
“Many of the events of the Day of Resurrection have been mentioned in the past tense. This is done to indicate that they will definitely and certainly take place.”
[Tafsīr ibn Kathīr (3/233)]
An example of that is the saying of Allāh:
{أَتَىٰۤ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوهُۚ}
“The command of Allāh (i.e. The day of Resurrection) has come (i.e. It will certainly come - not that it has already come), so do not hasten it.”
[Sūrah An-Naḥl 1]
2⃣- Another case where the past tense verb is used outside its original tense is when supplicating.
For example:
جزاك الله خيرا
بارك الله فيك
حفظه الله
رحمه الله
صلى الله عليه وسلم