Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition

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Istifhām
(731 words)

(a.), inf. of the verb istafhama “to interrogate”, a technical term in Arabic grammar signifying interrogation.

Interrogation can be indicated simply by the intonation of the sentence, particularly in prose that is close to the spoken language. Arabic generally uses two interrogative particles: a- (negative a-lā , a-mā , a-lam), hal . The second (hal) is more energetic than the first (a-), but is of more restricted use (Reckendorf, Arabische Syntax , 19, 10). Sībawayhi (i, 434, line 19-435, lines 1-2) represents the difference between a- and hal thus: “if you say: hal taḍribu Zaydan ? “d…

Cite this page
Fleisch, H., “Istifhām”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_3680>
First published online: 2012
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004161214, 1960-2007



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