Quote from: Wakas on June 09, 2025, 06:46:31 AMOne thing it did make me re-check though and that is the wording in 17:1, as I often wondered why translations say "took" but elsewhere it means "travel (by night):
Here is what it said:
Yes — you're looking for a very specific grammatical structure like Surah Al-Isra (17:1), where:
A Form IV verb is followed by
"bi" + a direct object that is
The recipient of the action, not an instrument or cause.
This is a rarer grammatical construction, but yes — there are a few close or parallel cases in the Qur'an. Here's the clearest example that matches your criteria:
✅ Surah Al-Dhariyat (51:40)
فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُۥ وَجُنُودَهُۥ فَنَبَذْنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌۭ
("So We seized him and his soldiers, and We threw them into the sea, and he was blameworthy.")
But more relevant:
✅ Surah Al-A'raf (7:143)
فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكًّۭا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًۭا
This is a verb of divine self-disclosure (تجلّى) — Form V, not IV — so not a perfect match.
⚠️ Exact Match to 17:1?
You're essentially asking:
Are there other verses in the Qur'an where a Form IV verb is used with "bi + object" where that "bi" marks the recipient of the causative action, not an instrument?
✅ Closest True Parallel:
Surah An-Najm (53:10)
فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ
Then:
مَا كَذَبَ ٱلْفُؤَادُ مَا رَءَىٰٓ
Then this:
ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ • فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ • فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦ مَآ أَوْحَىٰ
Verb: Awḥā (أوحى) – Form IV: to inspire/reveal
"ilā ʿabdihi" – not "bi", but indicates the recipient of revelation
This verse is extremely similar in content and structure to 17:1:
"ʿabdihi" (His servant) is again the recipient of divine action
The difference is "ilā" instead of "bi"
📌 Key Point:
The structure "Form IV verb + bi + object" used with the object as a recipient (not instrument or cause) is rare in the Qur'an.
The clearest and most unique example is indeed 17:1:
"Asrā bi-ʿabdihi" – where "ʿabdihi" (His servant) is the recipient of the action of being taken on a journey.
Most other examples with Form IV verbs + "bi" use "bi" as:
An instrument (bi'l-mā' – with water)
A cause (bi-mā kānū... – because of what they did)
🧠 Linguistic Note:
Some Arabic grammarians (like Sibawayh) note that certain causative verbs in Form IV govern their object via "bi", especially when:
The verb implies motion, transformation, or involvement
The object is affected but not grammatically accusative in the default sense
That's why "asrā bi-ʿabdihi" stands out — grammatically and theologically.
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Thus it seems to suggest this is the only usage of its kind in Quran. Of course, unlike some, I'm not going to accept that automatically, we would have to research this.
Why this matters? Well one might literally translate it like this:
Exalted is the One who caused to travel with His servant (at/by) night from A to B
or
Exalted is the One who took with His servant (at/by) night from A to B
If so, the "bi" taken as "with" would cause a problem in the physical/geographical/transportation interpretation as God is everywhere thus not subject to spatial movement.
We would have to look into Quran to see if there are any verses suggesting spatial movement like this (I know there is in hadith) and if there isn't then this adds more weight to my understanding, quite significantly I might add.
I asked chat gpt for Quranic examples of spatial movement by God and the only ones it came up with are when God is over the throne, but almost everyone takes throne as symbolic of authority. If you or anyone else has examples feel free to share.
Side note, it is interesting 17:1 adds in night, considering this word is apparently linked to night anyway.
Same Form-IV Verbs in Grand Qurr'an
أَسْرِ
وَلَقَدْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَـىٰ مُوسَـىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ
بِعِبَادِى فَٱضْـرِبْ لَـهُـمْ طَرِيقٙا فِـى ٱلْبَحْرِ يَبَسٙا لَّا تَخَٟفُ دَرَكٙا وَلَا تَخْشَىٰ ٧٧
Know the fact, Our Majesty had communicated to Mūsā [alai'his'slaam in Egypt] that —"You prepare to travel by night along with My subjects —Thereupon, reaching there [and because of chase by enemy-26:52], you strike to emerge a submerged passage in the Gulf of Suez for them. The characteristic of this passage is that it is dried up: skeleton - Fringing reef. You will not have fear of being overtaken, nor you will dread." [20:77]
وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَـىٰ مُوسَـىٰٓ أَنْ أَسْرِ
بِعِبَادِىٓ إِنَّكُـم مّتَّبَعُونَ ٥٢فَأَرْسَلَ فِرْعَوْنُ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَٟشِـرِينَ ٥٣إِنَّ هَٟٓـؤُلَآءِ لَشِـرْذِمَةٚ قَلِيلُونَ ٥٤وَإِنَّا لَجَمِيعٌ حَٟذِرُونَ ٥٦
Know it, Our Majesty verbally communicated to Mūsā [alai'him'slaam in Egypt] —That, "You arrange the travel by night with my servants —Indeed you people will be chased." [26:52] Sequel to having informed of their run from the City, Fir'aoun [Pharaoh] overwhelmed by fear did not immediately follow them but sent gatherers into the Forts-Army Encampments [with the message] — [26:53] "Indeed these are a band separated from main group, small in number — [26:54] And indeed they for us are certainly arousers of rage — [26:55] And we are certainly a multitude, well equipped." [26:56]
See another 3: فَأَسْرِ1
https://haqeeqat.pk/sohail/8453The word is "asrā", a past tense verb from Form IV "He made someone travel by night." It is grammatically in the perfect tense, built on fatḥa, and its subject is not visible — it's a hidden pronoun estimated as "He" (هو), pointing back to Allah. The root of the verb is س-ر-ي , denoting night travel. This verb is the main predicate of the Ayah.
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From my article
https://haqeeqat.pk/Mairaaj.htmAyah comprises of two sentences, one complex and the last one is simple. The first sentence is the breaking news about Unique Night Journey [Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج, al-'Isrā' wal-Mi'rāj]. Its update is mentioned in Chapter 53.
First thing to be noted is that there is no specific addressee in its text.
The text is Expository structure. In this structure it is not assumed the reader possesses the prior knowledge of the subject matter. Answer to any question that reader might have about the topic, it is answered. An expository writing contains a thesis statement, within the first paragraph, informing the reader the main argument of the text. The rest of it should provide relevant evidence to prove the argument and persuade the reader that the argument is credible.
Strictly adhering the accepted academic principles of translating a text and the rules of Arabic grammar-morphology and syntax, we should attempt to understand what is conveyed - the intended message in the Arabic text.
سُبْحَٟنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ : the Infinitely Glorious, the desire of His approval is the focus of all effort is the One...
It is a Possessive Phrase. It relates to [الجملة مستأنفة] Fresh sentence-initiating a new discourse with elided Verb.
سُبْحَٟنَ : It is [مفعول مطلق لفعل محذوف] Verbal noun; definite; accusative. It is Cognate Adverb for the elided Verb of sentence. Its definition and recognition is that it is a Verbal Noun-Infinitive with meaning very similar to mentioned or elided action. Cognate Adverb is mostly used to explain the manner or the multitude in which the action takes place; or to place intensive emphasis on the action. Their governing words are often dropped particularly when emphasis is not the purpose.
ٱلَّذِىٓ : It is [اسم موصول في محل جر بالإضافة] Relative Pronoun: definite; singular; masculine, with prolongation sign, in genitive state being second part [مضاف إليه] of Possessive Phrase.
He the Exalted arranged the travel along with His sincere Allegiant-Muhammad [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] on a journey during some currency of night
أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلٙا
[الجملة: صلة الموصول لا محل لها] It is a Linkage-relationship sentence for Relative Pronoun; no grammatical state.
أَسْرَىٰ : It is a Verbal sentence with Verb: Perfect; Third Person; Singular; Masculine; [Form-IV] مصدر-إِسْرَاءٌ Verbal noun; Subject pronoun hidden referring back to Relative Pronoun-Allah the Exalted. It is from Root: "س ر ى". It means travelling, journeying in the night, in general sense. Object of Verb-mode-device is elided. Earlier people estimated it as "Buraq" from Root: ب ر ق denoting lightening to signify enormous speed of travel. We today can call it as UFO.
Core elements of Root " س ر ى" are:
the Traveller: he goes on a journey during the night; it is an activity in which the Traveller moves from a Source location in the direction to a Goal location along a Path - the route along which the travel takes place. This semantic frame emphasize the whole process of getting from one place to another, rather than profiling merely the beginning or the end of the journey.
The Mode of transportation expresses how the motion of the Traveller is effected, by their body or by a vehicle which holds and conveys the Traveller.
Non core entity is the Explanation for which the travel is undertaken; Time when the travelling occurs; and depiction of the state of the Traveller during the journey.
Form-IV Verb is Causative - Causing someone or something to perform the action of Measure I. For causing someone to undertake a journey you need to arrange the travel - transport. The perfect verb literally means that the subject of the verb [Allah the Exalted] caused the undertaking of a journey by someone.
بِعَبْدِهِۦ : Prepositional Phrase + Possessive Phrase: بـِ Inseparable preposition + Noun: Definite; masculine; singular; genitive referring Muhammad Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam + Suffixed Pronoun: Third person; masculine; singular; in genitive state referring Allah the Exalted. The Preposition بـِ renders the verb transitive. It specifies the Person for whom travel was arranged by Allah the Exalted.
لَيْلٙا: It is [مفعول فيه: ظرف زمان متعلق بأسرى] Locative Adverb: The locative adverb gives the time of occurrence for an action. Time Adverb: Indefinite; Masculine; accusative. A similar verbal sentence with same Form-IV Imperative Verb of same Verbal Noun and similar structuring will help us perceive the intended meanings. Use of this adverb is quite meaningful since the Verb itself denotes travelling by night. It signifies that the journey undertaken was initiated during night but its span of time was short with relation to night.
Thereat he was told, "You [O Musa] arrange the travel by night with My subjects. [Refer 44:23]
فَأَسْرِ بِعِبَادِى لَيْلًا
The Source location from where the journey started and its direction is indicated:
Prepositional Phrase + Adjectival Phrase relating to preceding Verb. مِّنَ : It is Separable Preposition. The preposition denotes a beginning point related to place. Hence it is connected with verbs which convey idea of separation and departure etc as is the case here by verb: أَسْرَىٰ .
مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ
ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ: Adjectival Phrase: Location Noun: Definite; singular; Masculine; genitive. This is the point of departure for the said Journey. This is modified by the Adjective ٱلْحَرَامِ. This Phrase is well known signifying the Sacred Mosque around Ka'aba in the Sanctified City of Mecca. And the direction of journey was:
The route of journey was towards the Extreme Distant Altitude Mosque —
إِلَـى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا
It is a Prepositional Phrase + Adjectival Phrase relating to the preceding Verb.
إِلَـى : Separable preposition. Its general meaning is directional: towards an object. It does not mean or necessarily include entering into a location. It only denotes to reach the point where the boundary of another location begins.
ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا: Adjectival Phrase: Location Noun: Definite; singular; Masculine; genitive. It is modified by: ٱلْأَقْصَا which is masculine Superlative noun. When prefixed with definite article, it is used as Superlative, whereby it must be in agreement in gender and number with that which it describes. Here, it is used as (صِفَة) adjectival portrayal of "The Mosque", signifying: "the Far distant; the Farthest; the Most distant; Remotest". This Superlative Noun is made from Root "ق ص و".
The basic perception infolded in the Root, in the words of Ibne Faris [died-1005] is:
That it leads to the perception of far distance and deportation to far away, or to an utmost limit.
Lane's Lexicon signified the perception of proceeding to extremities and with reference to drinking water; it conveys meaning of drinking in the manner of exhausting the last drop which reflects extremity in any action. He emphasized its meanings as reaching and attaining the utmost by referring to various words made from it.
يدلُّ على بُعدٍ و إِبعاد
The fact of reaching or attaining the utmost has the built in perception of elevation and altitude. Grand Qur'ān, for itself, is the best Lexicon. It exposes the perception and meanings of most of its words picturesquely by relationships and contrasts. Basic perception and meanings of the Root are unfolded at the very first place of its occurrence:
إِذْ أَنتُـم بِالْعُدْوَةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُـم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ وَٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُـمْۚ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّـمْ لَاخْتَلَفْتُـمْ فِـى ٱلْمِيعَٟدِۙ وَلَـٟكِن لِّيَقْضِىَ ٱللَّهُ أَمْرٙا كَانَ مَفْعُولٙا لِّيَـهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٛ وَيَحْيَـىٰ مَنْ حَـىَّ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٛۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَسَـمِيعٌ عَلِيـمٌ ٤٢
That day you people were positioned on the lower level corner and they (the approaching army of infidels of Mecca) were positioned on the farther higher altitude corner, while the Merchant Caravan was camping relatively at a lower level ground than you people. And had you reciprocally appointed time and place of battle you would have delayed-lagged behind occupying the aforementioned location. But it so happened that Allah the Exalted may accomplish the affair. His command always gets executed. The objective was that he who perished may perish because of apparent reason; and he who lived may survive because of apparent reason. Remain mindful; Allah the Exalted is eternally the Listener, the All-Knowing. [8:42]
This is the verbal transcription of the battlefield geographical map in such lucid manner as if we are watching a satellite map. This location map of three different groups, two Armies and One Merchant Caravan, is of the Decisive Day of Division of Humanity [يَوْمَ ٱلْفُرْقَانِ 8:41]-the Day when two forces confronted on the battlefield of Bad'ar.
First, the physical location of two armies is described. One, the addressee-Muslim, was on the piece of land lower in altitude-elevation while the approaching army was at a far off distance on a piece of land higher in altitude. The third group was stationed on a piece of land comparatively lower in altitude than the Muslim army location.
ٱلدُّنْيَا: It is an Elative Noun signifying comparative and superlative relationship, and its contrast is: ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ. Contrast is of lowly and elevated locations. Similarly, the word: أَسْفَلَ is a comparative noun denoting a place at depth-lower plank relatively to the one compared with. Except the difference of gender both: ٱلْأَقْصَا and ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ are اسم التفضيل Elative Noun, Comparative and Superlative emanating from the same Root "ق ص و".
The other adjectival description of this Extreme Distant Altitude Mosque, through relative pronoun, is that Allah the Exalted has caused its surroundings to perpetually stay as blessed.
That Mosque is the One whose surroundings We have perpetuated and blessed.
ٱلَّذِى بَٟرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ
ٱلَّذِى :Relative Pronoun: singular; masculine, referent to Distant Mosque
بَٟرَكْنَا : Verb: Perfect; First Person; plural/Sovereign Singular; Masculine; active; [Form III]; [نَا] Subject Pronoun, in nominative state.
حَوْلَهُۥ: Possessive Phrase: Adverb of place-surroundings; accusative; it is Object of Verb + Possessive Pronoun: Third person; singular; masculine; genitive, refers to: ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا.
Purpose of Unique Night Journey
The sole purpose of this Unique Journey in the direction of: ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا Extreme Distant Altitude Mosque is explicitly stated and no further details should be conjectured:
The purpose of ascending him (Muhammad Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam) was that We show him visually the greatest Existent in the Miscellany of Our Existents-Physical realm.
لِنُرِيَهُۥمِنْ ءَايَٟتِنَآۚ
لِنُرِيَهُۥ: Prefixed particle of Purpose-Explanation + Verb: Imperfect; First Person; Plural/Sovereign Singular; Mood: Subjunctive; [Form-IV] Doubly Transitive; Subject pronoun hidden + First Object Pronoun: Third person; singular; masculine, in accusative state referring back to the Sincere Allegiant Muhammad Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam; مصدر اِرَاءَةٌ Verbal Noun. The Verb denotes the desire-purpose to cause someone to observe an object
مِنْ ءَايَٟتِنَآ: Prepositional Phrase + Possessive Phrase, relating to the Second Elided Object of the preceding Verb which is understandable as the Preposition leads to its perception. The Preposition signifies the relation which subsists between the part and whole, the species, the genus.
ءَايَٟتِنَآ: Possessive Phrase: Noun: Definite; Plural; feminine; genitive + Suffixed Personal Pronoun with prolongation sign: First Person; Plural/Sovereign Singular; Masculine; in genitive state. It signifies "Miscellany of Our Existents-Physical realm".
In this Ayah, the Location of Departure, Direction and the Purpose of Journey undertaken during a night are mentioned. The purpose for which the Journey was undertaken is mentioned in Surat An'Najam-53rd Sub-Part of Grand Qur'ān. The Purpose of Journey was fulfilled:
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ ءَايَٟتِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْـكُـبْـرَىٰٓ ١٨
This is a certain fact that he (Muhammad Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam) did observe the Greatest Sign of the Physical Realm of his Sustainer Lord. [53:18]
مِنْ ءَايَٟتِ رَبِّهِ : These words comprise three phrases; a Prepositional Phrase and two Possessive Phrases. These phrases with First Person Sovereign Pronoun will be: مِنْ ءَايَٟتِنَآ .
رَأَىٰ : Verb: Perfect; Third person; singular; masculine; Subject pronoun hidden which refers back to Muhammad Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam, مصدر-رَوْيَةٌ Verbal noun. This Verb needs one Object; ٱلْـكُـبْـرَىٰٓ is its Object. Though, grammar rules explicitly revealed that one Object of Verb: لِنُرِيَهُۥ is elided, Allah the Exalted has specifically mentioned it leaving no room for a conjecturer to spread stories about it. ٱلْـكُـبْـرَىٰٓ : It is Superlative Noun: Definite; singular; feminine; accusative. It signifies the Greatest Existent.
