Exploring the Arabic Verb ‘كَانَ’ in the Quran: Insights and Interpretations

Understanding the Arabic Verb ‘كَانَ’ in the Quran

In the verse where ALLAH says,

“And [mention] when WE said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from [i.e., disobeyed] the command of his LORD…”¹ (Suurat ‘Al-Kahf),

what does the verb “كَانَ” (he was) mean here? Is it similar to “became” as seen in the verse,

“…and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down”² (Suurat ‘Al-Muzzammil)?

The Arabic verb ‘كَانَ’ has many different meanings, and it’s not as simple as it seems. Sometimes, it indicates that something occurred and then ended, like when you say, “He was sleeping” or “He was in the house” or “He was outside”, meaning something happened and then ceased.

Different Meanings of Verb ‘كَانَ’ in The Quran

Other times, ‘كَانَ’ in the Quran reflects the natural state of something, meaning that it has always been that way. For example, in the verse

“…And ever has man been stingy”³ (Suurat ‘Al-‘Israa’),

this implies that mankind was created this way, inherently stingy. Similarly, in the verse from Suurat ‘Al-‘Aḥzaab,

“…Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant”⁴,

and in another verse from Suurat ‘Al-‘Israa’,

“…and man is ever hasty”⁵,

this does not mean that man wasn’t hasty before and then became hasty later. Rather, it indicates the natural, original state of mankind.

This understanding of “كَانَ” is the one found in the verse from Suurat ‘Al-Kahf: “He was of the jinn”. Here, “was” means that Iblees was naturally and originally created as a jinn.

Continuous and Transformative Uses of ‘كَانَ’

In other instances, ‘كَانَ’ in the Quran can signify continuity. This is seen in descriptions of ALLAH’s attributes in the Quran, such as in the verses

“…And ALLAH is ever Knowing and Wise”⁶ (Suurat ‘An-Nisaa’),

“…And ALLAH is ever Forgiving and Merciful”⁷ (Suurat ‘An-Nisaa’),

and

“…And ever is ALLAH Hearing and Seeing”⁸ (Suurat ‘An-Nisaa’).

In these cases, “كَانَ” implies that ALLAH has always been and continues to be these attributes, without interruption. It’s not like saying, “He was sleeping and then woke up”, where the action stopped. Instead, “كَانَ” here means that ALLAH has always been and will always be Knowing, Wise, Forgiving, and Merciful. This is called “continuous كَانَ”.

There are also instances where ‘كَانَ’ in the Quran can mean “became” or “will be”, as in the verse

“And the heaven is opened and will become gateways”⁹ (Suurat ‘An-Naba’),

and in the verse

“And the mountains are removed and will be [but] a mirage”¹⁰ (Suurat ‘An-Naba’).

Here, “was” means transformed into something else.

Regarding the verse “…And ALLAH is ever Forgiving and Merciful” (Suurat ‘An-Nisaa’), the famous scholar of grammar, Al-Zamakhshari, explains that “كَانَ” here refers to something existing in the past without necessarily indicating non-existence beforehand, nor does it suggest that it came to an end. So, when ALLAH is described as “ever Forgiving and Merciful”, it doesn’t mean that HE wasn’t Forgiving and Merciful before, nor does it mean that HE ceased being so afterward. ALLAH was, is, and will always be Forgiving and Merciful.

The verb ‘كَانَ’ has many intricate uses according to the scholars of Arabic grammar. It can sometimes be used in its complete form, as in the verse,

“HIS command is only when HE intends a thing that HE says to it, ‘Be’, and it is”¹¹ (Suurat Yaa-Siin).

Here, there is no need for a subject or predicate; ALLAH simply says, “Be”, and it exists. Similarly, in the verse,

“And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease…”¹² (Suurat ‘Al-Baqarah),

“كَانَ” here means “exists”, and it doesn’t require a subject and predicate. On the other hand, the incomplete form of “كَانَ” requires both a subject and a predicate.

Sources:

1. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
2. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
3. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
4. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
5. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
6. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
7. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
8. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
9. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
10. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
11. Saheeh International translation ↩︎
12. Saheeh International translation ↩︎

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