Short answer
Arabic has two main verb forms: the past (al-madi), for completed actions, and the present-future (al-mudari'), for ongoing or future actions. A third form, the command (al-amr), gives instructions — for example iqra' (read!).
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Past (madi) | kataba — he wrote |
| Present-future (mudari') | yaktubu — he writes / will write |
| Command (amr) | uktub — write! |
A well-known example
The first revealed word, iqra' (read), is a command form — the root q-r-' also gives Qur'an.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Quran use past tense for future events?
Classical scholars explain it can express certainty — an event so certain it is described as already done.
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