بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
15/05/2026
Allah knows best, but we learn through research. We may be right or wrong, and we do our best. If we are wrong, we seek Allah’s forgiveness; if right, then Alhamdulilah (Praise be to Allah).
There are many studies on this particular topic, and It will be not correct to claim that I will be able to cover them all, as the Quran contains endless knowledge that transcends time and cultural boundaries. The depth and richness of its teachings provide invaluable insights into various aspects of life, human nature, and the universe. After we pass from this earthly existence, others will continue to discover, interpret, and teach these profound lessons to new generations. This ongoing journey of exploration and understanding is what makes the Quran truly a great miracle in its wisdom and relevance. Each verse invites further contemplation, encouraging believers and scholars alike to delve deeper into its meanings and applications in contemporary life. Allahu Akbar (God is Great).
1/Word Analysis
The below two verses from different chapters show the word نَبۡغِۚ in Chapter 18 and نَبۡغِىۖ in Chapter 12. Both mean “seeking”, “looking for”, “searching for” or “desire for”, indicating a profound yearning or quest embedded within the verses. However, the ending letter ىۖ, pronounced “Yii,” is dropped in Chapter 18 while it is retained in Chapter 12. This wisdom prompts deeper analysis. There are two main reasons: one is rhetorical, suggesting that the variation may enhance the stylistic nuance of the passage, The other reason is grammatical, as the structure of the Ayat (Verse) dictates the necessity of dropping the ending letter for proper conjugation and meaning.
Such differences are found in the Quran, revealing the deep wisdom behind every letter, word, verse, and chapter.
First let us mention the Verses and their Translations.
Quran Chapter 18 Verse 64
قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبۡغِۚ فَٱرۡتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصً۬ا (٦٤)
Translation
[Moses] said, “That is what we were seeking.” So they returned, following their footprints. (64)
Quran Chapter 12 Verse 65
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُواْ مَتَـٰعَهُمۡ وَجَدُواْ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمۡ رُدَّتۡ إِلَيۡہِمۡۖ قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبۡغِىۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتۡ إِلَيۡنَاۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهۡلَنَا وَنَحۡفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزۡدَادُ كَيۡلَ بَعِيرٍ۬ۖ ذَٲلِكَ ڪَيۡلٌ۬ يَسِيرٌ۬ (٦٥)
Translation
And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, “O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel’s load; that is an easy measurement.”
THE WISDOM OF THE LETTER ىۖ,
The letter mentioned in Chapter 18 Verse 64 and retained in Chapter 12 Verse 65.
Dr. Fadel Saleh Alsamerai: A Life of Linguistic Mastery and Qur’anic Interpretation (born in Samarra, Iraq, 1933) is a highly respected linguist and academic specializing in Arabic grammar and Qur’anic exegesis. He earned his PhD in Arabic from Ain Shams University in Egypt and has worked as a professor at Baghdad University for many years, until his retirement in 1998. His expertise in Arabic linguistics has earned him widespread recognition, particularly for his work on Qur’anic expression.
He gives a comprehensive explanation on this topic which I have taken the time to translate into English, ensuring that the nuances of the original Arabic text are preserved for clarity and understanding. (See Below):
حذف الياء في قوله تعالى “نَبْغِ” في سورة الكهف [64]، وإثباتها في قوله “نَبْغِي” في سورة يوسف [65]، يعد من لطائف التفسير البياني والإعجاز القرآني، وقد فصل الدكتور فاضل السامرائي هذا الفرق بناءً على السياق والمعنى:
1. [نَبْغِ] في سورة الكهف (حذف الياء):
- السياق: عندما وجد موسى عليه السلام الحوت، قال: “قَالَ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا”.
- السبب البياني: الحذف هنا يناسب نقصان الغاية. موسى عليه السلام لم يجد العبد الصالح (الخضر) بعد، بل وجد مجرد وسيلة (مكان فقد الحوت). لما كانت الغاية لم تكتمل (لقاء الخضر)، حذفت الياء دلالة على نقص البغية والهدف الرئيسي.
سبب نحوي/رسمي: قرأها بعض القراء بحذف الياء وصلاً ووقفاً تخفيفاً، أو مراعاة للوقف.
2. [نَبْغِي] في سورة يوسف (إثبات الياء):
- السياق: عندما قال إخوة يوسف: “قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِي هَذِهِ بِضَاعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا”.
- السبب البياني: الإثبات هنا يناسب كمال الغاية. لقد حصل إخوة يوسف على مِيرتهم (طعامهم) وبضاعتهم كاملة، فكانت بغيتهم قد تحققّت. فناسبَ كمالُ الحرف (إثبات الياء) كمالَ الغاية.
خلاصة:
حذف الياء في الكهف يشير إلى أن ما وصلوا إليه كان وسيلة لا غاية، بينما إثباتها في يوسف يشير إلى تحقق الغاية بالكامل.
Translation
This above explanation talks about a very beautiful detail in the Qur’an.
It explains why the word is written as “نَبْغِ” in one verse and “نَبْغِي” in another verse.
1. In Surah Al-Kahf: “نَبْغِ” (without the letter ي)
The verse:
Quran Chapter 18 Verse 64
قَالَ ذَٲلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبۡغِۚ فَٱرۡتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصً۬ا (٦٤)
Translation
[Moses] said, “That is what we were seeking.” So they returned, following their footprints. (64)
This happened when Musa (Moses) found the place where the fish disappeared.
But Musa had not yet reached the final goal.
He only found the sign that would lead him to Al-Khidr.
So the goal was still incomplete. Because the goal was not complete, the word also became slightly “shorter” by removing the letter ي.
- نَبْغِي → full form
- نَبْغِ → shortened form
This matches the meaning beautifully: Incomplete goal → shortened word
2. In Surah Yusuf: “نَبْغِي” (with the ending letter ي)
The verse:
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُواْ مَتَـٰعَهُمۡ وَجَدُواْ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمۡ رُدَّتۡ إِلَيۡہِمۡۖ قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبۡغِىۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتۡ إِلَيۡنَاۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهۡلَنَا وَنَحۡفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزۡدَادُ كَيۡلَ بَعِيرٍ۬ۖ ذَٲلِكَ ڪَيۡلٌ۬ يَسِيرٌ۬ (٦٥)
And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, “O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel’s load; that is an easy measurement.”
(Surah Yusuf 12:65)
This happened when the brothers of Yusuf (Joseph) found that:
- they received food,
- and their money was returned to them.
Here, their wish was completely fulfilled. So the word came in its full form: نَبْغِي
This matches the meaning:
- complete goal → complete word
Simple Summary
| Verse | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Surah Al-Kahf | نَبْغِ | The goal was not complete yet |
| Surah Yusuf | نَبْغِي | The goal was fully achieved |
Grammatical and Writing Reason
There is also a grammatical and writing reason. Some Qur’an reciters read the word without the letter ي (yaa’) when continuing the reading and when stopping, to make pronunciation easier and lighter, or because of the rules of stopping at the end of a verse.
In the verse from Qur’an, some Qur’an reciters read the word as “نَبْغِ” by removing the final letter ي from the original form “نَبْغِي”. This has a grammatical and recitational reason in Arabic.
Verbs that end with a weak letter like ي can sometimes lose that letter to make pronunciation lighter and easier, especially in Qur’anic recitation.
Arabic also has special rules when stopping at the end of a verse (waqf), where sounds are often shortened or softened.
Because of this, some reciters omitted the ي both while continuing the recitation and while stopping.
This style is accepted in classical Arabic and also matches the special traditional spelling of the Qur’an known as the Uthmanic script (الرسم العثماني).
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