كَانَ

A word in the Arabic language will either be: 1) a verb or 2) a noun or 3) a particle – كَانَ is a verb

A verb will either be: 1) past tense or 2) present or future tense or 3) a command or request verb, also called an imperative – كَانَ is a past tense verb

كَانَ is an incomplete verb so, unlike regulars verbs that require a subject, it requires an اسْمٌ and a خَبَرٌ to complete it

Was, existed, happened, occurred, took place, were, used to, is ever, is, worthy of

هُوَ الْغَائِبُ	مُعْتَلُّ الْعَيْنِ	فِعْلٌ نَاقِصٌ	ك و ن	كَانَ يَكُوْنُ	بَابٌ نَصَرَ
Subject He	Weak Verb	Incomplete verb	Root	الأَجْوَفُ	اَلْمَصْدَرُ
	الأَجْوَفُ	كَانَ وَأَخَوَاتُهَا	فِعْلٌ

Verb of command Request	فِعْلُ أَمْرٍ	Present and future tense verb	فِعْلٌ مُضَارِعٌ	Past tense verb	فِعْلٌ مَاضٍ

		He is	يَكُوْنُ	He was, existed, happened, occurred	كَانَ
		They two are	يَكُوْنَانِ	They two were	كَانَا
		They are	يَكُوْنُوْنَ	They were	كَانُوْا

		She is	تَكُوْنُ	She was	كَانَتْ
		They two (feminine) are	تَكُوْنَانِ	They two (feminine) were	كَانَتَا
		They (feminine) are	يَكُنَّ	They (feminine) were	كُنَّ

Be	كُنْ	You are	تَكُوْنُ	You were	كُنْتَ
Be (You two)	كُوْنَا	You two are	تَكُوْنَانِ	You two were	كُنْتُمَا
Be (You all)	كُوْنُوْا	You all are	نَكُوْنُوْنَ	You all were	كُنْتُمْ

Be (feminine)	كُوْنِيْ	You (feminine) are	تَكُوْنُ	You (feminine) were	كُنْتِ
Be (You two feminine)	كُوْنَا	You two (feminine) are	تَكُوْنَانِ	You two (feminine) were	كُنْتُمَا
Be (You all feminine)	كُنَّ	You all (feminine) are	تَكُنَّ	You all (feminine) were	كُنْتُنَّ

		I am	أكُوْنُ	I was	كُنْتُ
		We are	نَكُوْنُ	We were	كُنَّا

Surah/	Below are the 382 verses in the holy Quran containing the third person, singular, perfect verb	كَانَ
Verse

	And when We said to the angels “Prostrate yourselves before Adam” they prostrated except Satan, he refused	وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَآئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوْا لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوْا إِلَّآ إِبْلِيْسَ أَبَى وَاسْتَكْبَرَ
2-34	and he was proud and became of the disbelievers	وَكَانَ مِنَ الكَافِرِيْنَ
	Do you covet that they will believe in your religion?	أَفَتَطْمَعُوْنَ أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا لَكُمْ
	in spite of the fact that a party among them (used to) hear the Word of Allah (SWT)	وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيْقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُوْنَ كَلَامَ اللهِ
2-75	then they change it after having understood it while they know	ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُوْنَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوْهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُوْنَ
	Say “Whoever is an enemy to Jibrael (AS) surely, he has brought it down to your heart	قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيْلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ
	by the permission of Allah (SWT’s) confirming what came before it	بِإِذْنِ اللهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
2-97	and as guidance and glad tidings for the believers	وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
	Whoever is an enemy to Allah (SWT) and His Angels and His Messengers and Jibrael (AS) and Mikael (AS)	مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِلَّهِ وَمَلَآئِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيْلَ وَمِيْكَالَ
2-98	then truly Allah (SWT) is an enemy to the disbelievers	فَإِنَّ اللهَ عَدُوٌّ لِلْكَافِرِيْنَ
	They say “None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian”	وَقَالُوْا لَنْ يَدْخُلَ الجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ هُوْدًا أَوْ نَصَارَى
2-111	These are their own wishful thinking, say “Bring your proof if you be truthful”	تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ قُلْ هَاتُوْا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِيْنَ
	And who are more unjust than who prevent His name being mentioned in the Mosques of Allah (SWT)	وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللهِ أَنْ يُذْكَرَ فِيْهَا اسْمُهُ
	and strive for their ruin	وَسَعَى فِي خَرَابِهَا
	It is not for those to enter them but in fear	أُوْلَآئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوْهَآ إِلَّا خَائِفِيْنَ
2-114	For them is disgrace in this world and a great torment in the hereafter	لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيْمٌ
	And they say: “Be Jews or Christians then you will be guided”	وَقَالُوْا كُوْنُوْا هُوْدًا أَوْ نَصَارَى تَهْتَدُوْا
2-135	Say “Nay the religion of Ebrahim (AS) is upright and he was not of the polytheists	قُلْ بَل مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ حَنِيْفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ المُشْرِكِيْنَ
2-143
2-170
2-184
2-185
2-196
2-213
2-232
2-280
2-282
3-13
3-67
3-79
3-93
3-95
3-97
3-110
3-137
3-145
3-147
3-154
3-161
3-179
4-1
4-2
4-6
4-11
4-12
4-16
4-17
4-22
4-23
4-24
4-29
4-30
4-32
4-33
4-34
4-35
4-36
4-39
4-43
4-46
4-47
4-56
4-58
4-66
4-76
4-82
4-85
4-86
4-92
4-94
4-96
4-99
4-100
4-102
4-104
4-106
4-107
4-108
4-111
4-113
4-126
4-127
4-128
4-129
4-130
4-131
4-133
4-134
4-135
4-141
4-147
4-148
4-149
4-152
4-158
4-165
5-104
5-106
6-11
6-35
6-122
6-136
6-152
6-161
7-5
7-39
7-70
7-82
7-84
7-86
7-87
7-103
7-137
7-175
8-32
8-33
8-35
8-42
8-44
8-67
9-17
9-24
9-42
9-70
9-113
9-114
9-115
9-120
9-122
10-2
10-19
10-37
10-39
10-71
10-73
10-100
11-7
11-15
11-17
11-20
11-34
11-42
11-116
11-117
12-7
12-26
12-27
12-38
12-68
12-76
12-109
12-111
13-32
13-38
14-10
14-11
14-22
14-46
15-78
16-36
16-120
16-123
17-3
17-5
17-11
17-18
17-19
17-20
17-25
17-27
17-30
17-31
17-32
17-33
17-34
17-36
17-38
17-42
17-44
17-53
17-57
17-58
17-66
17-67
17-72
17-78
17-81
17-83
17-87
17-88
17-95
17-96
17-100
17-108
18-28
18-34
18-43
18-45
18-50
18-54
18-79
18-80
18-82
18-98
18-109
18-110
19-13
19-21
19-28
19-29
19-35
19-41
19-44
19-47
19-51
19-54
19-55
19-56
19-61
19-63
19-64
19-71
19-75
20-129
21-22
21-47
21-99
22-15
22-44
23-91
23-109
24-7
24-9
24-51
25-6
25-16
25-18
25-20
25-26
25-29
25-54
25-55
25-65
25-67
25-70
26-8
26-63
26-67
26-86
26-103
26-121
26-139
26-158
26-174
26-189
26-190
27-14
27-20
27-48
27-51
27-56
27-60
27-69
28-4
28-40
28-59
28-68
28-76
28-81
29-5
29-24
29-29
29-40
30-9
30-10
30-42
30-47
31-21
32-5
32-18
33-1
33-2
33-5
33-6
33-9
33-15
33-19
33-21
33-24
33-25
33-27
33-30
33-34
33-36
33-37
33-38
33-40
33-43
33-50
33-51
33-52
33-53
33-54
33-55
33-59
33-69
33-72
33-73
34-15
34-21
34-43
34-45
35-10
35-18
35-26
35-41
35-44
35-45
36-70
37-30
37-51
37-73
37-141
37-143
38-69
38-74
39-8
40-5
40-21
40-78
40-82
41-52
42-20
42-46
42-51
43-25
43-40
43-81
44-31
45-25
46-10
46-11
47-10
47-14
47-21
48-4
48-5
48-7
48-11
48-14
48-19
48-21
48-24
48-26
50-27
50-37
51-35
53-9
54-14
54-16
54-18
54-21
54-30
56-88
56-90
56-92
59-9
59-17
60-6
65-2
65-9
67-18
68-14
69-33
70-4
71-10
72-4
72-6
73-18
74-16	nay! truly he has been towards Our signs, stubborn	كَلَّآ إِنَّهُ كَانَ لِآيَاتِنَا عَنِيْدًا
75-38	then he became a clinging substance, then He created, and He proportioned	ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى
76-5	Verily, the righteous will drink from a cup, its mixture will be from Kafur	إِنَّ الأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُوْنَ مِنْ كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُوْرًا
76-7	they fulfil the vow, and they fear a day, its evil will be widespread	يُوْفُوْنَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُوْنَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيْرًا
76-17	and they will be given to drink from it a cup, its mixture will be ginger	وَيُسْقُوْنَ فِيْهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنْجَبِيْلًا
76-22	Truly this was a reward for you and was an appreciation for your efforts	إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَآءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُمْ مَّشْكُوْرًا
	and not can you wish except if Allah (SWT) Wishes	وَمَا تَشَآءُوْنَ إِلَّآ أَنْ يَشَآءَ اللهُ
76-30	truly Allah (SWT) is All-Knowing, All-Wise	إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ عَلِيْمًا حَكِيْمًا
77-39	so, if there is for you a way (plot, plan, scheme) then plan against Me	فَإِنْ كَانَ لَكُمْ كَيْدٌ فَكِيْدُوْنِ
78-17	Indeed, the day of judgement is an appointed time	إِنَّ يَوْمَ الفَصْلِ كَانَ مِيْقَاتًا
84-13	Verily, he was among his people in joy	إِنَّهُ كَانَ فِي أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُوْرًا
84-15	Yes indeed, certainly his Lord was ever Seeing of him	بَلَى إِنَّ رَبَّهُ كَانَ بِهِ بَصِيْرًا
90-17	then he became of those who believed and recommended to patience and recommended to mercy	ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنْ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوْا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالمَرْحَمَةِ
96-11	Do you consider that he is on the guidance?	أَرَءَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَى الهُدَى
110-3	Then glorify the praises of your Nurturer and seek His forgiveness, truly He is oft returning	فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا

Valuable resources:

كَانَ occurrence

Dictionary of the holy Quran by Abdul Mannan Omar

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