مَا is

Most of the words in the Arabic language are derived from a three-letter root which represents a core meaning or concept, however مَا is built on a fixed form

مَا is used as an interrogative noun when placed before a demonstrative pronoun as in 21:52, a verb as in 38:75 or dha/ ذَا as in 2:26 and when placed before a noun, it means indetermination (the state of being uncertain or undecided)

مَا المَوْصُوْلِ is a conjunctive, relative pronoun meaning that, which, that which, whatsoever, as, as much, as much as, in such a manner as, as for as, any kind, when, how

مَا is a negative adverb, in general it denies a circumstance, either present or if past but little remote from the present, like لَا it governs the attribute in the accusative, thus it is a negative particle when placed before the perfect as in 5:32 or before a pronoun as in 68:2 or before a demonstrative noun as in 12:31. It is also used as a negative particle before a perfect tense among verbal forms

مَا is also used as a particle governing a verb in the conditional mood in conditional propositions (a statement or assertion that expresses a judgement or opinion)

مَا is on occasion used as a supplemental particle

When placed between a proposition and its compliment as in 3:159 it stands for ‘it is invariably so’ or ‘it is so’

Sometime it makes the verb following it in the sense of مَصْدَرٌ or infinitive, it is then known as مَا مَصْدَرِيَّةٌ and in this case it is always a letter, not a noun

When affixed to أَنَّ anna, إِنَّ inna and such particles, it destroys their accusative effect

It is also an adverb of time as in 5:117

It is also used for emphasis and stress

مَا is also used in the form of admiration

It is sometimes used to express wonder

مَا is frequently a mere expletive and it is expletive (an oath or swear word) in compound words such as إِنَّمَا inna-ma

Below you will find verses of the holy Quran containing مَا and its varied usage and meanings

Root

Occurs 1,265+1+704+92+3+1 times in the holy Quran

1,265 times as the relative pronoun مَا

1+ times as the relative pronoun مَّا

704 times as the negative particle مَا

92 times as the interrogative noun مَا

3+ times as a supplemental particle مَا

1+ times as a subordinating conjunction مَا

? times as the compound مِمَّا

? times as the compound بِمَا

? times as the compound لِّمَا

 

 UsageSurah/MeaningAayat
Verseمَا  is used in the holy Quran, approximately 2000+ times
relative2-3Those who believe in the unseen and stand up for the prayer and who spend from what we have provided themالَّذِيْنَ يُوْمِنُوْنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَ يُقِيْمُوْنَ الصَّلَوةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُوْنَ
rel/reland who believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before youوَالَّذِيْنَ يُوْمِنُوْنَ بِمَآ أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ
2-4and about the hereafter they are certainوَبِالْأَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوْقِنُوْنَ
neg2-8and of mankind are some who say “We believe in Allah (SWT) and the last day” but they are not of the believersوَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُوْلُ ءَامَنَّا بِاللهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الأَاخِرِ وَمَا هُمْ بِمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
neg2-9they wish to deceive Allah (SWT) and who believe, but they deceive not but themselves, yet they perceive it notيُخَادِعُوْنَ اللهَ وَالَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوْا وَمَا يَخْدَعُوْنَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ
In their hearts is a disease and Allah (SWT) has increased their disease and for them is a painful punishmentفِي قُلُوْبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللهُ مَرَضًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيْمٌ
relative2-10because they were liarsبِمَا كَانُوْا يَكْذِبُوْنَ
And when it is said to them “Believe as the people believed” they say, “Shall we believe as the fools believed?”وَإِذَ قِيْلَ لَهُمْ ءَامِنُوْا كَمَا ءَامَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوْا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا ءَامَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ
2-13Truly they are the fools, but they do not know itأَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَاكِنْ لَّا يَعْلَمُوْنَ
neg/neg2-16Those are who purchased error with guidance, so their commerce was profitless as they were not guidedأُلَائِكَ الَّذِيْنَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَى فَمَا رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَةُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوْا مُهْتَدِيْنَ
relativeTheir likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire, then, when it lighted what is around himمَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَائَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ
2-17Allah (SWT) took away their light and left them in darkness so they could not seeاللهُ بِنُوْرِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُوْنَ
relativeand if you are in doubt concerning what We have sent down to Our slave, then produce a surah like itوَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوْا بِسُوْرَةٍ مِّنْ مِثْلِهِ
2-23and call your supporters other than Allah (SWT), if you are truthfulوَادْعُوْا شُهَدَاءَكُمْ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِيْنَ
sup/relVerily Allah (SWT) is not averse to set forth a parable of a gnat or what is more than itإِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوْضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا
and as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, however as for those who disbelieveفَأَمَّا الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوْا فَيَعْلَمُوْنَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَّبِّهِمْ وَأَمَّا الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا
they say, “What did Allah (SWT) intend by this parable?”فَيَقُوْلُوْنَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللهُ بِهَاذَا مَثَلً
neg2-26By it He misleads many and by it He guides many and He does not mislead by it but the rebelliousيُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيْرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيْرًا وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِيْنَ
relativeThose who break Allah’s covenant after ratifying it and sever what Allah has orderedالَّذِيْنَ يَنْقُضُوْنَ عَهْدَ اللهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيْثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُوْنَ مَا أَمَرَ اللهُ
2-27for it to be joined and do mischief on earth. Them, they are the losersبِهِ أَنْ يُوْصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُوْنَ فِي الأَرْضِ أُوْلَائِكَ هُمُ الخَاسِرُوْنَ
relativeHe it is Who created for you all what is on earth, then He rose over towards the heavenهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَّا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيْعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ
2-29and made them seven heavens, He is All Knowing over everythingفَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَوَاتٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ
And when your Lord said to the angels “Verily I am going to place a vicegerent on earth,”وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيْفَةً
they said “will you place in it one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?قَالُوْا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيْهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيْهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الْدِّمَآءَ
relative2-30while we glorify You with praises and sanctify You” He said “Truly I know that which you do not know”وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ
relativeThey said ‘Glory be to You (SWT), we have no knowledge except what You (SWT) have taught usقَالُوْا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا
2-32Truly it is You (SWT), You (SWT) are the All-Knowing, the All-Wiseإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ العَلِيْمُ الحَكِيْمُ
He (SWT) said “O Adam! Inform them of their names” and when he had informed them of their namesقَالَ يَا ءَادَمُ أَنْبِئْهُمْ بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ فَلَمَّآ أَنْبَأَهُمْ بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ
He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earthقَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ
rel/rel2-33and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُوْنَ وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُوْنَ 
relativeThen Satan made them slip therefrom and got them out from that in which they were as We said “Get youفَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيْهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوْا
2-36down, all, with enmity between yourselves and Earth will be a dwelling for you and an enjoyment for a timeبَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَى حِيْنٍ
rel/reland believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is with you and be not the first to disbelieveوَءَامِنُوْا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُوْنُوْا أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍ
2-41and be not the first to disbelieve therein and purchase not with my verses a small price (gain) and fear Me, only Meبِهِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوْا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيْلًا وَإِيَّايَ فَاتَّقُوْنِ
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relative87-7
sup89-15As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honor and bounties, then he says “my Lord has honored me”فَأَمَّا الإِنْسَانُ إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَنَعَّمَهُ فَيَقُوْلُ رَبِّي أَكْرَمَنِي
sup89-16but when He tries him by straitening his means of life, he says “my Lord has humiliated me”وَأَمَّا إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَقُوْلُ رَبِّي أَهَانَنِ
relative90-3and by the begetter (Adam as) and that which he begotوَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ
relative91-5by the heavens and Who built itوَالسَّمَاءِ وَمَا بَنَاهَا
relative91-6by the earth and Who spread itوَالأَرْضِ وَمَا طَحَاهَا
relative91-7by the soul and Who proportioned itوَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا
relative92-3and He who created the male and the femaleوَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنْثَى
neg92-11and his wealth will not avail him when he fallsوَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ
neg92-19who look to no one for rewardوَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ
neg/neg93-3Your Lord has neither forsaken you nor hates youمَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ
inter95-7So, what makes you deny the final judgement?فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّيْنِ
relative96-5He taught man what he did not knowعَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
int/int97-2And what will make you know what the night of Qadr is?وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ
neg/rel98-4and those who were given the book differed not until after what clear evidence came to themوَمَا تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِيْنَ أُوْتُوْا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَائَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ
neg98-5And they were not commanded except to worship Allah (SWT) sincere to Him the upright religionوَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ
inter99-3and man will say “What is the matter with her?وَقَالَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا لَهَا
relative100-9Knows he not that when what is in the graves are poured forthأَفَلَا يَعْلَمُ إِذَا بُعْثِرَ مَا فِي الْقُبُوْرِ
relative100-10and what is in the breasts is made knownوَحُصِّلَ مَا فِي الْصُّدُوْرِ
inter101-2What is Al-Qaariyah?مَا الْقَارِعَةُ
int/int101-3And what will make you know what is Al-Qaariyah?وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْقَارِعَةُ
int/int101-10And what will make you know what it is?وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا هِيَهْ
int/int104-5And what will inform you what Hutamat is?وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ
relative109-2I do not worship what you worshipلَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُوْنَ
relative109-3and you are not worshipers of what I worshipوَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُوْنَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
relative109-4And I am not a worshiper of what you worshipوَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدْتُمْ
relative109-5and you are not worshipers of what I worshipوَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُوْنَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
neg/rel111-2Not will benefit him his wealth and what he has earnedمَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَ مَا كَسَبَ
relative113-2From the evil of what He has createdمِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ