Possession

To show possession, Arabic uses the إضافة (idhāfa) or the ‘genitive construct’. This simply refers to two words being linked together to show possession. The idhāfa is similar to ‘of’ (the King of Spain) or the possessive suffix ‘-’s’ (the teacher’s book) in English.

The idhāfa construction is extremely common in Arabic, and you will find it used repeatedly.

Grammar Rules

The first noun (mudhāf) does not accept the alif-lam (definite article) or nunation.

The second noun (mudhāf ilayhi) is always in the genitive case.

More Examples

تَأْويلُ الرُّؤْيَا (Interpretation of the dream)

مَلِكُ مِصْرَ (The King of Egypt)

مَالِكِ يَومِ الدِّين (The Owner of the Day of Judgement)

كُلُّ يَوْمٍ (Every day)

مَكتَبَةُ المَدرَسَةِ (The school library)