Four More Power Prepositions

In Lesson 6.1, you learned the first three prepositions. But did you know that بِسْمِ اللهِ — the phrase that starts every Surah — contains a preposition you haven't learned yet? Let's fix that!

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahir-rahmanir-raheem

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

بِـ (bi) = "in/with/by" — that single letter attached to سْمِ (name) means "In the name of." It's the very first preposition of the Quran!

The 4 New Prepositions

بِـ

With / By / In

Attached to the following word (no space). كَتَبَ بِالْقَلَمِ (He wrote with the pen). بِسْمِ اللهِ (In the name of Allah).

لِـ

For / Belongs to

Attached to the word. لِلَّهِ (For/Belongs to Allah). اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (Praise belongs to Allah).

عَنْ

'An

About / From / Away from

Stands alone before the noun. سَأَلَ عَنِ الدَّرْسِ (He asked about the lesson). ذَهَبَ عَنِ الْبَيْتِ (He left from the house).

مَعَ

Ma'a

With / Together with

Stands alone. ذَهَبَ مَعَ الطَّالِبِ (He went with the student). This expresses companionship.

Complete Preposition Reference (All 7)

Preposition	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example
فِي	Fee	In	فِي الْمَسْجِدِ — In the mosque
عَلَى	'Alaa	On	عَلَى الْمَكْتَبِ — On the desk
مِنْ	Min	From	مِنَ الْبَيْتِ — From the house
إِلَى	Ilaa	To	إِلَى الْمَدْرَسَةِ — To the school
بِـ	Bi	With/By/In	بِالْقَلَمِ — With the pen
لِـ	Li	For/Belongs to	لِلطَّالِبِ — For the student
عَنْ	'An	About/From	عَنِ الدَّرْسِ — About the lesson
مَعَ	Ma'a	With (companion)	مَعَ الْأُسْتَاذِ — With the teacher

Practice — Which preposition fits? Tap to reveal!

كَتَبَ بِالْقَلَمِ
Kataba bil-qalami

He wrote with the pen

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ذَهَبَ مَعَ الْمُعَلِّمِ
Dhahaba ma'a al-mu'allimi

He went with the teacher

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الْكِتَابُ لِلطَّالِبِ
Al-kitaabu lit-taalibi

The book is for the student

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سَأَلَ عَنِ الدَّرْسِ
Sa'ala 'anil-darsi

He asked about the lesson

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بِسْمِ اللهِ
Bismi-llah

In the name of Allah

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الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Al-hamdu lillah

Praise belongs to Allah

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