Lesson 68
Causal Object Mafʿūl liʾAjlih
المفعول لأجله
The mafʿūl liʾajlih is a verbal noun in the accusative that explains the reason for the action answering "why?" It is an elegant alternative to using لِأَنَّ (because) clauses.
Mafʿūl liʾAjlih Conditions
ConditionSatisfied?ResultExample
Same subject as main verbYesAccusative masdarقَامَ إِجْلَالاً
Same time as actionYesAccusative masdarيَجْتَهِدُ طَلَباً
Internal/volitional motivationYesAccusative masdarأَتَيْتُكَ حُبّاً
Different subjectNoUse لِأَنَّ clause—
External/physical causeNoUse لِ + masdar—
Common Causal Masdars
MasdarMeaningExample
إِجْلَالاًOut of respect forقَامَ إِجْلَالاً لِلْمُعَلِّم
طَلَباًIn seeking / pursuit ofيَسْهَرُ طَلَباً لِلْعِلْم
خَوْفاًOut of fear ofيَبْتَعِدُ خَوْفاً مِنَ الشَّرِّ
حُبّاًOut of love forيُضَحِّي حُبّاً لِلدِّينِ
خَشْيَةًOut of awe/fear ofيَبْكِي خَشْيَةً مِنَ اللَّه
قَامَ الطَّالِبُ إِجْلَالاً لِلْأُسْتَاذِ
Qāma ṭ-ṭālibu ijlālan lil-ustādhi
The student stood out of respect for the teacher. (إِجْلَالاً = mafʿūl liʾajlih, accusative)
وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ
Wa-yuʾthirūna ʿalā anfusihim wa-law kāna bihim khaṣāṣa
"And they prefer others over themselves, even if they are in need." (59:9) إِيثَاراً is implied; the verb يُؤْثِرُون itself contains the causal motivation (selflessness).
- If all conditions are met: use the accusative masdar. If not (different subject, external cause): use لِأَنَّ instead.
- With preposition لِ: لِلْإِجْلَال correct but heavier; the accusative masdar is the elegant classical choice.
- This structure is favoured in elegant Arabic prose and the Quran for conciseness and rhythmic economy.
- The mafʿūl liʾajlih answers لِمَاذَا فَعَلَ؟ (why did he do it?) the accusative masdar is the grammaticalized "reason."
- خَشْيَةَ اللَّهِ appears in Quranic style: يَخْشَوْنَ خَشْيَةَ اللَّهِ (فَاطِر 28) خَشْيَةَ here is a mafʿūl muṭlaq, showing the overlap between causal and absolute objects.