LessonsRhetorical States of Verbal Complements: Omission, Mention and PreposingQuiz

«إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ» (al-Fātiḥah 1:5)
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

“Iyyāka” is a fronted object before each verb. The resulting pattern makes restriction or exclusive devotion salient: worship and the relevant seeking of help are directed to God alone.

“Nʿabuduka” would still state the object of worship, but “iyyāka naʿbudu” makes the addressee the focus first. The rhetorical arrangement is therefore meaningful, not merely a rearrangement for ornament.

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Restriction by preposing “You”

Rhetorical States of Verbal Complements: Omission, Mention and Preposing

«إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ» (al-Fātiḥah 1:5)
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

“Iyyāka” is a fronted object before each verb. The resulting pattern makes restriction or exclusive devotion salient: worship and the relevant seeking of help are directed to God alone.

“Nʿabuduka” would still state the object of worship, but “iyyāka naʿbudu” makes the addressee the focus first. The rhetorical arrangement is therefore meaningful, not merely a rearrangement for ornament.