Kānat is a past defective verb. Bi-l-samāʾ serves as the preposed predicate of kāna, while ʿillatun is its postponed nominative subject.
In introduces the condition, and in lam takun in the following sentence negates it, producing the contrasting clear-sky case.
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Kitab al-Sawm: Eid Crescent Sighting and Testimony
Kānat is a past defective verb. Bi-l-samāʾ serves as the preposed predicate of kāna, while ʿillatun is its postponed nominative subject.
In introduces the condition, and in lam takun in the following sentence negates it, producing the contrasting clear-sky case.