When a Preposition Meets مَا

Interrogative Sentences and Nouns

When these prepositions are placed before interrogative مَا, the written form contracts slightly.

Parts
Combined form
Meaning
Example

لِ + مَا
لِمَ
why / for what
لِمَ أَنْتَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْبَيْتِ؟
لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ؟

فِي + مَا
فِيمَ
in what / about what
فِيمَ أَنْتَ مَشْغُولٌ؟

مِنْ + مَا
مِمَّ
from what
فَلْيَنْظُرِ الْإِنْسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ

عَنْ + مَا
عَمَّ
about what
عَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ