كِلَاboth

Example sentences

• وكلاهما معدوم في حقه

  And both are absent in his case.

  وَكِلَاهُمَا — And both. wa- (and) on a dual word 'both of them', the special Arabic form for exactly two, carrying -huma which is itself the dual 'them-two'. Where English needs 'both' plus a separate 'two', Arabic folds 'exactly two' into the word's shape; this is the subject of the sentence.

  From: Preparing for Judgment Day →

• فإن العبد إذا وقع في شدة فإما أن يدفعها بقوته أو قوة من ينصره وكلاهما معدوم في حقه

  For when the servant falls into distress, he either repels it with his strength or with the strength of one who aids him, and both are absent in his case.

  وَكِلَاهُمَا — and both. A dual word 'both of them' with an attached 'them-two' ending, joined by the leading 'and'. This is Arabic's dedicated 'exactly two' form, folding 'the two of them' into one word where English needs 'both'.

  From: Signs of Resurrection →

• وهو الناصر فإن العبد إذا وقع في شدة فإما أن يدفعها بقوته أو قوة من ينصره وكلاهما معدوم في حقه

  He is the helper, for when the servant falls into distress, he may either repel it with his own strength or with the strength of someone who helps him; both of these are absent in his case.

  وَكِلَاهُمَا — both of these. This joins 'and' to a special dual word meaning 'both of them two', and it carries an attached 'them-two'. Arabic has a dedicated form for exactly two, and this word grammatically insists the reference is to precisely the pair of options named, no more. English needs 'both of these two' to say it.

  From: Oaths That Seal the Truth →