كَان was/is in Arabic
كَان is how you say “was/is” in Arabic.
Arabic
English
The audio uses AI voices.
Example sentence
وأما تفسيره للعلماء فجائز حسن والاجماع منعقد عليه فمن كان أهلا للتفسير جامعا للأدوات حتى التي يعرف بها معناه وغلب على ظنه المراد فسره
As for interpretation by scholars, it is permissible and good, and consensus is established on it. Whoever is qualified for interpretation, possessing the necessary tools — including those by which its meaning is known — and the intended meaning is most likely in their view, then they may interpret it.
كَانَ he is
The verb 'is/was' here is the condition's hinge — 'whoever is...'. Crucially it throws its following predicate into the -a form, which is why 'qualified' next ends in -a; this verb is known for that effect.
The English is machine-translated.
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More example sentences
إن كان مما يدرك بالاجتهاد كالمعاني والأحكام الجلية والخفية والعموم والخصوص والإعراب وغير ذلك
If it is a matter comprehensible through juristic effort, such as clear and hidden meanings, general and specific implications, grammar, and other things.
كَانَ is
The case-verb 'is/was' carrying a hidden 'it' (the matter at hand). It sets the condition's situation, and what it links to ('of the sort reachable...') follows immediately.
وإن كان مما لا يدرك بالاجتهاد كالأمور التي طريقها النقل وتفسير الألفاظ اللغوية فلا يجوز الكلام فيه إلا بنقل صحيح من جهة المعتمدين من أهله
And if it is something not reachable through juristic effort, like matters whose path is transmission and the explanation of linguistic expressions, then speaking on it is not allowed except with authentic transmission from reliable authorities.
كَانَ is
The case-verb 'is' once more, hidden 'it' inside, framing the second condition. What it links to ('of the sort NOT grasped by effort') is spelled out immediately.
وأما من كان ليس من أهله لكونه غير جامع لأدواته فحرام عليه التفسير
As for those who are not qualified, because they do not possess the tools, interpretation is forbidden for them.
كَانَ he was
'is/was,' carrying a hidden 'he,' setting up the description of this person. It links him to the state spelled out next — being outside the ranks of the qualified.
بعيدا من التصنع، لا يظهر التقشف، وإن كان باديا عليه،
Away from affectation, not displaying austerity, although it was evident on him,
كَانَ he was
This past-tense 'to be' verb carries its 'he/it' subject and supports the concessive clause, 'although it was'. It anchors the granted circumstance.
وكان له سمت يعرفه به من لم يكن رآه
And he had a demeanor by which those who had never seen him recognized him.
وَكَانَ and he had
The opening particle resumes the narrative, and the 'to be' verb here builds a 'had' sense: paired with the 'to him' that follows, it means 'he had'. Arabic expresses possession this way, with no verb 'to have'.