The Use of the Definite and the Indefinite in the Ever-Glorious Qur’an

Abstract

This paper attempts to differentiate between the definite and the indefinite in the Qur’anic use of both forms. The current study focuses on words that are used in both forms in the same Surah or at least in the same context. The type of the definite on which the paper sheds light is the noun defined with /?al/ (the). The study attempts to prove that the context is the main element that determines the rationale behind using either form in the Qur’an. In addition, the paper concludes that neither form can replace the other.