Learn Arabic Idafah Construction: Mudaf vs. Mudaf Ilaihi Rules, Examples, and Quiz

Welcome to your essential guide to Al-Idafah (الإضافة). If you've ever wondered how to say "the teacher's book" or "a ring of silver" in Arabic, you're about to unlock the secret. 

Idafah (the "annexation" structure) combines two nouns like linguistic building blocks, creating relationships of ownership, material, time, and more. 

In this guide, we’ll break down its core components: the Mudaf (مُضَاف, the "attached" noun) and Mudaf Ilaih (مُضَاف إِلَيْهِ, the "anchor" noun). 

With clear rules, everyday examples, and a quiz to test your skills, you’ll master this foundational concept. Let’s dive in.

Mudaf and Mudaf Ilaih: The Beginner's Guide to Arabic Idafah

✅ 1. What is Mudaf and Mudaf Ilaih?

In Arabic grammar, we often combine two nouns to show a relationship between them — usually ownership or connection.

This kind of structure is called الإِضَافَة (al-idhaafah), which means "annexation" or "adding."

Think of it like saying “the book of the boy” or “the boy’s book.”

In this structure:

• The first noun is called مُضَاف (Mudaf) — the “attached” noun.
• The second noun is called مُضَاف إِلَيْهِ (Mudaf Ilaih) — the one it’s attached to.

✅ 2. What Does the Structure Look Like?

It always follows this order:

Mudaf + Mudaf Ilaih

🔹 Example:

كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ (kitaabu Muhammadin)

= "the book of Muhammad" or "Muhammad’s book"

• كِتَابُ → mudaf (book)
• مُحَمَّدٍ → mudaf ilaih (Muhammad)

✅ 3. Basic Rules to Remember

📌 For the Mudaf (First Noun):

❌ No "ال" (definite article)

❌ No تنوين (nunation like ٌ ً ٍ)

✅ Its case depends on its role in the sentence (subject, object, etc.)

📌 For the Mudaf Ilaih (Second Noun):

✅ It is always in the genitive case (ends in ـِ like مُحَمَّدٍ)

✅ It can have "ال" if it’s definite

✅ It can have تنوين if it’s indefinite

✅ 4. Meanings of the Relationship

There are different ways mudaf–mudaf ilaih can show a relationship:

• Ownership: كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ (the student's book)
• Material (made of): خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ (a silver ring (ring of silver))
• Time/place: صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ (night prayer (prayer at night))
• Part/whole: قِطْعَةُ خُبْزٍ (a piece of bread)

✅ 5. Describing with Adjectives

Adjectives come after the idafah structure.

📌 If it describes the mudaf:

• It comes after the mudaf ilaih (AFTER the whole Idafah construction)
• It matches the mudaf in gender, number, case, and definiteness

Examples:

 وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحُ

→ “the pious son of the man” (الصالح describes وَلَدُ)

بَابُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ ٱلْجَدِيدُ

→ "the new door of the car" (ٱلْجَدِيدُ describes بَابُ )

📌 If it describes the mudaf ilaih:

It comes right after the mudaf ilaih (come IMMEDIATELY AFTER the Mudaf Ilaihi)

Examples:

وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحِ

→ “the son of the pious man” (الصالح describes الرّجل)

بَابُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ

→ "the door of the red car" (ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ describes ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ)

✅ 6. Longer Chains

You can have more than two nouns connected:

بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ

= "the door of the house of the minister"

• بَابُ → mudaf
• بَيْتِ → mudaf ilaih to "baab", and mudaf to "wazir"
• الوَزِيرِ → mudaf ilaih to "bayt" (final mudaf ilaih)

مُدَرِّسُ ٱبْنِ ٱلرَّجُلِ

="the teacher of the son of the man"

• مُدَرِّسُ → mudaf
• ٱبْنِ → mudaf ilaihi to "mudarris", and mudaf to "ar-rajul"
• ٱلرَّجُلِ → mudaf ilaihi to "ibn" (final mudaf ilaih)

✅ 7. Special Forms: Dual and Plural Mudaf

If the mudaf is dual or a sound masculine plural, it drops the final ن (nun).

🔹 Example (Dual):

بَيْتَانِ → two houses

→ Becomes بَيْتَا رَجُلٍ ("two houses of a man")

🔹 Example (Plural):

مُدَرِّسُونَ → teachers

→ Becomes مُدَرِّسُو الوَلَدِ ("the boy’s teachers")

Summary 

Congratulations! You’ve now navigated the essentials of Al-Idafah, the backbone of Arabic noun relationships. 

Let’s recap your key takeaways:

1️⃣ Structure is king: Always Mudaf + Mudaf Ilaih (e.g., كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ).

2️⃣ Mudaf Rules: Never takes "ال" or tanween; case depends on its role.

3️⃣ Mudaf Ilaih Rules: Always genitive (ends with ـِ), and can be definite/indefinite.

4️⃣ Meanings Matter: From ownership (وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ) to material (خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ).

5️⃣ Adjectives obey placement: Describe Mudaf? Place after whole phrase. Describe Mudaf Ilaih? Place right after it.

Whether you’re reading the Quran (رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ) or describing daily objects, Idafah is everywhere. Keep practicing with our quiz, and soon "the door of the minister’s house" (بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ) will roll off your tongue effortlessly. Remember: Arabic grammar is a journey – and you’ve just conquered a vital milestone!

🔢 Quiz: Mudaf and Mudaf Ilaih Basics

Choose the correct answers

1. What is “Mudaf” in an idafah construction?

A. The second noun in the phrase

B. A verb describing a noun

C. The first noun in the phrase

D. A noun with tanween

2. What is “Mudaf Ilaih”?

A. A verb following the subject

B. A second noun in the structure that shows relation

C. A noun with a shaddah

D. An adjective describing the mudaf

3. Which of these follows the correct order in idafah?

A. Mudaf Ilaih + Mudaf

B. Verb + Mudaf

C. Mudaf + Mudaf Ilaih

D. Noun + Adjective

4. What is the English meaning of “كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ”?

A. Muhammad's book

B. The Muhammad is a book

C. The book of students

D. The Muhammad of book

5. Which of the following CANNOT happen to a mudaf?

A. It can be definite

B. It can have "ال"

C. It takes the case from its position in the sentence

D. It cannot have tanween

6. What case is always used for the mudaf ilaih?

A. Nominative

B. Accusative

C. Genitive

D. Jussive

7. In the phrase “صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ”, what does the structure express?

A. Ownership

B. Time

C. Part and Whole

D. Material

8. Which meaning is shown in “قِطْعَةُ خُبْزٍ”?

A. Time

B. Material

C. Ownership

D. Part and Whole

9. What does “خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ” mean?

A. A golden ring

B. A silver ring

C. A big ring

D. A broken ring

10. Which one correctly describes the adjective of a mudaf?

A. It comes before the mudaf

B. It is placed after the mudaf ilaih

C. It comes before both nouns

D. It is always indefinite

11. In “وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحُ”, what does الصَّالِحُ describe?

A. الرَّجُلِ

B. وَلَدُ

C. الصَّالِحُ

D. Both nouns

12. In “بَابُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ”, which noun is being described by ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ?

A. بَابُ

B. ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ

C. ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ

D. None

13. What is الإضافة (Al-Idaafah)?

a) A verb conjugation

b) A compound noun structure showing relationships

c) An adjective agreement rule

d) A plural form

14. What is the final mudaf ilaih in “بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ”?

A. بَابُ

B. بَيْتِ

C. الوَزِيرِ

D. All of them

15. Which sentence uses a double idafah structure?

A. بَابُ الوَلَدِ

B. كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ الجَدِيدُ

C. مُدَرِّسُ ٱبْنِ ٱلرَّجُلِ

D. صَلاَةُ الفَجْرِ

16. What happens to a dual noun when it becomes mudaf?

A. It stays the same

B. It gains tanween

C. It adds “al”

D. It loses the final ن (nun)

17. What is the correct form of “two houses of a man”?

A. بَيْتَانِ رَجُلٍ

B. بَيْتَا رَجُلٍ

C. بَيْتَيْ رَجُلٍ

D. بُيُوتِ رَجُلٍ

18. What happens to sound masculine plural mudaf?

A. It becomes feminine

B. It adds “ال”

C. It loses the final ن

D. It becomes indefinite

19. Choose the correct idafah for “the boy’s teachers”:

A. مُدَرِّسُونَ الوَلَدِ

B. مُدَرِّسُو الوَلَدِ

C. مُدَرِّسُ الوَلَدُ

D. مُدَرِّسَاتُ الوَلَدِ

20. Which is true about mudaf ilaih?

A. It can come before the mudaf

B. It is always nominative

C. It is always genitive

D. It cannot be definite

21. Which rule applies to the Mudaf?

a) It always ends with "ـِ" (kasrah)

b) It can have "الـ" (definite article)

c) It never has tanween (ــٌ/ــً/ــٍ)

d) It must be indefinite

22. "خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ" (silver ring) shows which relationship?

a) Ownership

b) Time/place

c) Material

d) Part-whole

23. In "وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحِ" (the son of the pious man), what does الصَّالِحِ describe?

a) وَلَدُ (son)

b) الرَّجُلِ (man)

c) The entire phrase

d) Nothing

24. How would you say "the door of the minister's house"?

a) بَابُ الوَزِيرِ بَيْتِ

b) بَيْتُ بَابِ الوَزِيرِ

c) بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ

d) بَيْتُ الوَزِيرِ بَابُ

25. In "مُدَرِّسُو الوَلَدِ" (the boy’s teachers), why does مُدَرِّسُو lack final "ـن"?

a) It’s feminine

b) Mudaf drops final "ـن" in sound masculine plurals

c) It’s accusative case

d) It’s dual

26. What is the Arabic grammatical term for the construction that combines two nouns to show a relationship, such as ownership?

A) Nakirah

B) Ma'rifah

C) Al-Idafah

D) Tanwiin

27. How would you translate "a silver ring" into a mudaf-mudaf ilaih construction, which implies "a ring made of silver"?

A) خَاتَمٌ فِضَّةٌ

B) خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ

C) ٱلْخَاتَمُ ٱلْفِضَّةُ

D) خَاتَمٍ فِضَّةٍ

28. In a longer chain like "بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ" (the door of the house of the minister), which noun functions as both a mudaf and a mudaf ilaih?

A) بَابُ

B) بَيْتِ

C) الوَزِيرِ

D) None of the above

29. Which of these is a correct mudaf-mudaf ilaih construction?

A) اَلْكِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٌ

B) كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٌ

C) كِتَابٌ مُحَمَّدٍ

D) كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ

30. Can an adjective come between the mudaf and the mudaf ilaih?

A) Yes, always.

B) Yes, but only if it describes the mudaf.

C) No, never.

D) It depends on the case.

Answers

1. What is “Mudaf” in an idafah construction?

A. The second noun in the phrase

B. A verb describing a noun

C. The first noun in the phrase

D. A noun with tanween

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: Mudaf is the first noun — the one that is “attached” to the second.

2. What is “Mudaf Ilaih”?

A. A verb following the subject

B. A second noun in the structure that shows relation

C. A noun with a shaddah

D. An adjective describing the mudaf

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: Mudaf Ilaih is the second noun, which the mudaf is attached to.

3. Which of these follows the correct order in idafah?

A. Mudaf Ilaih + Mudaf

B. Verb + Mudaf

C. Mudaf + Mudaf Ilaih

D. Noun + Adjective

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: The mudaf always comes first, followed by the mudaf ilaih.

4. What is the English meaning of “كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ”?

A. Muhammad's book

B. The Muhammad is a book

C. The book of students

D. The Muhammad of book

✅ Correct answer: A

Explanation: “Kitabu” = book (mudaf), “Muhammadin” = of Muhammad (mudaf ilaih).

5. Which of the following CANNOT happen to a mudaf?

A. It can be definite

B. It can have "ال"

C. It takes the case from its position in the sentence

D. It cannot have tanween

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: Mudaf can NEVER have “ال” at the beginning.

6. What case is always used for the mudaf ilaih?

A. Nominative

B. Accusative

C. Genitive

D. Jussive

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: Mudaf Ilaih is always majrur (in the genitive case).

7. In the phrase “صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ”, what does the structure express?

A. Ownership

B. Time

C. Part and Whole

D. Material

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: “Prayer of the night” expresses a time relationship (night prayer).

8. Which meaning is shown in “قِطْعَةُ خُبْزٍ”?

A. Time

B. Material

C. Ownership

D. Part and Whole

✅ Correct answer: D

Explanation: It shows a part (piece) of a whole (bread).

9. What does “خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ” mean?

A. A golden ring

B. A silver ring

C. A big ring

D. A broken ring

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: “Ring of silver” — shows material relationship.

10. Which one correctly describes the adjective of a mudaf?

A. It comes before the mudaf

B. It is placed after the mudaf ilaih

C. It comes before both nouns

D. It is always indefinite

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: It must come after the whole idafah, and match the mudaf in case, gender, etc.

11. In “وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحُ”, what does الصَّالِحُ describe?

A. الرَّجُلِ

B. وَلَدُ

C. الصَّالِحُ

D. Both nouns

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: The adjective الصالح is describing the mudaf "وَلَدُ" (the son).

12. In “بَابُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ”, which noun is being described by ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ?

A. بَابُ

B. ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ

C. ٱلْحَمْرَاءِ

D. None

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: The adjective immediately follows the mudaf ilaih, so it describes ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ.

13. What is الإضافة (Al-Idaafah)?

a) A verb conjugation

b) A compound noun structure showing relationships

c) An adjective agreement rule

d) A plural form

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: الإضافة means "annexation" – it combines two nouns (Mudaf + Mudaf Ilaih) to show relationships like ownership or material.

14. What is the final mudaf ilaih in “بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ”?

A. بَابُ

B. بَيْتِ

C. الوَزِيرِ

D. All of them

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: الوَزِيرِ is the final mudaf ilaih in this three-word chain.

15. Which sentence uses a double idafah structure?

A. بَابُ الوَلَدِ

B. كِتَابُ الطَّالِبِ الجَدِيدُ

C. مُدَرِّسُ ٱبْنِ ٱلرَّجُلِ

D. صَلاَةُ الفَجْرِ

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: The structure includes two levels: teacher → son → man.

16. What happens to a dual noun when it becomes mudaf?

A. It stays the same

B. It gains tanween

C. It adds “al”

D. It loses the final ن (nun)

✅ Correct answer: D

Explanation: Dual nouns lose the final nun when acting as mudaf.

17. What is the correct form of “two houses of a man”?

A. بَيْتَانِ رَجُلٍ

B. بَيْتَا رَجُلٍ

C. بَيْتَيْ رَجُلٍ

D. بُيُوتِ رَجُلٍ

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: Dual form becomes بَيْتَا (without ن) + رَجُلٍ (genitive)

18. What happens to sound masculine plural mudaf?

A. It becomes feminine

B. It adds “ال”

C. It loses the final ن

D. It becomes indefinite

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: Just like duals, sound masculine plurals lose the final ن when mudaf.

19. Choose the correct idafah for “the boy’s teachers”:

A. مُدَرِّسُونَ الوَلَدِ

B. مُدَرِّسُو الوَلَدِ

C. مُدَرِّسُ الوَلَدُ

D. مُدَرِّسَاتُ الوَلَدِ

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: Plural mudaf (no ن) + mudaf ilaih (genitive).

20. Which is true about mudaf ilaih?

A. It can come before the mudaf

B. It is always nominative

C. It is always genitive

D. It cannot be definite

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: Mudaf Ilaih is always in the genitive case (majrur).

21. Which rule applies to the Mudaf?

a) It always ends with "ـِ" (kasrah)

b) It can have "الـ" (definite article)

c) It never has tanween (ــٌ/ــً/ــٍ)

d) It must be indefinite

✅ Correct answer: C 

Explanation: Mudaf loses tanween (nunation) and cannot take "الـ", e.g., كِتَابُ (not كِتَابٌ).

22. "خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ" (silver ring) shows which relationship?

a) Ownership

b) Time/place

c) Material

d) Part-whole

✅ Correct answer: C 

Explanation: It implies "ring made of silver" (hidden "مِنْ" meaning "of").

23. In "وَلَدُ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحِ" (the son of the pious man), what does الصَّالِحِ describe?

a) وَلَدُ (son)

b) الرَّجُلِ (man)

c) The entire phrase

d) Nothing

✅ Correct answer: B

Explanation: الصَّالِحِ (pious) comes right after الرَّجُلِ (man) and matches its genitive case.

24. How would you say "the door of the minister's house"?

a) بَابُ الوَزِيرِ بَيْتِ

b) بَيْتُ بَابِ الوَزِيرِ

c) بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ

d) بَيْتُ الوَزِيرِ بَابُ

✅ Correct answer: C

Explanation: Longer chains follow Mudaf→Mudaf Ilaih (which becomes Mudaf for the next):

بَابُ (Mudaf) + بَيْتِ (Mudaf Ilaih to بَابُ, Mudaf to الوَزِيرِ) + الوَزِيرِ (Mudaf Ilaih).

25. In "مُدَرِّسُو الوَلَدِ" (the boy’s teachers), why does مُدَرِّسُو lack final "ـن"?

a) It’s feminine

b) Mudaf drops final "ـن" in sound masculine plurals

c) It’s accusative case

d) It’s dual

✅ Correct answer: B 

Explanation: Sound masculine plurals (مُدَرِّسُونَ → مُدَرِّسُو) and duals (بَيْتَانِ → بَيْتَا) lose final "ـن" as Mudaf.

26. What is the Arabic grammatical term for the construction that combines two nouns to show a relationship, such as ownership?

A) Nakirah

B) Ma'rifah

C) Al-Idafah

D) Tanwiin

✅ Correct answer: C 

Explanation: Al-Idafah (الإِضَافَة) is the term for the compound noun construction known as mudaf and mudaf ilaih.

27. How would you translate "a silver ring" into a mudaf-mudaf ilaih construction, which implies "a ring made of silver"?

A) خَاتَمٌ فِضَّةٌ

B) خَاتَمُ فِضَّةٍ

C) ٱلْخَاتَمُ ٱلْفِضَّةُ

D) خَاتَمٍ فِضَّةٍ

✅ Correct answer: B 

Explanation: "خَاتَمُ" is the mudaf (no alif lam or tanwiin) and "فِضَّةٍ" is the mudaf ilaih (genitive case). This construction shows the material relationship.

28. In a longer chain like "بَابُ بَيْتِ الوَزِيرِ" (the door of the house of the minister), which noun functions as both a mudaf and a mudaf ilaih?

A) بَابُ

B) بَيْتِ

C) الوَزِيرِ

D) None of the above

✅ Correct answer: B 

Explanation: "بَيْتِ" is the mudaf ilaih to "بَابُ" (so it's genitive) and also the mudaf to "الوَزِيرِ" (so it has no alif lam or tanwiin).

29. Which of these is a correct mudaf-mudaf ilaih construction?

A) اَلْكِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٌ

B) كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٌ

C) كِتَابٌ مُحَمَّدٍ

D) كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ

✅ Correct answer: D 

Explanation: The mudaf ("كِتَابُ") has no "ال" or tanwiin, and the mudaf ilaih ("مُحَمَّدٍ") is in the genitive case.

30. Can an adjective come between the mudaf and the mudaf ilaih?

A) Yes, always.

B) Yes, but only if it describes the mudaf.

C) No, never.

D) It depends on the case.

✅ Correct answer: C 

Explanation: The mudaf and mudaf ilaih are a single unit and cannot be separated by any other word.