إذا ما

إذا ما

Arabic

Etymology

إِذَا‎ (ʾiḏā, “when; if”) +‎ ـمَا‎ (-mā, “soever”).

Conjunction

إِذَا مَا • (ʾiḏā mā) (+ past or jussive)

1. when; whenever
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 9:127:

     ‏وَإِذَا مَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَاكُم مِنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ ٱنْصَرَفُوا‎

     waʾiḏā mā ʾunzilat sūratun naẓara baʿḍuhum ʾilā baʿḍin hal yarākum min ʾaḥadin ṯumma nṣarafū

     And when a verse was revealed, they would look at one another, "Is there anybody who can see you?" Then they would walk away.

   • 10th century, Al-Mutanabbī, أَيَدْرِي الرَبعُ أَيَّ دَمٍ أَرَاقَا:

     ‏إِذَا مَا ٱلنَّاسُ جَرَّبَهُمْ لَبِيبٌ / فَإِنِّي قَدْ أَكَلْتُهُمُ وَذَاقَا / فَلَمْ أَرَ وُدَّهُمْ إِلَّا خِدَاعًا / وَلَمْ أَرَ دِينَهُمْ إِلَّا نِفَاقَا‎

     ʾiḏā mā n-nāsu jarrabahum labībun / faʾinnī qad ʾakaltuhumu waḏāqā / falam ʾara wuddahum ʾillā ḵidāʿan / walam ʾara dīnahum ʾillā nifāqā

     (please add an English translation of this quote)