Definition of Al-Munada
Vocative Particles
ay – a
For the near vocative, e.g.: a-Muhammadu ('O Muhammad'), ay bunayya ('O my little son').
ay – a – aya – haya – waw al-nudba
For the far vocative, e.g.: aya Ibrahimu aqbil ('O Ibrahim, come forward!').
ya
For the vocative — whether near or far
Near, e.g.: ijlis ya rajulu ('Sit, O man!').
Far, e.g.: aqbil ya rajulu ('Come forward, O man!').
Rulings of Al-Munada
Proper Name (al-ʿAlam)
It is mabni (indeclinable) on whatever raises it (in non-vocative use), occupying the position of accusative — as in the saying of Allah Most High: "It was said, 'O Noah, disembark in security...'" — Quran 11:48 (Sahih International)
Specifically Indicated Indefinite (Al-Nakira al-Maqsuda)
It is mabni on whatever raises it, in the position of accusative — as in the saying of Allah Most High: "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him." — Quran 34:10 (Sahih International)
Non-Specifically Indicated Indefinite (Al-Nakira Ghayr al-Maqsuda)
Its ruling is obligatorily accusative, e.g.: ya ʿasiyan tub ila Allah ('O sinner, repent to Allah!').
The Annexed (Al-Mudaf)
Its ruling is obligatorily accusative.
As in the saying of Allah Most High: "O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Abraham..." — Quran 3:65 (Sahih International)
Resembling the Annexed (Al-Shabih bi-l-Mudaf)
It is one in which the element attached to al-munada cannot be dispensed with, e.g.: ya taliʿan jabalan ('O climber of a mountain'). Its ruling is obligatorily accusative.
Al-Munada Annexed to the Speaker's Yaʾ
Sound-Ending
Retention of the Yaʾ
It is mabni on:
Sukun (ya sadiqi-y) ('O my friend!') or fatha (ya sadiqi-ya) ('O my friend!')
Or by dropping the yaʾ and being content with kasra on the letter preceding it.
As in the saying of Allah Most High: "O My servants, fear Me." (literally 'ya ʿibadi') — Quran 29:56 (Sahih International)
Or by giving fatha to the letter and converting the yaʾ to alif.
As in the saying of Allah Most High: "Oh, [how great is] my regret over what I neglected in regard to Allah!" — Quran 39:56 (Sahih International)
Weak-Ending
It is obligatory to retain the yaʾ; it is mabni on fatha, e.g.: ya muhamiyya ('O my lawyer!').
An Active Participle (Ism al-Faʿil), an Intensive Form (Mubalagha), or a Passive Participle (Ism al-Mafʿul)
It is obligatory to retain it
And it is mabni on fatha, e.g.: ya muʿallimi-ya ('O my teacher!').
Or sukun
– يا مجروحي
Ab (Father) – Umm (Mother)
These have the same rulings as a sound-ending [annexed to the speaker's yaʾ]; it is also possible to drop the yaʾ and substitute the fatha-bearing taʾ of the feminine in its place.
– يا أبتَ ، ويا أمَّ
Or the kasra-bearing taʾ
– يا أبتِ ويا أمِّ
Omission of the Vocative Particle:
The vocative particle may be omitted; it is implied as 'ya', since 'ya' is the foundational particle of the chapter. However, omitting it is forbidden in the following cases:
1 — Al-mandub (the lamented):
– يا حسرتا
2 — Al-mustaghath (the one called for help):
– يالمحمد
3 — Al-nakira ghayr al-maqsuda (the non-specifically indicated indefinite):
– يا سامعًا أقبل
4 — Al-nakira al-maqsuda (the specifically indicated indefinite):
– يا شرطيُ أغثني
5 — A demonstrative pronoun (ism al-ishara):
– قف يا هذا
6 — The far vocative:
– يا سائقَ السيارةِ
7 — The addressee pronoun:
– يا أنتَ استمع لقولي
8 — The divine name:
– يا اللهُ استجبْ