Why does اسم look different in بِسْمِ اللهِ?
I understand that اسم means name, but I noticed it appears as بِسْمِ in the phrase. I am not sure what بِـ is doing before it.
Good observation. At this level, focus on seeing that بِـ connects to the word after it and gives a meaning like with or by. In بِسْمِ اللهِ, you are seeing اسم joined with بِـ. Later, you will learn the grammar name: بِـ is a ḥarf jarr and the noun after it is majrūr.
Beginner explanation first. Advanced grammar is introduced gradually.
Community replies
Brother from England
This helped me too. I understood it better after playing Preposition Hunt.
Brother from America
I kept confusing بِـ and مِنْ. The challenge helped me separate them.
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