يشرّع
يشرّع in 30 Seconds
- A formal verb meaning to legislate or enact laws, primarily used in political and legal contexts to describe the work of governing bodies.
- Derived from the root (ش ر ع), it shares a linguistic heritage with 'Sharia' and 'Tashri' (legislation).
- Typically used in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) for news, academic writing, and formal discussions about government and authority.
- Follows the Form II verb pattern, emphasizing the causative act of making something into a law.
The Arabic verb يشرّع (yusharri'u) is a cornerstone of legal, political, and social discourse. At its heart, it refers to the act of legislating, enacting laws, or establishing a framework of rules that govern a society. Derived from the root (ش ر ع), which historically relates to a path or a way leading to water, the word carries a weight of providing a clear, guided direction for people to follow. In modern contexts, you will encounter this word most frequently when discussing the functions of a parliament, the powers of a government, or the religious authority in a theological setting.
- Political Context
- It describes the primary duty of the legislative branch of government (السلطة التشريعية). When a representative body debates and passes a bill, they are in the process of 'تشريع' (legislation).
البرلمان يشرّع قوانين جديدة لحماية البيئة.
(The parliament legislates new laws to protect the environment.)
Beyond the halls of parliament, the word is also used in a religious sense. In Islamic jurisprudence, 'يشرّع' refers to the divine or prophetic establishment of rules (Sharia). It implies that the source of the law is authoritative and foundational. Interestingly, the verb is also used figuratively in some dialects to mean 'to open wide,' such as opening a door or a window, though this is less common in formal Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).
- Usage in Media
- News anchors use this verb to report on constitutional changes. You will hear it in phrases like 'يشرّع الدستور' (the constitution stipulates/legislates).
هل يحق للحكومة أن تشرّع دون الرجوع للبرلمان؟
(Does the government have the right to legislate without referring to parliament?)
Using يشرّع correctly requires understanding its role as a Form II verb (Fa''ala). Form II verbs often carry a causative or intensive meaning, and in this case, it means 'to make' or 'to cause to be' a law. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object—the law or regulation being enacted.
- Grammatical Pattern
- The verb follows the pattern (يُفَعِّلُ). The present tense is 'يُشرّع', the past is 'شرّع', and the verbal noun is 'تشريع'.
When constructing a sentence, the subject is typically an entity with authority. This could be a person (like a king or a leader), a body (like a council), or an abstract concept (like history or necessity). For example, you might say 'Necessity legislates its own rules' in a philosophical context.
المجلس الوطني يشرّع ضوابط جديدة للتجارة الإلكترونية.
(The National Council legislates new regulations for e-commerce.)
In complex sentences, you can use the particle 'أن' (that) after the verb to describe what is being legislated. For example, 'The law legislates that every citizen must pay taxes.' This structure is very common in formal legal documents and academic writing about political science.
لا يمكن للدولة أن تشرّع ما يخالف الدستور.
(The state cannot legislate what contradicts the constitution.)
- Agreement
- Since 'البرلمان' (parliament) is masculine, use 'يشرّع'. Since 'اللجنة' (the committee) is feminine, use 'تشرّع'.
If you tune into an Arabic news channel like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya, you will hear يشرّع almost daily. It is a staple of 'Political Arabic.' The word is used to describe the ongoing activities of governing bodies across the Arab world and internationally. You will also find it in the headlines of newspapers like Asharq Al-Awsat, especially in the 'Local News' or 'Politics' sections.
عاجل: البرلمان يشرّع قانوناً طارئاً لمواجهة الأزمة الاقتصادية.
(Breaking: Parliament legislates an emergency law to face the economic crisis.)
Another common place to hear this word is in university lecture halls, specifically in the faculties of Law (حقوق) and Political Science (علوم سياسية). Professors discuss the philosophy of law and who has the right to 'يشرّع'. In these academic settings, the word is used with precision to distinguish between different types of rules, such as primary legislation versus secondary regulations.
In religious sermons (Khutbah), the word might be used to discuss the origins of Islamic law. A preacher might say, 'Allah legislated for us a religion of ease,' using the past tense 'شرّع الله لنا'. Here, the word takes on a sacred tone, emphasizing the divine origin of the rules being discussed. This dual usage—both highly secular/political and deeply religious—makes it a versatile and essential word for any intermediate learner.
- Daily Conversations
- While not common in casual slang, educated speakers use it when complaining about bureaucracy or discussing new government mandates that affect their lives.
لماذا يشرّعون مثل هذه القوانين الصعبة؟
(Why do they legislate such difficult laws?)
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with يشرّع is confusing it with other verbs derived from the same root. Arabic roots are productive, and small changes in the vowel pattern or verb form can completely change the meaning. For instance, the Form I verb 'شرع' (shara'a) can mean 'to begin' or 'to start' when followed by a present tense verb, which is a very different usage.
- Form I vs Form II
- 'شرع يكتب' (He began writing) vs 'يشرّع القانون' (He legislates the law). Notice the shadda on the middle letter in the legislative version.
Another common error is confusing it with 'أشرع' (ashra'a - Form IV), which can mean to point a weapon (like a sword or a gun) at someone. While the spelling is similar, the context and the 'Alif' at the beginning of Form IV make them distinct. Mixing these up in a political essay could lead to some very confusing (and potentially violent) imagery!
خطأ: هو شرع في البرلمان.
صواب: هو يشرّع في البرلمان.
(Correction: The first implies he 'started' in parliament; the second correctly says he 'legislates'.)
Learners also sometimes struggle with the prepositional usage. Unlike some English verbs that require 'for' or 'against', 'يشرّع' is usually directly transitive. You legislate a law (يشرّع قانوناً), you don't 'legislate *for* a law' in the same way. However, you can say 'يشرّع للمجتمع' (He legislates for the society), where the 'Li-' indicates the beneficiary.
- Pronunciation Pitfall
- Ensure you pronounce the 'Ayn' (ع) at the end clearly. If you drop it, the word becomes unrecognizable to native speakers.
While يشرّع is the most formal and common word for enacting laws, there are several alternatives depending on the nuance you want to convey. Understanding these synonyms will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to navigate different registers of the language.
- سنّ القوانين (Sanna al-qawanin)
- This is perhaps the most common synonym. 'سنّ' literally means to sharpen or to prescribe. It is used almost interchangeably with 'يشرّع' in journalistic contexts.
- قنّن (Qannana)
- This verb specifically means 'to codify' or to turn something into a formal 'Qanun' (law). It is used when a set of existing customs or informal rules are officially written into the legal code.
بدلاً من يشرّع، يمكننا قول 'يضع القوانين'.
(Instead of 'legislates', we can say 'sets the laws'.)
If you are looking for a more general term, you can use 'أصدر' (asdara), which means 'to issue'. This is used for decrees (مرسوم) or decisions (قرار) that might not be full 'laws' but still carry legal weight. For example, a president might 'issue a decree' (يصدر مرسوماً) rather than 'legislate' it, as legislation is usually the job of a parliament.
- Comparison Table
-
- يشرّع: General, formal, covers both secular and religious law.
- سنّ: Common in news, implies establishing a precedent.
- قنّن: Technical, implies codification and organization.
- أصدر: Executive action, used for decrees and orders.
How Formal Is It?
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Fun Fact
The word for 'street' (شارع) comes from the same root, because a street is a 'path' just as a law is a 'path' for society.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing it 'yushari'u' without the double 'r'.
- Dropping the 'ayn' at the end, making it sound like 'yusharri'.
- Confusing the 'u' prefix with 'a' (asharri'u).
- Pronouncing the 'sh' as 's'.
- Mixing up the vowels (yusharru'u).
Difficulty Rating
Easy to recognize in news headlines.
Requires correct conjugation and shadda placement.
The 'ayn' sound at the end can be tricky for beginners.
Clear pronunciation in formal media.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Form II Verbs
شرّع - يشرّع (Intensive/Causative action)
Transitive Verbs
يشرّع القانون (Takes a direct object)
Passive Voice
يُشرَّع القانون (The law is legislated)
Verbal Noun (Masdar)
التشريع (Legislation)
Active Participle
المشرّع (The Legislator)
Examples by Level
البرلمان يشرّع قوانين.
The parliament legislates laws.
Simple Subject-Verb-Object structure.
هو يشرّع قانوناً جديداً.
He legislates a new law.
The word 'قانوناً' has an 'an' sound at the end because it's the object.
الملك يشرّع للناس.
The king legislates for the people.
Using 'li-' (for) to show who the law is for.
من يشرّع هنا؟
Who legislates here?
Question form using 'Man' (Who).
هي تشرّع قواعد في البيت.
She legislates (makes) rules in the house.
Feminine form 'tusharri'u'.
نحن لا نشرّع القوانين.
We do not legislate the laws.
Negative form using 'la'.
هل تشرّع الحكومة اليوم؟
Does the government legislate today?
Question form using 'hal'.
هم يشرّعون كل سنة.
They legislate every year.
Plural form 'yusharri'una'.
المجلس يشرّع قوانين المرور.
The council legislates traffic laws.
Compound noun 'qawanin al-murur'.
يشرّع القاضي في المحكمة.
The judge legislates (decides) in the court.
Verb-Subject order.
لماذا يشرّع الرئيس هذا؟
Why does the president legislate this?
Question word 'Limadha' (Why).
يشرّع الله لنا الخير.
God legislates for us the good.
Religious context.
البرلمان يشرّع لحماية الأطفال.
The parliament legislates to protect children.
Using 'li-' + infinitive (to protect).
الدولة تشرّع نظاماً تعليمياً.
The state legislates an educational system.
Adjective following the noun 'nizaman'.
يشرّعون قوانين العمل الآن.
They are legislating labor laws now.
Present continuous sense.
هل يمكن أن يشرّع البرلمان هذا؟
Can the parliament legislate this?
Using 'yumkin an' (it is possible that).
يشرّع البرلمان قوانين صارمة ضد التلوث.
The parliament legislates strict laws against pollution.
Adjective 'sarimah' (strict) matching 'qawanin'.
يجب أن يشرّعوا قوانين تحمي الخصوصية.
They must legislate laws that protect privacy.
Subjunctive mood after 'an'.
كان البرلمان يشرّع قانوناً جديداً عندما حدثت الأزمة.
The parliament was legislating a new law when the crisis happened.
Past continuous using 'kana' + present verb.
من الصعب أن يشرّع المرء لنفسه.
It is difficult for one to legislate for oneself.
Impersonal 'al-mar'u' (one/the person).
يشرّع المجتمع أعرافاً غير مكتوبة.
Society legislates (establishes) unwritten customs.
Figurative use of 'legislates'.
سوف يشرّع البرلمان القانون الشهر القادم.
The parliament will legislate the law next month.
Future tense using 'sawfa'.
لم يشرّع البرلمان أي قانون هذا العام.
The parliament did not legislate any law this year.
Jussive mood after 'lam'.
تشرّع الدول المتقدمة قوانين للتكنولوجيا الحيوية.
Developed countries legislate laws for biotechnology.
Feminine plural agreement with 'al-duwal'.
يشرّع المشرعون القوانين بناءً على احتياجات الشعب.
Legislators legislate laws based on the needs of the people.
Using the active participle 'al-musharri'una' (legislators).
يُشرَّع القانون عادةً بعد نقاشات طويلة.
The law is usually legislated after long debates.
Passive voice 'yusharra'u'.
لا يحق لأي جهة أن تشرّع دون تفويض.
No entity has the right to legislate without authorization.
Using 'la yahiqu li-' (no right to).
يشرّع الدستور المبادئ الأساسية للدولة.
The constitution legislates (stipulates) the basic principles of the state.
Abstract subject 'al-dustur'.
من المهم أن يشرّع البرلمان قوانين تواكب العصر.
It is important that parliament legislates laws that keep pace with the times.
Using 'tuwakibu' (to keep pace with).
يشرّع الفقيه الأحكام بناءً على الأدلة.
The jurist legislates (derives) rulings based on evidence.
Specialized term 'al-faqih' (jurist).
هل تشرّع المنظمات الدولية قوانين ملزمة؟
Do international organizations legislate binding laws?
Adjective 'mulzimah' (binding).
يشرّع العقل قواعد المنطق.
The mind legislates the rules of logic.
Philosophical usage.
تشرّع الدولة القوانين لضمان السلم الاجتماعي.
The state legislates laws to ensure social peace.
Infinitive 'li-daman' (to ensure).
تشرّع السلطة التشريعية القوانين بينما تنفذها السلطة التنفيذية.
The legislative branch legislates laws while the executive branch implements them.
Contrast between 'tusharri'u' and 'tunaffidhu'.
يشرّع البرلمان قانوناً قد يثير جدلاً واسعاً.
The parliament legislates a law that might spark widespread controversy.
Use of 'qad' to show possibility.
يشرّع الإسلام قواعد للتعامل المالي.
Islam legislates rules for financial dealings.
Religious legislative context.
يشرّع التاريخ دروساً لا يمكن تجاهلها.
History legislates (sets) lessons that cannot be ignored.
Literary/Metaphorical usage.
يشرّع القانون الدولي حماية حقوق الإنسان.
International law legislates the protection of human rights.
Abstract subject.
تشرّع المجالس المحلية قوانين خاصة بالمنطقة.
Local councils legislate laws specific to the region.
Specific context of local government.
يشرّع الفكر الفلسفي أسساً للأخلاق.
Philosophical thought legislates foundations for ethics.
Highly academic usage.
تشرّع الأمم قوانينها استجابةً للتحولات التاريخية.
Nations legislate their laws in response to historical transformations.
Using 'istijabatan li-' (in response to).
يشرّع المشرع الحكيم ما ينفع الناس في مآلهم.
The wise legislator legislates what benefits people in their ultimate outcome.
Nuanced vocabulary like 'ma'al' (outcome).
تشرّع الطبيعة قوانينها الخاصة التي لا ترحم.
Nature legislates its own laws which are merciless.
Personification of nature.
يشرّع البرلمان في ظل ظروف سياسية معقدة.
The parliament legislates under complex political circumstances.
Prepositional phrase 'fi dhill' (in light of/under).
يشرّع الوعي الجمعي معايير السلوك المقبول.
Collective consciousness legislates the standards of acceptable behavior.
Psychological/Sociological context.
تشرّع المؤسسات الدولية معايير الشفافية.
International institutions legislate transparency standards.
Technical term 'al-shaffafiyyah'.
يشرّع الفن قوانين الجمال الخاصة به.
Art legislates its own laws of beauty.
Aesthetic context.
يشرّع العرف ما عجز القانون عن تنظيمه.
Custom legislates what the law failed to organize.
Contrast between 'urf' (custom) and 'qanun' (law).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Idioms & Expressions
— To open the doors wide (figurative). Often used for opportunities or welcomes.
يشرّع البلد أبوابه للمستثمرين.
Literary— A law that doesn't make sense or isn't valid (informal).
هذا كلام لا يشرّع!
Informal— To draw his sword (Form IV 'Ashra'a' is often confused here, but sometimes Form II is used figuratively).
يشرّع سيفه في وجه الظلم.
Classic— To legislate for a jungle (meaning to make chaotic or unfair laws).
هذا ليس قانوناً، أنت تشرّع للغابة!
Political Sarcasm— The legislator is silent (legal term for when there's no law for a specific case).
المشرع صامت تجاه هذه القضية.
Legal— Under the cloak of legislation (doing something questionable using law as a cover).
فعلوا ذلك تحت عباءة التشريع.
Critical— To legislate what one doesn't own (to overstep authority).
لا يشرّع أحد ما لا يملك.
FormalWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'SHARing' rules. A 'SHAR-ri'u' is someone sharing the rules with the country.
Visual Association
Imagine a judge or a king drawing a 'path' (Sharia) on the ground for people to walk on. That path is the law.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to write a sentence using 'yusharri'u' and its noun 'tashri' in the same paragraph.
Word Origin
From the Arabic root (ش ر ع - Sh-R-').
Original meaning: The root originally referred to a clear path or a road leading to a watering hole.
Semitic (Arabic).Cultural Context
Be careful when using it in religious versus secular contexts; some people believe only God can 'legislate' in the truest sense.
In English, 'legislate' sounds very cold and bureaucratic. In Arabic, 'yusharri'u' feels more foundational and path-setting.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Parliamentary Debates
- يشرّع المجلس
- نقاش التشريع
- مقترح قانون
- تصويت على التشريع
Legal Education
- أصول التشريع
- تاريخ القوانين
- حقوق وواجبات
- نصوص قانونية
Religious Studies
- شرع الله
- أحكام الشريعة
- الفقه الإسلامي
- مقاصد التشريع
News Reporting
- صدر اليوم
- يشرّع قانوناً طارئاً
- تعديلات تشريعية
- ردود فعل
Business Regulation
- يشرّع ضوابط السوق
- قوانين التجارة
- حماية المستهلك
- نظام الشركات
Conversation Starters
"هل تعتقد أن البرلمان يشرّع قوانين كافية لحماية البيئة؟"
"كيف يشرّع بلدك القوانين الجديدة؟"
"من يملك الحق في أن يشرّع في مجتمعك؟"
"هل يشرّع القانون للناس أم للشركات؟"
"ما هو أغرب قانون رأيته يشرّع في حياتك؟"
Journal Prompts
اكتب عن قانون تتمنى أن يشرّع في بلدك ولماذا.
صف عملية التشريع كما تتخيلها في مدينة فاضلة.
هل تعتقد أن الذكاء الاصطناعي يمكن أن يشرّع القوانين يوماً ما؟
ناقش الفرق بين أن يشرّع البرلمان وأن يشرّع العرف.
اكتب رسالة إلى مشرّع تطلب منه تغيير قانون معين.
Summary
The verb 'يشرّع' (yusharri'u) is the essential Arabic term for 'to legislate'. It is used to describe how authorities, like parliaments or religious figures, create the rules that govern society. Example: 'البرلمان يشرّع قوانين جديدة' (The parliament legislates new laws).
- A formal verb meaning to legislate or enact laws, primarily used in political and legal contexts to describe the work of governing bodies.
- Derived from the root (ش ر ع), it shares a linguistic heritage with 'Sharia' and 'Tashri' (legislation).
- Typically used in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) for news, academic writing, and formal discussions about government and authority.
- Follows the Form II verb pattern, emphasizing the causative act of making something into a law.
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B1In a fair or just manner.
عاجز
B1Lacking power, ability, or capacity.
إعلانات
A2Public announcements promoting products or services.
إعلاني
B1Relating to or consisting of advertising.
عالج
A2To process, to address (a problem), to treat.
أعلن
A2To announce, to declare, to advertise.
عالي الجودة
B1Of excellent standard or superior quality.
عامةً
B1Generally, broadly; in most cases; usually.
عامَةً
B1In a way that is open to or concerns the public as a whole.
أعمال
B1Commercial activity; a person's regular occupation or profession.