من أجل

For the Sake of

Level 4

من أجل (min ajli) is a formal way to express the purpose of an action or the beneficiary of a sacrifice. It is followed by a noun in the genitive case or a verb clause starting with أن.

How It Works

In Modern Standard Arabic, من أجل functions as a compound preposition. Grammatically, it is an Idafa construction where ajl is the first part and the following noun is the second part. A common and interchangeable alternative is لأجل.

1. Usage with Nouns and Masdars:
When followed by a noun or a verbal noun (Masdar), that noun must be in the genitive case (majrūr). This is a concise way to express purpose.
Example: من أجلِ السلامِ (For the sake of peace) or من أجلِ تحسينِ العملِ (In order to improve the work).

2. Usage with Pronouns:
It can take attached pronouns directly.
Example: من أجلكَ (For your sake).

3. Usage with Verbs:
To express purpose using a verb, use the particle أن followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood.
Example: من أجلِ أن ينجحَ (In order that he succeeds).

4. Causal Meaning:
While primarily used for purpose, it can also denote cause or account, especially in the phrase من أجلِ ذلك (Because of that / On account of that).

5. Register:
This expression is formal and common in literature and news. In daily speech, dialects often replace it with other particles.

Examples (4)

  1. سافرَ إلى الخارجِ من أجلِ الدِّراسةِ.

    He traveled abroad for the sake of study.

    Word by Word: He traveled to the outside from sake of the study.

    Here, 'min ajli' is followed by a noun in the genitive case (al-dirāsati) to show the purpose of travel.

  2. نعملُ ليلَ نهارَ من أجلِ أن نُوفِّرَ حياةً أفضلَ لأطفالِنا.

    We work night and day in order to provide a better life for our children.

    Word by Word: We work night day from sake of that we provide life better for our children.

    When followed by a verb, 'an' is required, and the verb 'nuwaffira' takes the subjunctive ending.

  3. فعلتُ ذلكَ من أجلِكَ.

    I did that for your sake.

    Word by Word: I did that from sake of you.

    The attached pronoun '-ka' (you) is added directly to 'ajl'.

  4. ضحّى الجنديُّ بحياتِهِ من أجلِ الوطنِ.

    The soldier sacrificed his life for the sake of the homeland.

    Word by Word: Sacrificed the soldier with his life from sake of the homeland.

    This demonstrates the 'sacrifice' nuance often associated with this pattern.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting 'an' when using a verb directly after the phrase.

    سافرتُ من أجل أدرسُ.
    سافرتُ من أجلِ أن أدرسَ.

    In Modern Standard Arabic, if you follow 'min ajli' with a verb, you must use 'an' and the subjunctive mood. Alternatively, you can use a verbal noun (Masdar) without 'an'.

  • Confusing 'min ajli' with 'bi-sabab' for negative causes.

    تأخرتُ من أجلِ الزحامِ.
    تأخرتُ بسببِ الزحامِ.

    'من أجل' mostly gives a goal or a benefit ('for the sake of'). For a cause that is a problem, 'bi-sabab' is the natural word.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

من أجلLevel 4For the Sake of

Learn This First

To understand 'من أجل' (for the sake of), you need to be familiar with the basic preposition 'من' and how nouns are joined in an Idafa construction, which dictates the grammatical case of the following noun.

Words in This Pattern

من أجلأجلمن