Verdict
#15
القرار (al-qarār) means 'verdict', 'decision', or 'resolution' and refers to a formal determination or judgment, often made by a court, authority, or governing body. It can also mean a fixed position or settled state. The word carries the weight of finality and authority in its usage.
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أصدرت المحكمة قراراً بإدانة المتهم.
Aṣdarat al-maḥkamah qarāran bi-idānati al-muttaham.
The court issued a verdict condemning the accused.
قرار الإدارة نهائي ولا يمكن الاستئناف.
Qarār al-idārah nihāʾī wa-lā yumkin al-istiʾnāf.
The administration's decision is final and cannot be appealed.
اتخذ الرئيس قراراً مهماً بشأن السياسة الاقتصادية.
Ittakhadha al-raʾīs qarāran muhimman bi-shaʾn al-siyāsah al-iqtiṣādīyah.
The president made an important decision regarding economic policy.
في القرار الأخير، وافقت الحكومة على المشروع.
Fī al-qarār al-ākhir, wāfaqat al-ḥukūmah ʿalā al-mashrūʿ.
In the final verdict, the government approved the project.
كان قرار الاستقالة صعباً جداً عليه.
Kān qarār al-istiqālah ṣaʿban jiddan ʿalayh.
The decision to resign was very difficult for him.
In Arab culture and legal systems, القرار holds significant weight as it often represents the final word of authorities, particularly in judicial and governmental contexts. The concept is deeply embedded in Arabic administrative and legal traditions where verdicts and official decisions are presented as binding resolutions. Understanding this word is essential for anyone navigating Arab bureaucratic, legal, or institutional environments.
Remember that القرار emphasizes finality and authority—it's not just any decision, but typically one made by an official body or authority. Use it when referring to formal verdicts, official decisions, or settled determinations. Don't confuse it with more casual choices; قرار implies weight and consequence. The verb form is قرر (qarrara, meaning 'to decide'), so you'll often see these words together.
القرار (al-qarār) is a fundamental Arabic word that translates to 'verdict', 'decision', or 'resolution'. It derives from the root ق-ر-ر (Q-R-R), which relates to the concepts of settling, staying fixed, or establishing something firmly. In Arabic usage, القرار specifically refers to a formal, authoritative determination—typically issued by a court, government body, organization, or person in a position of authority. It carries connotations of finality and binding obligation.
The word القرار is derived from the Arabic root ق-ر-ر (q-r-r), which encompasses meanings related to stability, resolution, and fixity. The root form gives rise to several related words: قرر (qarrara – 'to decide'), مقرر (muqarrar – 'determined/scheduled'), and إقرار (iqrār – 'acknowledgment/admission'). Understanding this family of words helps learners recognize القرار in context and comprehend how it relates to other expressions in Arabic.
In Arabic legal terminology, القرار holds paramount importance. Courts issue قرارات (qarārāt – plural) that serve as binding judgments. Similarly, governments, municipalities, and official institutions use القرار to communicate official determinations. For example, قرار المحكمة (qarār al-maḥkamah – 'court verdict') or قرار الحكومة (qarār al-ḥukūmah – 'government decision') are common phrases reflecting how القرار operates within formal systems. These verdicts carry legal weight and often cannot be circumvented without proper appeal procedures.
English speakers learning Arabic should note that القرار frequently appears in phrases like:
The noun is typically preceded by the verb اتخذ (ittakhadha – 'to take/make') when discussing the act of decision-making, creating the common collocation 'to make a decision'.
While القرار shares semantic overlap with الحكم (al-ḥukm – 'judgment') and الرأي (al-raʾy – 'opinion'), important distinctions exist. الحكم emphasizes the judgment aspect itself, while القرار stresses the decisive action and its finality. الرأي is more casual and personal, while القرار implies official authority. Additionally, القرار can mean a fixed or settled state, as in 'the ship remained on a steady course' (ظلت السفينة في قرارها – 'remained on its course').
In Arab societies, القرار represents more than mere choice—it embodies authoritative determination. Understanding this word is crucial for anyone engaging with Arab institutional systems, whether legal, governmental, or administrative. The concept reflects cultural values around hierarchy, formal authority, and binding agreements. In business, education, and government, decisions are frequently communicated as قرارات, emphasizing their official and binding nature.
When learning القرار, remember: (1) it implies authority and finality, not casual preference; (2) it commonly collocates with اتخذ/صدور (to make/issue); (3) adjectives like نهائي (final) or مهم (important) frequently modify it. Practice distinguishing it from synonyms by considering context—use القرار when an authority makes a binding determination, and reserve other words for more casual or personal opinions. Exposure to real news Arabic and official documents will strengthen recognition and proper usage of this fundamental word.