تلكما

Core meaning

Demonstrative of distance in the feminine (تِلْكَ), fused with the mark of an address to two (ـكُمَا): the thing is shown from afar, to two hearers together.

Uses

1. تِلْكُمَا + feminine noun → "that" : the base follows the thing shown (ٱلشَّجَرَة, feminine); the suffix says that two are addressed.

   • «أَلَمْ أَنْهَكُمَا عَن تِلْكُمَا ٱلشَّجَرَةِ» — "Did I not forbid you that tree" (7:22)

Evidence from the text

Before the fault, the tree is shown by هَٰذِهِ, the demonstrative of nearness: "do not approach this tree" (7:19), and the Diverter takes up the same word (7:20). After the fault, in 7:22, the Guardian designates it by تِلْكُمَا: the tree is now held at a distance, and the word is addressed to the two together, like the rest of the verse (أَنْهَكُمَا, لَكُمَا).

The form says in one word what is shown, from what distance, and to how many hearers. The translation renders the demonstrative and lets the verse say who is addressed: "for you two".

Distinctions

• تلكم — the same device, the thing shown to several (7:43)
• ذلكم — the same device in the masculine, addressed to several

See also

شجر (the tree)