1a particle of reply: yes, yea—نَعَمْ
It carries acknowledgment that a statement is true; it makes a thing known to someone asking for information; and it gives a promise to someone who asks or demands. So it occurs after such sayings as “Zeyd stood”, “Did Zeyd stand?”, “Beat Zeyd”, and the like, as does نَعَمْ.
[And they will ask you to inform them, saying, Is it true? Say, Yes, by my Lord!]—وَيَسْتَنْبِؤُنَكَ أَحَقٌّ هُوَ قُلٌ إِ ىْ وَرَبِىّ
[Yes, by God!]—إِ ىْ وَٱللّٰهِ
Ibn-El-Ḥājib asserts that it occurs only after a question, as in the saying [in the Qur’ān 10:54]:
But according to all, it does not occur except before an oath.
When one drops the و, the ى may be sākin, or with fet-ḥ, or elided, [so that you say إِ ىْ ٱللّٰهِ, إِ ىَ ٱللّٰهِ, and إِ ٱللّٰهِ]; in the first of these cases two sākin letters come together, irregularly.
Lth says that إِ ىْ is an oath, as in إ ِىْ وَرَبِّى, which Zj says means نَعَمْ وَرَبِّى. IAar is also related to have said the like, and this is the correct explanation.
J says: it is a word preceding an oath, meaning بَلَى [q. v.], as in إِ ىْ وَرَبِّى and إِ ىْ وَٱللّٰه.
ISd and F say: it is synonymous with نَعَمْ and is joined with an oath; and one also says هِىْ.
Qur’ān 10:53 approximate — somewhere between 10:16 and 10:61 Lane cites “Kur x. 54”
Show Lane's original text
is a particle denoting a reply, meaning نَعَمْ [Yes, or yea]; importing acknowledgment of the truth of an enunciation; and the making a thing known, to him who asks information; and a promise, to him who seeks or demands; therefore it occurs after such sayings as “Zeyd stood” and “Did Zeyd stand.?” and “Beat thou Zeyd,” and the like; as does نَعَمْ : Ibn-El-Hájib asserts that it occurs only after an interrogation; as in the saying [in the Kur x. 54], وَيَسْتَنْبِؤُنَكَ أَحَقٌّ هُوَ قُلٌ إِ ىْ وَرَبِىّ [And they will ask thee to inform them, saying, Is it true? Say, Yea, by my Lord!]: but accord. to all, it does not occur otherwise than before an oath: and when one says, إِ ىْ وَٱللّٰهِ [Yea, by God!], and then drops the و the ى may be quiescent, and with fet-h, and elided; [so that you say, إِ ىْ ٱللّٰهِ , and إِ ىَ ٱللّٰهِ , and إِ ٱللّٰهِ ;] in the first of which cases, two quiescent letters occur together, irregularly. (Mughnee.) Lth says, إِ ىْ is an oath, as in إ ِىْ وَرَبِّى meaning, says Zj, نَعَمْ وَرَبِّى : IAar is also related to have said the like; and this is the correct explanation. (T.) [J says,] It is a word preceding an oath, meaning بَلَى [q. v.]; as in إِ ىْ وَرَبِّى and إِ ىْ وَٱللّٰه . (S.) [ISd and F say,] It is syn. with نَعَمْ , and is conjoined with an oath: and one says also هِىْ . (M, K.)