Quranic root
ذهل
dh · h · l
The root centers on being occupied or distracted away from something, especially through fright or another overpowering cause.
This orientation develops into forgetfulness, neglect, and causing another person to forget. The night-period term is explained through sleep-induced forgetfulness, while the swift-horse term is treated as a divergent lexical branch.
- Maqāyīs · row 1919
- Mufradāt · row 513
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
ذَهَلَ عَنْ
dhahala ʿan
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To become distracted from something and thereby forget or neglect it, especially under fear, grief, or overwhelming preoccupation.
The construction takes the forgotten or neglected thing with عَنْ. In the Quranic attestation, terror causes nursing mothers to forget what they have suckled.
- Lane · entry 21808
- Mufradāt · row 513
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:2word 3
“will forget”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 22:2تَذْهَلُwill forget
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 6 Classical meanings
ذَهَلَ عَنْ
To deliberately neglect or dismiss something; also to abandon a familiar companion through diversion, confusion, or mental alienation.
This represents classical extensions distinct from the Quranic terror-induced forgetfulness, including willing relinquishment of a familiar person.
- Lane · entry 21808
أَذْهَلَ عَنْ
To cause another person to forget, neglect, or become unmindful of something.
A causative Form IV construction, normally taking the affected person and the forgotten or neglected thing with عَنْ.
- Lane · entry 21809
ذُهْلٌ
A short period or portion of the night.
Used in the expression جَاءَ بَعْدَ ذُهْلٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ. Some authorities extend the term to a larger portion, such as a third or half of the night, but that report is treated as uncertain.
- Lane · entry 21811
ذُهْلٌ
The basham tree or plant.
- Lane · entry 21811
ذُهْلُولٌ
A swift or light, active horse; by extension, an energetic or active man.
The horse and human applications are explicit lexical uses of this derived noun.
- Lane · entry 21812
ذَاهِلٌ
A man indifferent to personal ornament and self-anointing or grooming.
A specialized active-participle usage, not merely the ordinary verbal meaning of forgetting.
- Lane · entry 21813
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The classical night-period meaning has divergent reports about whether ذُهْلٌ denotes a short interval or a larger portion of the night.