Quranic root
أمل
ʾ · m · l
The principal semantic orientation is attentive waiting toward an anticipated outcome: hoping, expecting, and, in a related development, considering something carefully.
From the ideas of تثبّت and انتظار, the root develops the meanings of hope and expectation, often concerning a future or remote outcome, as well as deliberate contemplation. A separate lexical branch denotes an elongated ridge or mass of sand and is not part of the expectation sense.
- Maqāyīs · row 145
- Lane · entry 7229
- Lane · entry 7231
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَمَلٌ
ʾamalun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Hope or expectation directed toward a desired future outcome, often one regarded as distant or not yet realized.
A noun of hoping or expecting; the Quranic occurrences use it for hopes and future prospects rather than for a completed result.
- Lane · entry 7229
- Lane · entry 7234
Selected Quran examples
Quran 15:3word 5
“the hope”
An object, prospect, or outcome of hope or expectation.
In the Quranic construction خَيْرٌ أَمَلًا, the noun can characterize the prospect or outcome held out for hope, rather than merely naming the state of hoping.
- Lane · entry 7234
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:46word 13
“(for) hope”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 9 Classical meanings
أَمَلَ
To hope for or expect something, often with the expectation that its occurrence is remote or not yet near.
Form I verb. In lexical comparison, it is distinguished from طَمِعَ, which concerns a prospect regarded as near; رَجَاءٌ overlaps with both.
- Lane · entry 7229
أَمَّلَ
To induce another to hope or expect.
A Form II causative construction in which someone is caused to entertain hope or expectation.
- Lane · entry 7230
أَمَّلَ
To hope for or expect greatly.
A Form II intensive use, reported as more common than the corresponding ungeminated form in this sense.
- Lane · entry 7229
تَأَمَّلَ
To contemplate, examine, or study something attentively and repeatedly in order to know it or ascertain its real state; also to proceed deliberately or pause for consideration.
Form V; the construction may describe careful investigation, intense looking, or deliberate action rather than hasty action.
- Lane · entry 7231
آمِلٌ
One who hopes or expects; hopeful or expectant.
Active participle of أَمَلَ.
- Lane · entry 7236
مُؤَمَّلٌ
One whose beneficence may be hoped for.
A conventional use for a person from whom benefit or beneficence is expected.
- Lane · entry 7237
مُؤَمَّلٌ
In horse racing, a horse occupying a specified place among horses started together.
The reported position varies by authority, being given as the seventh, eighth, or ninth horse.
- Lane · entry 7237
مَأْمُولٌ
Hoped for or expected.
Passive participle of أَمَلَ.
- Lane · entry 7238
أَمِيلٌ
A detached elongated ridge or mass of sand, especially a large one.
A separate topographical noun belonging to the sand-related lexical branch, not to the Quranic noun of hope.
- Maqāyīs · row 145
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Lane citation accompanying the object-of-hope gloss is printed in historical citation form as “xviii. 44”; it has not been converted into a modern verse location. The example at 18:46 is used because that location is independently supplied by QAC.
The horse-racing meaning of مُؤَمَّلٌ has variant reported positions: seventh, eighth, or ninth.