Quranic root
صوف
ṣ · w · f
The root centers on صُوفٌ, wool, especially the fleece of sheep.
The principal semantic line extends from wool to descriptions of animals or hair as woolly, wool-like materials, and associated derivatives. The lexicon also records a separate turn-aside branch for صَافَ and أَصَافَ.
- Maqāyīs · row 2864
- Mufradāt · row 859
- 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.
صُوفٌ
ṣūfun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
Wool, the fleece or hair covering of sheep used as a material.
The Quranic form is the plural أَصْوَاف and refers collectively to the wool of the animals mentioned in its context, alongside camel fur and animal hair.
- Lane · entry 26903
- Mufradāt · row 859
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:80word 19
“their wool”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 16:80أَصْوَافِهَاtheir wool
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 15 Classical meanings
صَافٌ
Woolly; having abundant wool.
Used of a ram with much wool, of a hair-lock described as wool-like, and through a feminine form of a ewe.
- Lane · entry 26897
- Lane · entry 26901
- Lane · entry 26907
صَافَ، أَصَافَ
To turn aside or away; to be turned away; to turn something away.
Used of an arrow turning aside from its target, a face turning away, or evil or mischief turning away; the Form IV construction can mean turning evil away from someone.
- Lane · entry 26897
- Lane · entry 26899
صَوَّفَ
Of a grapevine, to show its fruitstalks again after its fruit has been cut off.
- Lane · entry 26898
تَصَوَّفَ، صُوفِيٌّ
To become a devotee or Sufi; a member of the Sufi community, especially a devotee or mystic.
This usage is explicitly described as post-Classical; تَصَوَّفَ may also describe someone claiming or undertaking such religious devotion.
- Lane · entry 26900
- Lane · entry 26908
صُوفَةٌ
A single portion, tuft, flock, or wisp of wool.
The singular noun may denote a particular portion of wool; صُوفٌ can sometimes be used in this count-noun sense.
- Lane · entry 26903
- Lane · entry 26905
بِصُوفِ رَقَبَتِهِ
In the expression أَخَذَ بِصُوفِ رَقَبَتِهِ, to seize someone by the nape or by force, or to overtake someone after pursuing him.
The expression is variously explained literally by reference to the pendent or downy hair at the nape, or more broadly as taking hold of someone or overtaking him.
- Lane · entry 26903
أَعْطَاهُ بِصُوفِ رَقَبَتِهِ
To give something altogether, or to give it gratuitously without taking payment.
A conventional expression distinct from the corresponding expression for seizing or overtaking someone.
- Lane · entry 26903
خَرْقَاءُ وَجَدَتْ صُوفًا
A proverb for someone who obtains property without knowing its value and wastes it.
It is also applied to a foolish or inept person who finds property and spoils it.
- Lane · entry 26903
صُوفُ الْبَحْرِ
A wool-like marine substance, identified as seaweed or similar material cast onto beaches.
The expression is literal in form but names a material resembling wool rather than animal fleece.
- Lane · entry 26903
صُوفَةٌ
A wool pessary or suppository containing a medicament.
A technical medical use for an insert placed in the vagina or rectum.
- Lane · entry 26905
صُوفَةٌ، صُوفَانٌ
The pre-Islamic group associated with serving the Kaaba and conducting pilgrims from ʿArafāt; by extension, a servant of the Kaaba.
The historical identification and derivation of the group name are reported in more than one way, but the association with Kaaba service is explicit.
- Lane · entry 26905
- Mufradāt · row 859
صُوفَانٌ، صُوفَانَةٌ
A downy herb or leguminous plant.
The plant is described as short and covered with fine down; these forms are distinct from the separately attested fungus sense of صُوفَانٌ.
- Lane · entry 26907
- Mufradāt · row 859
صُوفَانٌ
A flaccid, dry fungus or tree-born substance used as tinder.
A technical or regional plant-material designation for a substance especially suitable for striking fire.
- Lane · entry 26906
صَوَّافٌ
A maker or manufacturer of wool or woollen garments.
- Lane · entry 26911
صَيِّفَةٌ
A wool-rich garment of the type called جُبَّة.
- Lane · entry 26913
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The sole Quran occurrence is the plural أَصْوَاف; the public headword is normalized to the singular citation form صُوفٌ.
The Classical turn-aside meanings of صَافَ and أَصَافَ are kept separate from the Quranic wool sense.