Quranic root
ظلل
ẓ · l · l
The root centers on one thing covering, screening, or protecting another, especially through shade.
From physical shade and covering, the lexicon develops meanings of protection, shelter, security, ease, and the daytime continuation or persistence expressed by ظَلَّ.
- Maqāyīs · row 3104
- Mufradāt · row 928
- 5
- Quran-attested forms
- 7
- Quran senses
- 33
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
ظَلَّ
ẓalla
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 9 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.
To remain or continue in a state or activity; to pass the daytime doing something.
An incomplete verb whose original temporal association is with the daytime; Quranic usage also expresses persistence or continuation without making the daytime meaning prominent.
- Lane · entry 32594
- Mufradāt · row 928
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:97word 20
“you have remained”
Quran 56:65word 5
“then you would remain”
To become or turn into a state.
Used as an incomplete verb with a predicate describing the resulting state; this is distinct from merely continuing in an already established state.
- Lane · entry 32594
- Mufradāt · row 928
Selected Quran examples
Quran 43:17word 8
“becomes”
ظَلَّلَ
ẓallala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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.
To shade someone or something; to cause a covering or shade to extend over it.
A causative/transitive construction, including placing someone under the shade of clouds or another covering.
- Lane · entry 32595
- Mufradāt · row 928
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:57word 1
“And We shaded”
Quran 7:160word 26
“And We shaded”
ظَلِيل
ẓalīl
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
Providing abundant, dense, extensive, or lasting shade.
The adjective may describe shade that is constant or extensive; in Quranic usage, the image can also imply protection from heat and pleasant ease of life, without requiring a separate lexical meaning.
- Lane · entry 32606
- Mufradāt · row 928
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:57word 20
“thick”
Quran 77:31word 2
“cool shade”
ظِلّ
ẓill
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 14 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.
Shade or shadow: the area or covering screened from the sun, and by extension anything that shades or covers.
The Quran uses the noun for ordinary shade and shadow as well as for shade associated with Paradise, clouds, trees, or other coverings. Classical distinctions between ظِلّ and فَيْء vary by time of day.
- Lane · entry 32599
- Mufradāt · row 928
Selected Quran examples
Quran 28:24word 6
“the shade”
Quran 77:41word 4
“shades”
Figuratively, protection, security, power of resistance, or a life of ease and plenty.
A figurative extension of shade as shelter and defense; Quranic interpretation applies it especially to divine protection, honor, security, and paradisal well-being.
- Lane · entry 32599
- Mufradāt · row 928
Selected Quran examples
Quran 13:35word 12
“and its shade”
ظُلَّة
ẓullah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 6 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.
An overhead covering, canopy, or encompassing shade; by extension, a cloud, mountain-like canopy, or covering layer.
The Quran applies the noun and its plural to benevolent or threatening coverings, including a cloud, the mountain over the Israelites, and coverings of fire; the lexical core remains an overhead covering or sheltering layer.
- Lane · entry 32601
- Mufradāt · row 928
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:171word 6
“a canopy”
Quran 26:189word 5
“(of) the shadow”
Quran 39:16word 4
“coverings”
Quran 2:210word 8
“(the) shadows”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:57وَظَلَّلْنَاAnd We shaded
- 2:210ظُلَلٍۢ(the) shadows
- 4:57ظِلًّۭا(in the) shade
- 4:57ظَلِيلًاthick
- 7:160وَظَلَّلْنَاAnd We shaded
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 40 Classical meanings
ظَلَّ
To continue or become prolonged.
A Classical extension of the continuation verb, including becoming long; the Quranic persistence and becoming senses are listed under ظَلَّ above.
- Lane · entry 32594
ظَلَّلَ
To make a sign with a whip in order to frighten.
A specialized transitive usage.
- Lane · entry 32595
أَظَلَّ
To be shady or to have shade; of a thing, to extend its shade.
Said of a day, a thing, or a source of shade.
- Lane · entry 32596
أَظَلَّ
To shade, shelter, guard, or place someone under protection.
Used of a tree, building, mountain, cloud, or other protector; the protective sense is treated here as a Classical verbal construction rather than as the Quranic noun ظِلّ.
- Lane · entry 32596
أَظَلَّ
To cover, approach, or draw near.
May be said of an approaching event or month, or of something coming near as though casting its shade.
- Lane · entry 32596
تَظَلَّلَ
To keep to shady places and remain in ease or repose.
A reflexive or middle construction associated with seeking shade and comfort.
- Lane · entry 32597
اِسْتَظَلَّ
To shelter or protect oneself by means of shade.
Constructed with the shade or the thing providing it, often with مِنْ or بِـ; it includes sitting in or taking refuge under shade.
- Lane · entry 32598
اِسْتَظَلَّ
Of blood, to be within the interior of the body.
A specialized lexical usage unrelated to seeking shade.
- Lane · entry 32598
اِسْتَظَلَّ
Of an eye, to sink or become depressed in the head.
A specialized anatomical usage, especially reported of a camel’s eye or eyes.
- Lane · entry 32598
اِسْتَظَلَّ
Of a grapevine, to become luxuriant and dense in its branches.
A specialized botanical usage.
- Lane · entry 32598
ظِلّ
In idiomatic expressions, a refuge or covert, a person’s state or condition, or something elusive and not to be overtaken.
Includes proverbially leaving a shelter like a frightened gazelle, pursuing one’s own shadow, and leaving one’s former condition; these are idiomatic extensions of the shade image.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
The darkness or blackness of night.
A figurative use for night or the dark part of night, including the period before sunrise.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
The subdued color or appearance of the day when sunlight predominates over the dawn light.
A specialized expression for the daytime atmosphere or coloration.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
The dark or sun-concealing part of a cloud.
A conventional description of clouds insofar as they conceal the sun or cast darkness.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلَال
Sea waves that rise over a ship and its occupants like shade.
A specialized plural usage based on the waves’ covering or overshadowing effect.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
A visible apparition or phantom, including one associated with jinn.
A specialized sense of a shadow-like appearance.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
The beginning of winter.
A rare figurative usage.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
The severity of summer heat.
A rare figurative usage referring to the intense heat from which shade protects.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
The person, bodily figure, or visible substance of a thing.
A figurative usage based on the dark or shadow-like appearance of a person or object.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظِلّ
The nap or villous surface of a garment or cloth.
A rare textile usage.
- Lane · entry 32599
ظَلَّة
Continuance, residence, or an abode.
A distinct lexical item with ظَلَّة rather than the Quranic ظُلَّة.
- Lane · entry 32600
ظِلَّة
A form equivalent to ظِلَال, apparently used as a collective or plural-like expression for shades.
The lexical identity and vowel pattern differ from Quranic ظُلَّة.
- Lane · entry 32602
ظَلَل
Water lying beneath a tree or trees where the sun does not reach.
A specialized environmental noun.
- Lane · entry 32603
ظَلَال
Something that shades, such as a cloud.
A noun for a shade-providing object, distinct in form from the plural ظِلَال of ظِلّ.
- Lane · entry 32604
ظَلَالَة
The act of providing shade or a thing that provides shade.
A noun associated with the causative shading construction ظَلَّلَ.
- Lane · entry 32607
ظَلَالَة
A person or visible figure.
A specialized figurative usage related to ظِلّ in the sense of a person or bodily figure.
- Lane · entry 32607
ظِلَالَة
A cloud seen separately with its shadow visible on the earth.
A specialized meteorological usage.
- Lane · entry 32608
ظِلَالَة
A covert or concealed place of birds.
A specialized noun for a bird’s place of concealment.
- Lane · entry 32608
ظَلِيلَة
A hollow or pool in a watercourse where water collects and stagnates.
A specialized geographical and hydrological noun.
- Lane · entry 32609
ظَلِيلَة
A meadow abounding in dense or tangled trees.
A specialized landscape noun.
- Lane · entry 32609
ظُلَّيْلَة
A small shelter made from trees, cloth, or similar material to protect against the sun.
Reported as a colloquial or vulgar diminutive form.
- Lane · entry 32610
ظُلْظُل
A shade structure or shelter made on a flat roof, especially to guard against sea dew in intense heat.
A specialized shelter noun.
- Lane · entry 32611
أَظَلّ
More or most dense in shade.
A comparative or superlative expression describing the density of shade.
- Lane · entry 32612
أَظَلّ
The concealed underside of a camel’s hoof, and the underside or ball of a human foot.
A specialized anatomical noun, distinct from the comparative adjective.
- Lane · entry 32612
مَظِلّ
A place of shade or continual shade; a resting-place or tent in which shade is found.
A noun of place associated with shade.
- Lane · entry 32613
مُظِلّ
A thing that provides shade, or a cloudy day with continual shade.
An active participial or descriptive noun for a shade-producing object or day.
- Lane · entry 32614
مِظَلَّة
A large tent or other sheltering structure; by extension, a booth, shed, or parasol.
The form may denote a substantial Arab tent, a palm-stick booth, or an umbrella-like royal parasol.
- Lane · entry 32615
مُظَلَّل
A booth or shed covered over to provide shade.
A passive participial description of a shaded structure.
- Lane · entry 32616
مُسْتَظِلّ
Blood located within the interior of the body.
A specialized anatomical usage.
- Lane · entry 32618
مُسْتَظِلّ
Thin, soft flesh adhering to the inner sides of a camel’s fetlock joints.
A specialized zoological and anatomical usage.
- Lane · entry 32618
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Classical authorities distinguish ظِلّ and فَيْء differently with respect to time of day; the physical sense is therefore stated broadly rather than imposing one timing rule.
Some Quranic shade passages are interpreted physically and others figuratively as protection, power, or ease; both readings are represented where the lexical evidence explicitly supports them.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:Zll:32600:g1:sub2 preserves a disputed lexical reading, transmitted as صِحّة in some copies but suspected to be صَيْحة; it is not assigned to a public meaning.