Quranic root
بلس
b · l · s
The root centers on despair or loss of hope arising from severe distress.
From this core are associated states of grief-stricken silence, bewilderment, inability to answer or proceed, and remorse. The name إِبْلِيسُ is explained by some as deriving from this state of despair, though its foreign origin is also reported.
- Maqāyīs · row 833
- Mufradāt · row 155
- Lane · entry 37067
- Lane · entry 37072
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 5
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَبْلَسَ
ʾablasa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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 overwhelmed by severe distress and despair; to lose hope.
In the Quranic occurrence, the imperfect active form describes entering a state of grief-stricken despondency.
- Lane · entry 37067
- Mufradāt · row 155
Selected Quran examples
Quran 30:12word 4
“will (be in) despair”
مُبْلِسٌ
mublisun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
One overwhelmed by severe distress and despair; despondent.
An active participle used in the Quran for people or groups in a state of grief-stricken despair; contextual renderings include being in despair and being dumbfounded.
- Lane · entry 37068
- Mufradāt · row 155
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:44word 20
“(were) dumbfounded”
Quran 30:49word 10
“surely in despair”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 6:44مُّبْلِسُونَ(were) dumbfounded
- 23:77مُبْلِسُونَ(will be in) despair
- 30:12يُبْلِسُwill (be in) despair
- 30:49لَمُبْلِسِينَsurely in despair
- 43:75مُبْلِسُونَ(will) despair
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 11 Classical meanings
أَبْلَسَ
To fall silent, return no answer, or be unable to answer because of grief or despair; also, to have one's argument cut off.
Describes silence or loss of response resulting from distress, including being stopped in one's argument.
- Lane · entry 37067
- Mufradāt · row 155
أَبْلَسَ
To become confounded or perplexed and unable to discern the right course.
- Lane · entry 37067
أَبْلَسَ
To become unable to continue a journey or to attain a desired aim; to be cut off or prevented.
A conventional use for being thwarted in one's journey or purpose.
- Lane · entry 37067
أَبْلَسَ
To repent or feel grief for what one has done.
- Lane · entry 37067
أَبْلَسَ
To cause another person to despair.
Causative transitive use, distinct from becoming despairing oneself.
- Lane · entry 37067
مِبْلَاسٌ
A she-camel that does not bleat because of the intensity of rut.
A specialized description of a she-camel's failure to vocalize under intense sexual excitement.
- Mufradāt · row 155
- Maqāyīs · row 833
بَلِسٌ
A despairing, silent person who keeps what is in his mind unspoken.
Silence is attributed to grief or fear.
- Lane · entry 37068
- Maqāyīs · row 833
بَلَاسٌ
A garment or piece of haircloth; in the plural, large haircloth sacks used for produce and associated with the public parading of an offender.
The cloth term is reported as an Arabicized Persian word; the plural بُلُسٌ is used for the large sacks.
- Lane · entry 37069
- Mufradāt · row 155
بَلَسَانٌ
The balsam tree or shrub, and the balsam or medicinal resin obtained from it.
The lexical entry also distinguishes its wood, berries, and unguent as related products.
- Lane · entry 37070
بَلَّاسٌ
A seller of بَلَاسٌ, the haircloth material.
- Lane · entry 37071
إِبْلِيسُ
The proper name of Satan.
Some authorities derive the name from أَبْلَسَ, ‘to despair,’ while others regard it as a foreign word; the etymology is therefore disputed.
- Lane · entry 37072
- Mufradāt · row 155
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The cloth-related بَلَاسٌ branch is identified as an Arabicized Persian loanword and is kept separate from the despair branch.
The derivation of إِبْلِيسُ from أَبْلَسَ is reported as one view rather than an uncontested etymology.