Quranic root
فشل
f · sh · l
The root's principal Quranic branch concerns weakness joined with cowardice and loss of resolve. Classical evidence also preserves a distinct use for water flowing and concrete nouns connected with a howdah.
The evidence records the weakness-and-cowardice branch alongside the flowing-water use and howdah terminology, but does not establish a single secure historical derivation connecting these branches.
- Maqāyīs · row 3593
- Mufradāt · row 1116
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
فَشِلَ
fashila
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To be weak-hearted and cowardly; to lose heart or courage.
Quranic Form I active verb, used of people or a group who lose courage and become weak-hearted. The Quranic occurrences include both perfect and imperfect inflections.
- Lane · entry 34250
- Mufradāt · row 1116
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:122word 6
“they lost heart”
Quran 3:152word 10
“you lost courage”
Quran 8:43word 10
“surely you would have lost courage”
Quran 8:46word 6
“lest you lose courage”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:122تَفْشَلَاthey lost heart
- 3:152فَشِلْتُمْyou lost courage
- 8:43لَّفَشِلْتُمْsurely you would have lost courage
- 8:46فَتَفْشَلُوا۟lest you lose courage
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 10 Classical meanings
فَشَلَ
Of a woman, to hang a cloth in a howdah, draw it inside, and fasten its ends to the frame.
A specialized howdah-related verbal construction.
- Lane · entry 34250
تَفَشَّلَ
Of water, to flow.
Classical Form V usage.
- Lane · entry 34252
تَفَشَّلَ
To take a wife from among people not of one's own kindred.
A reported Classical Arabic marriage-related construction.
- Lane · entry 34252
فَشْلٌ
Weakness, weak-heartedness, cowardice, or flagging and languor.
A nominal or descriptive use for weakness or lack of spirit; the lexical source also records plural forms.
- Lane · entry 34254
فِشْلٌ
An item of a woman's howdah apparatus placed beneath her; also the howdah's curtain.
A specialized noun for protective cloth or apparatus inside a howdah.
- Lane · entry 34255
فَيْشَلَةٌ
The glans, or head, of the penis; also the head of a penis with a large glans.
An anatomical noun.
- Lane · entry 34258
فَيَاشِلُ
A name for certain trees.
A plural or collective-noun use distinct from the anatomical term.
- Lane · entry 34258
تَفْشِيلٌ
Milk remaining in the udder.
A Classical noun for residual milk.
- Lane · entry 34259
مِفْشَلٌ
A man who takes a wife from among people not of his own kindred, lest the offspring be spare in body or weak.
A specialized descriptive noun tied to the stated kinship and offspring-related rationale.
- Lane · entry 34260
مِفْشَلَةٌ
The gizzard or crop of a bird.
A technical term reported as Arabicized; the lexical source notes possible confusion with a similar word.
- Lane · entry 34261
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's printed Quran citations for the Form I entry use historical citation conventions and are not treated as modern verse locations; the modern examples here use only QAC-supplied locations.
The lexical evidence reports possible confusion around مِفْشَلَةٌ and a competing س-form for فَشْلٌ; these notes do not alter the displayed headwords.