Quranic root
فضل
f · ḍ · l
The root denotes increase beyond a norm or measure, extending to surplus, superiority, excellence, bounty, and beneficence.
Its semantic range develops from excess or increase to surpassing excellence and then to an unowed gift or benefit; derived forms also express granting superiority, claiming excellence, and bestowing benefits.
- Maqāyīs · row 3604
- Mufradāt · row 1121
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 6
- Quran senses
- 104
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
فَضَّلَ
faḍḍala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 17 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 make one excel another; to prefer, favor, or distinguish someone or something by granting greater excellence or advantage.
The advantage may concern inherent excellence or acquired ability, wealth, rank, power, or another distinguishing benefit; active and passive Quranic uses express the same relation of unequal preference or excellence.
- Lane · entry 34416
- Mufradāt · row 1121
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:70word 12
“and We preferred them”
Quran 13:4word 16
“but We cause to exceed”
تَفَضَّلَ
tafaḍḍala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- 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 claim or assert superiority over one's equals or fellows.
The Quranic construction expresses a claim to higher rank or station, rather than the act of granting another person an advantage.
- Lane · entry 34419
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:24word 14
“assert (his) superiority”
فَضْلٌ
faḍlun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 84 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.
Excess, superiority, excellence, or advantage by which one person or thing exceeds another.
In Quranic usage this may denote comparative excellence or an advantage granted to a person, group, or created order.
- Lane · entry 34422
- Mufradāt · row 1121
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:39word 9
“superiority”
An unowed gift, favor, grace, benefit, or bounty freely bestowed.
The term commonly refers to divine bounty or favor, especially when described as something given by God without an obligation on the giver.
- Lane · entry 34422
- Mufradāt · row 1121
Selected Quran examples
Quran 24:14word 2
“(for the) Grace”
An increase or benefit obtained, including livelihood, material provision, or gain sought through activity.
The Quran-focused explanation applies this sense to money and what is acquired, including contexts of seeking provision or gain.
- Mufradāt · row 1121
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:198word 6
“bounty”
تَفْضِيلٌ
tafḍīlun
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
The act or result of preferring one over another and making one excel or stand out in excellence.
As the verbal noun of فَضَّلَ, it denotes preferential distinction or the conferral of greater excellence.
- Lane · entry 34416
- Mufradāt · row 1121
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:21word 11
“(in) excellence”
Quran 17:70word 17
“(with) preference”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:47فَضَّلْتُكُمْ[I] preferred you
- 2:64فَضْلُ(for the) Grace
- 2:90فَضْلِهِۦHis Grace
- 2:105ٱلْفَضْلِ(of) [the] Bounty
- 2:122فَضَّلْتُكُمْ[I] preferred you
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 33 Classical meanings
فَضَلَ
To exceed, be redundant or superfluous, or remain as a surplus.
Used intransitively for something left over from a greater quantity or number.
- Lane · entry 34415
فَضَلَ
To surpass, overcome, or gain mastery over another.
The transitive construction expresses one person or thing exceeding another in rank, condition, or estimation.
- Lane · entry 34415
فَاضَلَ
To vie or contend with another for superiority in excellence, or to compare things as unequal in merit.
The related nominal form الفِضَالُ denotes contention for superiority; the construction may also describe making two things unequal in excellence.
- Lane · entry 34417
أَفْضَلَ
To gain or make a profit in trade.
Used with a commercial activity or transaction.
- Lane · entry 34418
أَفْضَلَ
To exceed or extend beyond another thing.
A distinct Form IV use, including descriptions of an object extending beyond its proper measure or position.
- Lane · entry 34418
أَفْضَلَ
To leave something remaining or redundant.
Transitive construction meaning to leave over a surplus portion of something.
- Lane · entry 34418
تَفَضَّلَ
To bestow or confer a benefit, favor, or gift from one's bounty.
Used with عَلَيْهِ or with a thing bestowed; this benefactive use is distinct from claiming superiority.
- Lane · entry 34419
تَفَضَّلَ
To drape or wrap a garment across the body, arranging its ends over the shoulder or in contrary directions.
The clothing sense is also expressed by التَّوَشُّحُ.
- Lane · entry 34419
تَفَضَّلَ
To wear or be dressed in a single garment.
The lexical use is reported of a woman or a man in a house, tent, or chamber.
- Lane · entry 34419
تَفَاضَلَ
To differ or be unequal in excellence; for some people or things to surpass others in merit.
Describes relative inequality, the opposite of equality in excellence.
- Lane · entry 34420
اِسْتَفْضَلَ
To take or claim an amount in excess of what is due.
The cited construction concerns taking a sum beyond one's rightful entitlement.
- Lane · entry 34421
فَضْلٌ
A remaining or surplus portion of a substance, allocation, or object.
Used of leftover food, water, wine, or spoils, and extended to a redundant part of a garment, strap, coat of mail, or menstrual discharge.
- Lane · entry 34422
حِلْفُ الفُضُولِ
The name of a confederacy or covenant established to repel wrongdoing and secure due rights for the wronged.
The reported explanations of the name's association with surplus property or with several men named al-Faḍl are historical etymological accounts, not a single certain lexical derivation.
- Lane · entry 34422
فَضْلًا
A conventional expression meaning “much less,” “let alone,” or “all the more impossible.”
Usually occurs after negation to infer the impossibility of a greater matter from the absence of a lesser one.
- Lane · entry 34422
فُضُلٌ
Wearing or being dressed in a single garment.
The epithet is reported for both women and men and belongs to the clothing branch of the root.
- Lane · entry 34423
فُضُلٌ
A woman characterized by pride or self-conceit in her gait, with part of her skirt trailing redundantly.
This is a specialized descriptive use of the clothing and trailing-garment imagery.
- Lane · entry 34423
فَضْلَةٌ
Clothing used for sleeping.
The term is explained as referring to clothing additional to garments used for other occasions.
- Lane · entry 34424
فَضْلَةٌ
Wine, especially wine whose color has altered through age.
The designation is connected with the portion of the wine regarded as remaining or choice.
- Lane · entry 34424
فِضْلَةٌ
The manner or state of wearing a single garment.
An action noun describing how a person wears or arranges one garment.
- Lane · entry 34425
فَضِيلَةٌ
An excellence, excellent quality, virtue, or high degree of merit.
Contrasted with a defect or vice; the plural is فَضَائِلُ.
- Lane · entry 34430
فُضَالَى
People who bestow or confer benefits.
A plural expression referring to benefactors.
- Lane · entry 34431
فُضُولِيٌّ
A meddler who busies himself with matters that do not concern him.
The singular relational adjective is formed from فُضُولٌ used as a singular expression.
- Lane · entry 34432
فُضُولِيٌّ
In legal usage, an unauthorized person who acts in a contract without being the commissioned agent, guardian, proprietor, or recognized principal.
This is a technical legal specialization of the term for an unauthorized contracting party.
- Lane · entry 34432
فُضُولِيٌّ
A tailor.
A specialized occupational use reported independently of the sense “meddler.”
- Lane · entry 34432
فَاضِلٌ
Abundant or superfluous in quantity, especially property exceeding what is needed for subsistence.
Typically used of wealth or property that exceeds the provision required to sustain life.
- Lane · entry 34434
فَاضِلٌ
Excellent or excelling; a person possessing merit, distinction, or learning.
May function as a possessive epithet for someone characterized by فضل.
- Lane · entry 34434
فَاضِلَةٌ
An excellent deed or thing, or a gift, benefit, or benefaction.
The concrete noun may denote a goodly or pleasing benefit, including a gift that is continual or substantial.
- Lane · entry 34435
فَوَاضِلُ
Proceeds, profits, or accrued increases from property and productive assets.
Includes returns from land, palm trees, commercial transactions, and the milk or wool of livestock.
- Lane · entry 34435
أَفْضَلُ
More excellent, better, or most excellent.
A comparative or superlative adjective, with the feminine فُضْلَى and reported plural forms.
- Lane · entry 34436
مِفْضَلٌ
A single garment worn without another garment, or an everyday garment.
Reported of a woman or a man wearing it in a house, tent, or chamber; it may be a wrapped outer garment.
- Lane · entry 34437
مِفْضَالٌ
A man or woman possessing abundant excellence and characterized by beneficence, goodness, and liberality.
Often used with a possessive relation to the person's people, expressing excellence and generosity toward them.
- Lane · entry 34440
مَفْضُولٌ
Surpassed, overcome, or exceeded in rank, elevation, or excellence.
Passive participial adjective for the person or thing that has been outdone.
- Lane · entry 34441
مُتَفَضِّلٌ
One who lays claim to superiority in excellence over his equals or fellows.
Describes a claimant to distinction, whether or not the claimed superiority is objectively established.
- Lane · entry 34442
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
فَضْلٌ in Quranic usage covers related but distinguishable notions of comparative excellence, freely bestowed bounty, and acquired material benefit; contextual translations such as “superiority,” “grace,” and “bounty” should not be treated as interchangeable in every occurrence.
The Form V Quranic use denotes claiming superiority, while the broader Classical entry also records a separate benefactive use meaning to bestow a benefit.