Quranic root
فيأ
f · y · ʾ
A semantic orientation toward return, reversion, or restoration to a prior, proper, or associated state.
The evidence develops this orientation through the return of people to obedience, the returning movement of shade, and property restored or transferred as fayʾ. A related nominal branch describes a group whose members return to one another for mutual support.
- Mufradāt · row 1147
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 7
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
فَاءَ
fāʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 3 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 return or revert to a sound, proper, or commanded course.
In the Quran, the subject returns to God's command, obedience, or what is right; the verb can also describe returning to an affair or state.
- Lane · entry 35299
- Mufradāt · row 1147
Selected Quran examples
Quran 49:9word 17
“it returns”
Quran 49:9word 22
“it returns”
To resume conjugal relations with one's wife after an oath of abstention, thereby reverting from the oath.
A conventional legal construction in the passage concerning īlāʾ; the return entails expiation of the oath.
- Lane · entry 35299
- Mufradāt · row 1147
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:226word 9
“they return”
أَفَاءَ
ʾafāʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 3 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 cause property to revert to, or be granted to, a party as fayʾ—spoils or property transferred to them.
The Quranic occurrences concern property granted by God as fayʾ; in the al-Ḥashr context this particularly concerns property obtained without fighting.
- Lane · entry 35301
- Mufradāt · row 1147
Selected Quran examples
تَفَيَّأَ
tafayyaʾa
- 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.
Of shadows, to shift or incline as they return and move with the sun.
The Quranic construction is used of created shadows and their changing direction; it does not by itself mean a general human inclination.
- Mufradāt · row 1147
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:48word 9
“Incline”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:226فَآءُوthey return
- 16:48يَتَفَيَّؤُا۟Incline
- 33:50أَفَآءَAllah has given
- 49:9تَفِىٓءَit returns
- 49:9فَآءَتْit returns
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 28 Classical meanings
فَاءَ
To return to kind treatment of, or become favorably inclined and affectionate toward, a relation.
A relational use describing renewed kindness or affection.
- Lane · entry 35299
فَاءَ
To reconsider an affair or case.
A figurative extension of returning to a matter for renewed judgment.
- Lane · entry 35299
فَاءَ
Of shade, to shift or return toward the opposite side after midday.
A Classical Form I use of shade, distinct from the supplied Quranic Form V occurrence.
- Lane · entry 35299
فَاءَ
Of a tree, to have abundant shade.
A usage describing the quantity of shade provided by the tree.
- Lane · entry 35299
فَاءَ
Of an iron implement, to become blunt after having been sharp.
An intransitive use describing the loss of sharpness.
- Lane · entry 35299
فَاءَ
To take booty or spoil.
A transitive Form I use distinct from causing property to be granted as fayʾ.
- Lane · entry 35299
فَيَّأَ
To make shade return in the afternoon.
A causative Form II use with shade as the object.
- Lane · entry 35300
فَيَّأَ
To set in motion or stir; of wind, to move seed-bearing plants and trees, and of a woman, to move her hair in vanity.
The particular objects and contexts are lexical examples of the causative motion use, not general semantic restrictions.
- Lane · entry 35300
أَفَاءَ
To cause something to return, or to turn someone toward an affair after he had wanted another.
A general causative Form IV use outside the Quranic property-and-spoils construction.
- Lane · entry 35301
اِسْتَفَاءَ
To take property as spoil.
A transitive Form X use, with property understood as being taken as fayʾ.
- Lane · entry 35303
فَيْءٌ
Afternoon shade: shade after the sun has declined from the meridian, especially what the sun has left behind.
The term is connected with the notion of returning because the shade shifts from side to side. Plurals include أَفْيَاءٌ and فُيُوءٌ.
- Lane · entry 35304
فَيْءٌ
Booty, spoil, or property transferred from one party to another; especially property obtained without difficult fighting, including certain tax or tribute.
This is the technical noun fayʾ, including the Quranic use for property restored to the Muslim community without combat; the supplied QAC form groups contain no nominal group for it.
- Lane · entry 35304
- Mufradāt · row 1147
فَيْءٌ
A flock or ordered formation of birds.
A collective noun for birds, also described as a row or formation.
- Lane · entry 35304
يَا فَيْءَ
An expression of regret or wonder, equivalent to “O my wonder!”
An idiomatic exclamation with variant pronunciation reported in the lexical evidence.
- Lane · entry 35304
فِئَةٌ
A party, portion, or distinct body of people; especially a mutually supporting group that has recourse to its members for aid.
In military contexts it may denote a company or supporting division; the word has no ordinary proper singular in some analyses. The supplied QAC form groups contain no nominal group for it.
- Lane · entry 35305
- Mufradāt · row 1147
فَيْئَةٌ
A hard date-stone after it has passed through cattle and emerged as it was before.
A specialized expression, ذو فَيْئَةٍ, based on the notion of returning to the original state.
- Lane · entry 35306
فَيْئَةٌ
A time or period.
Used as a synonym of حِينٌ.
- Lane · entry 35306
فَيْئَةٌ
A kite or similar bird of prey that seizes chickens.
A specialized bird name, also described as a bird resembling an eagle.
- Lane · entry 35306
تَفِيئَةٌ
The time or occasion of something; by extension, the wake or track of a person.
The expression for entering on someone's تَفِيئَةٌ means entering shortly after or in his footsteps.
- Lane · entry 35308
مُفَاءٌ
Something made into fayʾ; also, a person whose country, province, or town has been conquered and become fayʾ to the Muslims.
A passive-result noun or description associated with conquest and transfer into the fayʾ category.
- Lane · entry 35309
مُفِيءٌ
A person who makes a thing, country, or similar possession into fayʾ.
An agent noun for causing property or territory to become fayʾ.
- Lane · entry 35310
تَفَيَّأَ
To seek shade, enter shade, or shelter oneself in the shade of a tree.
Used with a shade expression or with a tree as the means of obtaining shade.
- Lane · entry 35302
تَفَيَّأَ
To have recourse to someone for protection.
A figurative extension of taking shelter in shade.
- Lane · entry 35302
تَفَيَّأَ
To bend or incline in a languid manner.
Used of a branch or twig and similar languid bending.
- Lane · entry 35302
تَفَيَّأَ
To approach sexually or have sexual intercourse.
A conventional intimate use describing a coy or languid approach to a spouse; the construction is stated neutrally rather than restricted by the illustrative subject.
- Lane · entry 35302
تَفَيَّأَ
To seek or pursue something repeatedly.
Used, for example, of repeatedly seeking news or tidings.
- Lane · entry 35302
مَفْيُؤَةٌ
A place of afternoon shade, or a place on which the sun does not fall.
Variant forms refer to the same shade-place term.
- Lane · entry 35313
مَفْيُوءٌ
An idiot or intellectually deficient person.
A figurative description explained as deriving from remaining long or much in the shade.
- Lane · entry 35314
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The supplied QAC form groups contain only verbs; nominal lexical items such as فَيْءٌ and فِئَةٌ are therefore retained as classical lexical meanings rather than assigned QAC form groups.
A Lane shade citation written as “Kur-án xvi. 50” has not been converted into a modern verse location or used as a Form I Quran occurrence. The securely supplied Quran location for the shade construction is 16:48 under Form V.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
The Lane Form I shade unit cites the Quran using historical notation as “xvi. 50,” but the packet independently supplies no matching modern QAC location for a Form I occurrence. Its shade meaning is represented classically, while the Quranic Form V shade sense is supported by the explicit Mufradat discussion and QAC location 16:48.