Quranic root
غلف
gh · l · f
The root denotes a covering, sheath, or enveloping layer placed around something.
Its semantic development runs from a physical covering or receptacle to the state of being enclosed, and metaphorically to a heart closed off from receiving or understanding.
- Maqāyīs · row 3451
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
غِلَاف
ghilāf
- Part of speech
- 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.
Covered or enclosed as though surrounded by a sheath; figuratively, closed off from hearing and accepting the truth.
In the Quranic expression قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ, the hearts are portrayed as enclosed and therefore unreceptive. The attested Quranic form is the plural غُلْف.
- Lane · entry 29751
- Lane · entry 29752
- Lane · entry 29753
- Mufradāt · row 1064
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:88word 3
“(are) wrapped”
Quran 4:155word 13
“(are) wrapped”
Receptacles or repositories of knowledge, implying that the hearts already contain knowledge and need no further instruction.
An explicitly reported alternative reading and interpretation of the same Quranic expression; it should not be confused with the ordinary covered or enclosed interpretation.
- Lane · entry 29751
- Mufradāt · row 1064
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:88word 3
“(are) wrapped”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 14 Classical meanings
غَلَفَ، غَلَّفَ
To put a bottle, flask, knife, sword, bow, saddle, or similar object into a sheath or other covering; to furnish it with a covering.
A transitive covering or encasing action; the Form II usage is explicitly cross-referenced with this covering sense.
- Lane · entry 29742
- Lane · entry 29743
غَلَفَ
To smear or daub the beard, or oneself, with perfume, especially ghāliyah, or with henna.
Used for external application to the beard or body; a reported usage distinguishes this from related forms for application at the roots of the hair.
- Lane · entry 29742
غَلِفَ، غَلَفٌ
To be uncircumcised; the state of being uncircumcised.
The first form is verbal and the second is its verbal noun or state noun.
- Lane · entry 29742
- Lane · entry 29748
تَغَلَّفَ
To have or acquire a sheath or covering, especially a leather or similar covering on a saddle.
A reflexive or intransitive construction describing an object as covered.
- Lane · entry 29745
غَلْفٌ
A species of tree used in tanning.
It is sometimes said to be used together with the tree called غَرْف.
- Lane · entry 29747
غَلَفٌ، أَغْلَفُ
Abundant and unstraitened, especially of herbage, a year, land, or the means and comforts of life.
Applied to land rich in unpastured herbage, a plentiful year, or an ample and easy life.
- Lane · entry 29748
- Lane · entry 29752
غَلِفٌ
A certain edible plant associated particularly with apes or monkeys.
A plant name, not a general adjective of covering.
- Lane · entry 29749
غُلْفَةٌ
The prepuce: the piece of skin removed in circumcision from the sheath of the glans.
An anatomical noun, also equated with قُلْفَةٌ and غُرْلَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 29750
الغُلْفَتَانِ
The two end portions of the moustache next to the corners of the mouth.
A dual anatomical expression referring to the two sides nearest the points where the lips meet.
- Lane · entry 29750
غِلَافٌ
A receptacle, sheath, case, covering, or envelope; including a sword or knife sheath, a bottle case, a bow or saddle covering, the enclosing membrane of the heart, the pellicle of an egg, a flower calyx, or the imagined sheath of the moon.
The concrete noun covers containers and enclosing layers of various objects and body structures; its figurative application to hearts in the Quran is treated under the Quranic senses above.
- Lane · entry 29751
أَغْلَفُ
Enclosed in a sheath or other covering.
Applied to a sword, bow, or any other thing that is enclosed.
- Lane · entry 29752
أَغْلَفُ
A man wearing a garment whose sleeves or body conceal his forearms.
A specialized description of a person enclosed in a particular garment.
- Lane · entry 29752
أَغْلَفُ
Uncircumcised.
An adjective applied to a person; its feminine and plural forms are separately reported.
- Lane · entry 29752
مُغَلَّفٌ
Provided with a leather or similar covering, especially said of a horse's or camel's saddle.
A passive-participial adjective describing an object furnished with a غِلَاف.
- Lane · entry 29753
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The QAC form غُلْف is a plural Quranic form and is normalized here under the supported singular citation form غِلَاف.
The receptacle-of-knowledge sense reflects an explicitly reported alternative reading or interpretation of the Quranic expression; QAC canonically identifies the supplied form group as غُلْف.