Quranic root
لجأ
l · j · ʾ
The root centers on resorting to a place for refuge, protection, or concealment.
The lexical evidence extends this core from a refuge as a place to recourse to a person, seeking aid, being driven to seek refuge, and providing protection.
- Maqāyīs · row 4111
- Lane · entry 9411
- Lane · entry 9413
- Lane · entry 9416
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
مَلْجَأ
maljaʾ
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
A refuge, asylum, or place to which one resorts for protection.
In the supplied Quran occurrences, this noun denotes a refuge or place of resort; its surface forms are case-inflected variants of مَلْجَأ.
- Lane · entry 9416
- Lane · entry 9417
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 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 11 Classical meanings
لَجَأَ
To have recourse to, betake oneself to, or repair to a thing, place, or person for refuge, protection, preservation, concealment, or lodging; to rely upon someone or seek aid from him.
Commonly construed with إِلَى or إِلَيْهِ; the object may be a thing, place, or person.
- Lane · entry 9411
لَجَأَ
To decline or turn away from someone toward another to whom one has recourse.
The construction combines عَنْهُ, turning away from one person, with إِلَى غَيْرِهِ, turning to another.
- Lane · entry 9411
لَجَّأَ
To force or compel someone to do something against his will, including to act contrary to appearances.
The Form II causative expresses imposed action or compulsion.
- Lane · entry 9412
لَجَّأَ
To leave one's property to one or more heirs in preference to, or to the exclusion of, other heirs.
A specialized property and inheritance usage of the Form II verb.
- Lane · entry 9412
أَلْجَأَ
To constrain, drive, or necessitate someone to have recourse to, betake himself to, or do something.
A causative construction, commonly with إِلَى or إِلَيْهِ; it may describe driving someone to a place of refuge or to an action.
- Lane · entry 9413
أَلْجَأَ
To refer or commit one's affair to God.
A conventional construction with أَمْرَهُ and إِلَى اللّٰهِ.
- Lane · entry 9413
أَلْجَأَ
To protect or defend someone; of a place, to afford protection or refuge.
The Form IV verb can describe either defending a person or a place providing shelter.
- Lane · entry 9413
لَجَأ
A person to whom one has recourse for protection or concealment.
A nominal extension of the refuge sense, applied to a person who serves as a safe recourse.
- Lane · entry 9416
لَجَأ
A wife.
A figurative or tropical nominal usage.
- Lane · entry 9416
لَجَأ
An heir.
A specialized nominal usage associated with the inheritance terminology of the root.
- Lane · entry 9416
لَجَأَة
A frog, or a kind of tortoise that lives on land and in the sea.
An animal noun; the sea variety is referred to as اللَّجَأَةُ البَحْرِيَّةُ.
- Lane · entry 9416
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Only the noun مَلْجَأ is Quran-attested in the supplied QAC evidence; the related verbal and specialized nominal usages are broader Classical Arabic evidence.