Quranic root
لمز
l · m · z
The root centers on marking, exposing, or pursuing a defect, yielding the meanings of blaming, fault-finding, and disparaging others.
The lexical development includes an original nonverbal sign made with the eye, head, or lip, then extends to verbal blame and speaking ill of others. A separate Classical branch denotes pushing, repelling, or striking.
- Maqāyīs · row 4222
- Mufradāt · row 1322
- Lane · entry 9864
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- 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.
لَمَزَ
lamaza
- 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 blame, reproach, criticize, or find fault with someone or with what they have done.
In Quranic usage, this includes blaming someone concerning the distribution of alms and criticizing others; the action may be expressed directly to the person.
- Lane · entry 9864
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:58word 3
“criticizes you”
Quran 9:79word 2
“criticize”
To speak ill of, disparage, or backbite another by exposing or mentioning faults.
The use may concern a person in their presence or absence. It denotes verbal detracting and fault-finding, not merely a nonverbal sign.
- Lane · entry 9864
- Mufradāt · row 1322
Selected Quran examples
Quran 49:11word 24
“insult”
لُمَزَةٌ
lumazahun
- Part of speech
- Noun · intensive agent
- 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.
A habitual fault-finder or detractor; one who repeatedly speaks ill of others.
Applied to a man or woman; the ending ة is reported as expressing intensiveness rather than necessarily feminine gender. Classical descriptions differ over whether the fault-finding is done to the face or behind the back, and by tongue, eye, or other signs.
- Lane · entry 9866
- Mufradāt · row 1322
Selected Quran examples
Quran 104:1word 4
“backbiter”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 4 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 5 Classical meanings
لَمَزَ
To make a sign to someone with the eye or another feature, such as the head or lip, accompanied by low speech.
This is the reported original nonverbal signification of the verb.
- Lane · entry 9864
لَمَزَ
To push, impel, or repel; also to strike or beat.
A distinct physical-action branch of the Form I verb in Classical Arabic.
- Lane · entry 9864
مُلَامَزَةٌ
Enigmatic or indirect conversation, or communication by signs, between two people.
The construction is described as involving talking enigmatically and making signs with one another; مُلَامَزَةٌ is also reported as synonymous with مُلَاغَزَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 9865
لَمَّازٌ
One who frequently makes signs with the eye or the like.
An intensive agent noun formed from the nonverbal signification.
- Lane · entry 9868
لُمَّازٌ
Persons who speak ill of others, even truthfully, in their presence.
A plural lexical form described as referring to people who engage in this kind of direct verbal disparagement.
- Lane · entry 9869
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Classical descriptions give competing distinctions between هُمَزَةٌ and لُمَزَةٌ, including presence versus absence and tongue versus eye; the nominal sense therefore preserves their shared habitual-detractor core without selecting one disputed distinction.
The physical pushing or striking branch is Classical Arabic evidence and is not assigned to the Quranic Form I senses.