Quranic root
نحل
n · ḥ · l
Classical root analysis distinguishes three semantic branches: becoming thin or emaciated, giving, and claiming or adopting something as one's own.
A proposed derivation connects the gift branch with the bee's beneficial giving. The thinness branch extends from an emaciated body to thin sword edges; these developments do not merge the distinct lexical branches.
- Maqāyīs · row 4574
- Mufradāt · row 1421
- 2
- 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.
نِحْلَة
niḥlah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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 freely bestowed gift or donation; in Qur'an 4:4, the bridal gift or dower given to women as a free and willing bestowal.
Used in the construction وَآتُوا النِّسَاءَ صَدُقَاتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً, characterizing the giving as voluntary and without seeking an exchange.
- Mufradāt · row 1421
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:4word 4
“graciously”
نَحْل
naḥl
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
The bee.
The noun denotes the specified bee in the Quranic account of God's inspiration to it.
- Mufradāt · row 1421
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:68word 4
“the bee”
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 6 Classical meanings
نَحِلَ
To become thin, lean, or emaciated.
Said especially of the body; the same thinness is reflected in the term for thin-edged swords.
- Lane · entry 32113
- Mufradāt · row 1421
نَحَلَ / أَنْحَلَ
To give or bestow something as a free gift.
The giving is understood as voluntary and without seeking compensation; the usage includes giving a gift to a person such as a child or wife.
- Maqāyīs · row 4574
- Mufradāt · row 1421
نِحْلَة
A prescribed obligation or religious duty.
A Classical Arabic sense distinct from the voluntary-gift use.
- Lane · entry 32114
نِحْلَة
A religion, creed, or religious affiliation.
Used in expressions such as مَا نِحْلَتُكَ, meaning “What is your religion?”
- Lane · entry 32114
نَوَاحِل
Thin-edged swords whose blade edges have become thin through repeated striking.
A derived plural description based on the thinness of the sword edges.
- Maqāyīs · row 4574
- Mufradāt · row 1421
اِنْتَحَلَ / تَنَحَّلَ
To claim or adopt something as one's own, including poetry or another literary production.
The two forms are treated as equivalent here; a proposed distinction between rightful and wrongful claiming is not established.
- Maqāyīs · row 4574
- Mufradāt · row 1421
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
نِحْلَة, the free-gift or dower term, and نَحْل, the bee, are distinct Quranic lexical items despite sharing the consonantal root.
The obligation and religion senses of نِحْلَة are Classical Arabic meanings and are not treated as the meaning of the Quranic dower usage in this packet.