Quranic root
نفع
n · f · ʿ
The root denotes benefit and utility, in contrast to harm: what helps bring about good or fulfills a desired purpose.
The basic opposition to harm develops into beneficial effect, advantage, and useful means. Its derived patterns express causing benefit, benefiting from something, and seeking benefit.
- Maqāyīs · row 4714
- Mufradāt · row 1471
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 50
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَفَعَ
nafaʿa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 31 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 benefit, profit, avail, or be useful to someone or something.
An active transitive use in which a person or thing is the beneficiary or object of benefit; Quranic contexts may affirm or deny that something will provide benefit.
- Lane · entry 32340
- Mufradāt · row 1471
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:102word 56
“profits them”
Quran 11:34word 2
“benefit you”
Quran 80:4word 3
“so would benefit him”
Quran 30:57word 3
“will profit”
مَنْفَعَة
manfaʿah
- Part of speech
- Noun · plural form in the Quran
- Quran occurrences
- 8 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.
Benefits, advantages, utilities, or useful means by which good or a desired purpose is attained.
The Quranic occurrences are the broken plural مَنَافِع of مَنْفَعَة and can denote concrete or abstract forms of usefulness.
- Lane · entry 32345
- Mufradāt · row 1471
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:219word 9
“and (some) benefits”
Quran 22:28word 2
“benefits”
Quran 23:21word 12
“(are) benefits”
Quran 57:25word 17
“and benefits”
نَفْع
nafʿ
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 11 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.
Benefit or useful good; something that helps attain good, as opposed to harm.
An abstract noun for beneficial effect, advantage, or usefulness; Quranic usage also occurs in contexts that deny the efficacy or availability of benefit.
- Lane · entry 32344
- Mufradāt · row 1471
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:219word 14
“(the) benefit of (the) two”
Quran 7:188word 5
“(to) benefit”
Quran 20:89word 12
“any benefit”
Quran 48:11word 31
“a benefit”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:102يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚprofits them
- 2:123تَنفَعُهَاwill benefit it
- 2:164يَنفَعُbenefits
- 2:219وَمَنَـٰفِعُand (some) benefits
- 2:219نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ(the) benefit of (the) two
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 4 Classical meanings
نَفَعَهُ
Of a medicine or remedy, to be beneficial for or against an ailment.
A specialized construction in which the remedy is beneficial as treatment for, or protection against, a disease or similar ailment.
- Lane · entry 32340
نَفَّعَهُ
To cause benefit to come to someone.
Form II causative usage.
- Lane · entry 32341
اِنْتَفَعَ
To benefit or profit by something; to make use of it, have its use, or enjoy it.
Form VIII usage with بِـ introducing the thing from which benefit or use is obtained.
- Lane · entry 32342
اِسْتَنْفَعَهُ
To seek or demand that something benefit him or be useful to him.
Form X usage expressing the seeking or demanding of benefit or usefulness.
- Lane · entry 32343
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The QAC group مَنَافِع is presented under the supported singular citation form مَنْفَعَة; its occurrence count remains the eight Quranic occurrences of the plural form.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:nfE:32343:g1:sub2 records that اِسْتَنَفَعَ sometimes has another sense, but the supplied Lane text ends before stating that sense, so it cannot be assigned confidently.