Quranic root
نفل
n · f · l
The root centers on giving and receiving an added gift or grant.
From the idea of gratuitous giving, the evidence develops usages for spoils viewed as a bestowed grant, voluntary acts beyond obligation, additional gifts, and generous giving. Related derived usage also describes withdrawing from or selecting out of something.
- Maqāyīs · row 4716
- Mufradāt · row 1473
- Lane · entry 32353
- Lane · entry 32356
- 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.
نَفَل
nafal
- Part of speech
- Noun · Quranic plural أَنْفَال
- 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.
Spoils or war gains regarded as a bestowed grant.
In the Quranic expression أَنْفَال in 8:1, the term is reported with several scopes: the spoils themselves viewed as a divine grant, a portion received before division, gains obtained without fighting, or an item set aside after the division of the spoils. These are variant explanations of the Quranic spoils usage.
- Mufradāt · row 1473
نَافِلَة
nāfilah
- 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.
A supererogatory or voluntary prayer performed in addition to what is obligatory.
In 17:79, the word describes an additional prayer beyond the obligatory worship.
- Mufradāt · row 1473
- Lane · entry 32356
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:79word 5
“(as) additional”
An additional bestowed boon; in the Quranic usage, a grandchild or descendant granted as an added gift.
In 21:72, نَافِلَةً is explained as a child of a child—a grandchild or further descendant—bestowed as an addition.
- Mufradāt · row 1473
Selected Quran examples
Quran 21:72word 5
“(in) addition”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 8:1ٱلْأَنفَالِ ۖthe spoils of war
- 8:1ٱلْأَنفَالُThe spoils of war
- 17:79نَافِلَةًۭ(as) additional
- 21:72نَافِلَةًۭ ۖ(in) addition
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 5 Classical meanings
نَفَّلَ
To award someone spoils, or to bestow on someone a gratuitous or disinterested gift.
A derived transitive verb describing the conferral of spoils or an unsolicited gift; it may take both the recipient and the thing given as objects.
- Lane · entry 32353
نَفَل
A plant name, identified as Trifolium melilatus indica and Medicago intertexta.
Botanical usage.
- Lane · entry 32354
نَافِلَة
An addition beyond the original; a voluntary gift, alms, or good deed beyond what is obligatory.
General Classical Arabic usage. The Quranic applications to supererogatory prayer and an added boon are represented separately under the Quranic form.
- Lane · entry 32356
نَوْفَل
A very generous man, characterized by abundant giving.
A derived nominal description of a person noted for generosity.
- Maqāyīs · row 4716
- Mufradāt · row 1473
اِنْتَفَلَ
To withdraw or disassociate oneself from something; a related explanation gives the sense of selecting something out of it.
A derived usage reported with variant explanations; it is not a Quran-attested form in the supplied QAC data.
- Maqāyīs · row 4716
- Mufradāt · row 1473
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The scope of أَنْفَال in 8:1 is reported with several Classical interpretations; these are presented as variant scopes of the spoils sense rather than as separate Quranic forms.