Quranic root
نيل
n · y · l
The attested semantic orientation is coming into reach of something and thereby attaining or obtaining it; the root also has a distinct branch for an effect or injury reaching another.
The lexical evidence connects reaching with acquisition and with what is obtained from another's bounty. In the construction نال من, the action specializes into verbally or physically harming someone.
- Mufradāt · row 1502
- Lane · entry 32486
- Lane · entry 32491
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 12
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَالَ
nāla
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To reach, attain, or obtain something; to come into contact with or possession of it.
Covers attaining a desired object, good, covenant, righteousness, or share, as well as an effect or state reaching a recipient. In 22:37, the statement that piety reaches God is a figurative Quranic construction concerning what reaches Him, not a claim that meat or blood physically reaches Him.
- Lane · entry 32486
- Mufradāt · row 1502
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:92word 2
“will you attain”
Quran 22:37word 8
“reaches Him”
To inflict harm, hurt, or injure someone.
A distinct use appears in the construction نَالَ مِنْ or نَالَهُ. In the Quranic expression نَالُوا مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَيْلًا, the verb describes inflicting or causing harm; the enemy is the object in that attested construction, not a general semantic restriction.
- Lane · entry 32486
- Mufradāt · row 1502
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:120word 37
“they inflict”
نَيْلٌ
naylun
- 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.
Attainment or acquisition; what is obtained.
The sole Quran occurrence is the cognate object in نَالُوا مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَيْلًا. In that construction, what is obtained from an enemy is contextually an injury or infliction, while the noun's lexical branch is the act or result of attaining.
- Lane · entry 32489
- Mufradāt · row 1502
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:120word 40
“an infliction”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:124يَنَالُreach
- 3:92تَنَالُوا۟will you attain
- 5:94تَنَالُهُۥٓcan reach it
- 7:37يَنَالُهُمْwill reach them
- 7:49يَنَالُهُمُ(will) grant them
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 2 Classical meanings
نَالَ
To defame, disparage, or verbally harm someone.
Used with مِنْ, with a person's honor or reputation, or with the tongue; this is a verbal-assault construction distinct from the general sense of reaching or attaining.
- Lane · entry 32486
نَيْلٌ
A benefit, gift, or bounty obtained from another.
A noun use for what one acquires from another's generosity or beneficence; it is a narrower Classical Arabic specialization of what is obtained.
- Lane · entry 32491
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form I public headword is normalized from the Quranic imperfect forms to the Classical Arabic perfect citation form نَالَ.
The Quranic noun's contextual rendering as an infliction is tied to the construction نَالُوا مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَيْلًا; it is not treated as an independently established general noun sense of harm.
The Lane reference to Bd, xxii. 38 is not converted into a modern Quran verse location; Quran examples here use only supplied QAC locations.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:nyl:32490:g1:main reports 'the act of giving' or giving a gift but states that this meaning properly belongs to نول, so it is not assigned to root نيل.