Quranic root
نزل
n · z · l
The root centers on descending, coming down, and arriving at a lower place or position.
From physical descent and alighting, the lexicon develops senses of settling, bringing something down, progressive delivery, stations or stages, hospitality for one who arrives, and figurative things that befall or descend upon people.
- Maqāyīs · row 4612
- Mufradāt · row 1432
- 11
- Quran-attested forms
- 15
- Quran senses
- 293
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
- نَزَلَVerb · Form I I · 6
- نَزَّلَVerb · Form II II · 62
- أَنْزَلَVerb · Form IV IV · 183
- تَنَزَّلَVerb · Form V V · 7
- مَنْزِلNoun · 2
- مُنَزَّلPassive participle · Form II · 1
- مُنَزِّلActive participle · Form II · 1
- مُنْزَلPassive participle; place noun in one Quranic use · Form IV · 7
- نَزْلَةNoun · 1
- نُزُلNoun · 8
- تَنْزِيلVerbal noun · Form II · 15
نَزَلَ
nazala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 6 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 descend or come down; to alight, settle, or remain in a place.
Used for downward movement and for arrival at or sojourn in a place; the construction نَزَلَ بِهِ can describe coming down with or bearing something.
- Lane · entry 32179
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:105word 4
“it descended”
Quran 34:2word 10
“descends”
نَزَّلَ
nazzala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 62 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 send down or reveal, especially by successive or repeated delivery.
In Quranic discourse this form is particularly associated with revelation or other things delivered progressively, in portions, or repeatedly; voice and tense variations do not create separate senses.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:106word 8
“And We have revealed it”
Quran 25:32word 5
“was revealed”
أَنْزَلَ
ʾanzala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 183 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 send down, reveal, or bestow from above; to cause something to reach its recipients.
The Quran applies this broad causative to revelation, rain, provisions, clothing, iron, armies, signs, punishment, and other benefits or afflictions; the object may be sent down literally or its causes and guidance may be provided.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:10word 3
“sends down”
To cause a person or thing to descend, alight, or settle at a place.
This includes the request أَنْزِلْنِي مُنْزَلًا مُبَارَكًا, ‘cause me to alight at a blessed landing place,’ and is distinct from simply descending oneself.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:29word 3
“cause me to land”
تَنَزَّلَ
tanazzala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- Quran occurrences
- 7 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 descend or come down, often in succession or gradually.
In the Quranic examples it is used of angels, the spirit, and the divine command or other created agents; it presents the subject as descending or coming down itself.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 97:4word 1
“Descend”
Quran 19:64word 2
“we descend”
مَنْزِل
manzil
- 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 place or station of alighting, settlement, or passage; a stage or phase in a sequence.
The Quranic plural مَنَازِل refers to the successive stations or phases assigned to the moon.
- Lane · entry 32190
Selected Quran examples
Quran 10:5word 9
“phases”
Quran 36:39word 3
“phases”
مُنَزَّل
munazzal
- Part of speech
- Passive participle · Form II
- 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.
Sent down or revealed, with the Form II implication of successive delivery.
A passive participle referring in the Quran to revelation or a revealed text.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:114word 16
“(is) sent down”
مُنَزِّل
munazzil
- Part of speech
- Active participle · Form II
- 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.
One who sends down or reveals, especially through successive delivery.
An active participle of Form II; the Quranic occurrence presents the agent as the one who sends something down.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:115word 4
“(will) send it down”
مُنْزَل
munzal
- Part of speech
- Passive participle; place noun in one Quranic use · Form IV
- Quran occurrences
- 7 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.
Sent down or brought down.
A passive participle of Form IV referring to persons or things caused to descend or sent down.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:124word 13
“[the ones] sent down”
A place of alighting, landing, or settlement.
In أَنْزِلْنِي مُنْزَلًا مُبَارَكًا, مُنْزَلًا functions as the place at which someone is caused to alight.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
- Lane · entry 32190
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:29word 4
“(at) a landing place”
One who sends down or causes someone or something to alight.
The active participial plural مُنْزِلُونَ and مُنْزِلِينَ names agents who bring something down or cause it to land.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 29:34word 2
“(will) bring down”
One who lodges or hosts a person who arrives.
In the expression خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِينَ, the active participle is understood as one who receives and provides lodging or hospitality.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
- Lane · entry 32181
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:29word 8
“(of) those who cause to land.'”
نَزْلَة
nazlah
- 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 descent; one act or instance of descending.
A countable occurrence of coming down, as in the Quranic expression ‘in another descent.’
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 53:13word 3
“(in) descent”
نُزُل
nuzul
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
Hospitality or provision prepared for one who arrives or is received as a guest.
The provision may be hospitable fare or an allotted welcome; Quranic contexts apply it both to reward and to the reception of the people of the Fire.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
- Lane · entry 32185
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:198word 13
“a hospitality”
Quran 32:19word 9
“(as) hospitality”
تَنْزِيل
tanzīl
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun · Form II
- Quran occurrences
- 15 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.
The sending down or revelation of something, especially as a progressive or staged process.
A Form II verbal noun; in the Quran it commonly denotes revelation delivered or made known in successive stages.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:106word 9
“(in) stages”
Quran 20:4word 1
“A revelation”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:4أُنزِلَ(is) sent down
- 2:4أُنزِلَwas sent down
- 2:22وَأَنزَلَand sent down
- 2:23نَزَّلْنَاWe have revealed
- 2:41أَنزَلْتُI have sent down
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 27 Classical meanings
نَزَلَ
Of milk, to descend into or be secreted in the udder.
A specialized usage describing the milk of a ewe or she-camel, including the first milk.
- Lane · entry 32179
نَزَلَ
To take or occupy the place, position, or condition of something.
Used in the construction نَزَلَ مَنْزِلَ كَذَا, ‘to take the position of such a thing.’
- Lane · entry 32179
نَزَلَ
To enter or reach a place.
In a conventional construction such as نَزَلْتُ الْوَادِيَ, the place may be expressed directly, with the sense ‘I entered the valley.’
- Lane · entry 32179
نَزَلَ
To go to Mina, and hence to perform the pilgrimage.
A specialized usage associated with arriving at the pilgrimage station of Mina.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
نَازَلَ
To come down against or meet another, especially to engage in combat.
Used of opponents meeting one another in war or battle; the unqualified form can also mean to alight with another.
- Lane · entry 32180
أَنْزَلَ
Of a female animal, to release or excrete milk into or from the udder.
The cited usage includes the secretion of first milk and describes movement either into or out of the udder according to the construction.
- Lane · entry 32181
تَنَازَلَ
To descend gradually, little by little.
Describes a progressive downward movement.
- Lane · entry 32182
تَنَازَلَ
To humble oneself or condescend to another.
Used with إِلَى to describe lowering oneself socially or figuratively toward someone.
- Lane · entry 32182
تَنَازَلَ
To relinquish, abdicate, or desist from something.
Used with عَنْ for giving up a kingdom, possession, position, or course of action.
- Lane · entry 32182
تَنَازَلَ
To alight and eat by turns with different people.
A specialized reciprocal usage equivalent to taking turns in visiting and eating.
- Lane · entry 32182
اِسْتَنْزَلَ
To cause someone or something to descend.
The Form X causative may refer to physically bringing a person or thing down.
- Lane · entry 32183
اِسْتَنْزَلَ
To induce someone to relinquish an opinion or position.
Used figuratively with عَنْ for causing a person to give up a view.
- Lane · entry 32183
نُزْل
Food or rations provided at a halt.
This vocalized noun refers to provisions prepared for people stopping at a resting place, not specifically to a guest’s hospitality.
- Lane · entry 32184
نُزَالَة، نُزْل
A euphemistic term for semen when emitted.
An anatomical euphemism recorded for the related nouns نُزَالَة and نُزْل.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
نَزِيل
A guest or lodged person.
Names one who is received and accommodated by others.
- Lane · entry 32187
نَازِل
One who alights or descends.
The active participle denotes a person in the act or condition of alighting; its plural forms are also recorded.
- Lane · entry 32188
نَازِلَة
A defluxion or downward bodily discharge.
A specialized medical or anatomical usage, distinct from the figurative sense of calamity.
- Lane · entry 32189
نَازِلَة
A severe calamity or affliction that befalls people.
A figurative feminine noun; its plural is نَوَازِل.
- Lane · entry 32189
نُزُل
Increase, yield, or beneficial abundance in food.
Used of food that has an added benefit or plentiful yield, as in طَعَامٌ ذُو نُزُل.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
نَزِل
A gathered or compact share or portion.
A specialized descriptive use of a share that is collected together.
- Mufradāt · row 1432
مَنْزِلَة
A stretch or space traversed in journeying.
Refers to a segment of a route or the distance between stations.
- Lane · entry 32191
مَنْزِلَة
Station, standing, rank, grade, or position of honor.
Used figuratively for a person’s social, moral, or general standing.
- Lane · entry 32191
مَنْزِلَة
A predicament or situation in which one stands.
A figurative extension from a position or station to a circumstance confronting someone.
- Lane · entry 32191
مَنْزِلَة
Equivalence or similarity between one word and another.
Used in the expression كَلِمَةٌ بِمَنْزِلَةِ كَلِمَةٍ أُخْرَى for a word equivalent or similar to another.
- Lane · entry 32191
مَنْزِلَة
Use or function in the manner or role of something else.
The construction يُسْتَعْمَلُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ كَذَا may concern grammatical or administrative function and need not imply equality of meaning.
- Lane · entry 32191
أَنْزَلَ
To make someone resign or relinquish something.
Used with عَنْ for causing a person to give up a thing, position, or opinion.
- Lane · entry 32181
أَنْزَلَ
To impose a request or need upon someone.
Used in constructions such as أَنْزَلْتُ بِكَ حَاجَتِي and أَنْزَلَ حَاجَتَهُ عَلَى كَرِيمٍ for placing one’s need or request upon another.
- Lane · entry 32181
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Form II is described in the Quran-focused evidence as especially associated with progressive or successive delivery, whereas Form IV is broader and includes general sending down or bestowal.
The مُنْزَل group contains both a passive-participial ‘sent down’ use and the place-noun use in 23:29, despite the supplied morphology grouping.
The Quranic active-participle group normalized to مُنْزِل is distinct from مُنْزَل: the former names an agent who sends down or hosts, while the latter primarily denotes something sent down or a landing place.