Quranic root
ردف
r · d · f
The root denotes following or coming after one thing or person.
From the basic idea of following develop the rear rider or follower, successive occurrence, a subsequent consequence, rear-position terms, and related roles of assistance or succession.
- Maqāyīs · row 2003
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
رَدِفَ
radifa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To follow closely behind; to come after so as to draw near.
In the Quranic construction رَدِفَ لَكُمْ, the following is interpreted as drawing near to the addressees or becoming close behind them.
- Lane · entry 22995
Selected Quran examples
Quran 27:72word 5
“close behind”
مُرْدِفٌ
murdifun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
Coming after in succession; arriving one after another.
This is one interpretation of مُرْدِفِينَ in the Quranic promise of angelic assistance.
- Mufradāt · row 545
- Lane · entry 22998
Selected Quran examples
Quran 8:9word 11
“one after another”
Having others follow or accompany them; bringing successive followers as reinforcement.
In the Quranic expression, the form is also explained causatively: one group or person is accompanied by others made to follow.
- Mufradāt · row 545
- Lane · entry 22998
Going ahead of an army as a vanguard.
A further Quranic interpretation understands the مُرْدِفِينَ as those preceding the army and inspiring fear in the enemy.
- Mufradāt · row 545
رَادِفَةٌ
rādifahun
- Part of speech
- Active participle · substantivized
- 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 one that follows; in the Quran, the subsequent blast of the horn.
In 79:7 it is commonly understood as the second blast following the first. Another interpretation takes the referent to be the heaven and stars that follow in the ensuing upheaval.
- Lane · entry 23009
Selected Quran examples
Quran 79:7word 2
“the subsequent”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 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 27 Classical meanings
رَدِفَهُ
To ride behind someone on the same beast; to be another person's rear rider.
The verb may also be construed with لِـ in this sense.
- Lane · entry 22995
رَدِفَهُ
To overtake and pass someone, or to overtake and follow him.
The transmitted explanation includes a textual uncertainty about whether the second action is passing or following.
- Lane · entry 22995
رَدِفَهُ الأَمْرُ
For an event to follow another event; for a subsequent event to come upon people suddenly or overwhelm them.
Used of an affair or event that occurs after another, especially when the later event arrives unexpectedly or with overpowering effect.
- Lane · entry 22995
رَادَفَتِ الدَّابَّةُ
For a beast to allow or be strong enough to carry a rear rider.
The construction describes the beast's capacity to bear someone riding behind another person.
- Lane · entry 22997
مُرَادَفَةُ الجَرَادِ
The mounting of locusts one behind or upon another, including the male on the female and a third on the pair.
A conventional description of locust mating and successive mounting.
- Lane · entry 22997
رَادَفَ المُلُوكَ / الرِّدَافَةُ
To act as a king's rear associate, deputy, or substitute in the royal administration.
The historical office included sitting or riding behind the king, representing him in his absence, and holding a defined share in war spoils.
- Lane · entry 22997
- Lane · entry 23002
- Lane · entry 23007
تَرَادُفٌ / مُرَادِفُ لَفْظٍ / مُتَرَادِفٌ
Synonymy: the relation in which words or expressions signify the same thing in the same respect.
This is a conventional term of lexicology and may apply to single words, compounds, or a word and an expression.
- Lane · entry 22997
- Lane · entry 22999
- Lane · entry 23012
- Lane · entry 23014
أَرْدَفَهُ
To make someone ride behind or with oneself on the same beast; to place him behind.
The causative construction concerns seating or carrying a rear rider.
- Lane · entry 22998
أَرْدَفَ الشَّيْءَ بِالشَّيْءِ
To make one thing follow another; to cause things to occur or proceed successively.
The construction may describe successive things or stars following one another.
- Lane · entry 22998
تَرَادُفٌ
Mutual following or succession; the condition of being consecutive in one's parts.
Used of people following one another and of any thing whose parts or instances occur successively.
- Lane · entry 22999
تَرَادَفَا
To engage in sexual intercourse.
An idiomatic use of the reciprocal form; the construction is stated neutrally without restricting the participants beyond the source's usage.
- Lane · entry 22999
تَرَادَفُوا عَلَيْهِ
To aid, help, or assist one another against someone.
The reciprocal construction expresses mutual reinforcement or assistance.
- Lane · entry 22999
اِرْتَدَفَهُ
To come behind someone; idiomatically, to seize or overpower an enemy by coming from behind.
The latter use includes taking an enemy captive or killing him from the rear.
- Lane · entry 23000
اِسْتَرْدَفَهُ
To ask someone to let one ride behind him on his beast.
The Form X construction expresses a request for a rear-riding place.
- Lane · entry 23001
رِدْفٌ
A sequent or follower of a thing; in the plural, followers, camel-drivers or relay drivers, and aids or auxiliaries.
The uses are connected with following in turn or taking another's place when he becomes fatigued; the term may also be applied particularly to stars that follow other stars.
- Lane · entry 23002
الرِّدْفَانِ
The two successive periods of night and day; by extension, the corresponding morning and evening periods.
The paired periods are called successive because each follows the other.
- Lane · entry 23002
رِدْفٌ
The consequence, sequel, or result of an event or affair.
The expression لَيْسَ لَهُ رِدْفٌ means that an affair has no consequence or subsequent result.
- Lane · entry 23002
رِدْفٌ
The hinder part of a thing, especially its buttocks or posteriors.
The anatomical use is not limited here to any one sex or class of object.
- Lane · entry 23002
رِدْفُ المَلِكِ
The king's deputy or vicegerent, who could manage affairs, represent him, and occupy his place.
The historical office also involved sitting or riding behind the king and receiving a fourth of the spoils on the army's return.
- Lane · entry 23002
الرِّدْفُ
A designated star, including a bright star in Cygnus or a star near the Lyre; رِدْفُ الثُّرَيَّا may denote Orion or Gemini.
These are astronomical names based on the relation of one star to another.
- Lane · entry 23002
رِدْفٌ
A sailor stationed in the hinder part of a ship.
The dual رِدْفَانِ is used for two such sailors.
- Lane · entry 23002
بَهْمٌ رَدْفَى
Lambs or kids born late in the season in which sheep or goats give birth.
The term refers to young animals born toward the end of the relevant birthing period.
- Lane · entry 23004
رِدَافٌ
The place on which a rear rider sits or rides.
The noun denotes the riding-place rather than the rider.
- Lane · entry 23005
رَدِيفٌ
One who rides behind another; also a follower or a thing carried behind a person.
In plural usage it can describe people who come one after another, as well as a bag or other object conveyed behind a rider.
- Lane · entry 23006
رَدِيفٌ
A star rising in the east when its opposite star sets in the west, or a star facing a rising star.
This astronomical use defines the star by its successive or opposite relation to another star.
- Lane · entry 23006
رَدِيفٌ
A late entrant in the game of maysir who brings an arrow after one or two players have won and asks that it be included among their arrows.
The term can also refer to the person who enters after the slaughtered camel has been divided and is nevertheless allotted a share.
- Lane · entry 23006
رَوَادِفُ
Palm-tree shoots; also overlying streaks or layers of fat in the hinder part of a camel's hump.
The two applications are plural usages of رَادِفَةٌ and related forms.
- Lane · entry 23009
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form I occurrence is supplied by QAC at 27:72:5; the Lane text uses an older printed Quran citation that does not match that modern location exactly, so the QAC location is used here.
The interpretation of مُرْدِفِينَ in 8:9 is reported in several ways, including successive arrival, being accompanied by further angels, and preceding the army; these are retained as separate Quranic senses.
The interpretation of الرَّادِفَةُ in 79:7 varies between the subsequent blast and a cosmic referent involving heaven and stars.