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Quranic root

خلف

kh · l · f

The root centers on what comes after or takes the place of something, on being behind or contrary, and on alteration or change.

The lexical branches develop from succession and replacement, spatial or temporal opposition to what is ahead, and change from an earlier state. These principles yield meanings such as succession, representation, remaining behind, disagreement, alternation, and deterioration.

  • Maqāyīs · row 1636
  • Mufradāt · row 432
18
Quran-attested forms
25
Quran senses
127
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

خَلَفَ

khalafa

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
Quran occurrences
5 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.

  1. To come after, follow, or succeed another.

    Used of a person or generation coming after another, whether the predecessor remains or has gone.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 7:169word 1

    “Then succeeded”

    Quran 19:59word 1

    “Then succeeded”

  2. To take another’s place or act as his substitute.

    The construction may describe assuming someone’s position, duties, or place, either during his absence or after his departure.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 7:142word 16

    “Take my place”

خَلَّفَ

khallafa

Part of speech
Verb · Form II
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.

  1. To leave someone behind.

    The passive Quranic form describes people who were left behind rather than accompanying others.

    • Lane · entry 19891
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 9:118word 4

    “were left behind”

خَالَفَ

khālafa

Part of speech
Verb · Form III
Form
III
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.

  1. To disagree with, oppose, or act contrary to someone or something.

    May be construed with a person, command, matter, or course of action; the opposition may be expressed in conduct or opinion.

    • Lane · entry 19892
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 11:88word 17

    “I differ from you”

    Quran 24:63word 18

    “oppose”

أَخْلَفَ

ʾakhlafa

Part of speech
Verb · Form IV
Form
IV
Quran occurrences
14 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.

  1. To fail to fulfill or break a promise, undertaking, or appointed time.

    The promise-breaking sense concerns a future commitment or expected fulfillment; in the passive, the person or thing may be described as not being given what was promised.

    • Lane · entry 19893
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 14:22word 12

    “but I betrayed you”

    Quran 20:97word 15

    “you will fail to (keep) it”

  2. To replace, restore, or provide a substitute for something that has gone.

    Used with God or another agent as subject when something lost, spent, or absent is supplied by a replacement.

    • Lane · entry 19893
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 34:39word 17

    “will compensate it”

تَخَلَّفَ

takhallafa

Part of speech
Verb · Form V
Form
V
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.

  1. To remain or hold back behind others; to fail to go along.

    The construction may describe staying behind a group or falling short of carrying out an action.

    • Lane · entry 19894
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 9:120word 10

    “they remain behind”

اِخْتَلَفَ

āikhtalafa

Part of speech
Verb · Form VIII
Form
VIII
Quran occurrences
35 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.

  1. To differ, disagree, or dispute with one another.

    Used when people, parties, or opinions take different positions or courses; passive forms can present disagreement as having arisen.

    • Lane · entry 19896
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 2:213word 18

    “they differed”

    Quran 10:93word 24

    “differ”

    Quran 11:110word 5

    “but differences arose”

اِسْتَخْلَفَ

āistakhlafa

Part of speech
Verb · Form X
Form
X
Quran occurrences
5 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.

  1. To appoint or make someone successors, deputies, or those who take the place of others.

    The Quranic construction presents succession or stewardship as conferred by an agent, especially God, upon a people or community.

    • Lane · entry 19897
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 7:129word 17

    “and make you successors”

    Quran 24:55word 8

    “surely He will grant them succession”

مُخَلَّفٌ

mukhallafun

Part of speech
Passive participle
Quran occurrences
4 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.

  1. Left behind; one who remains behind.

    The Quranic plural denotes people who did not accompany a departing group or expedition.

    • Lane · entry 19891
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 48:11word 3

    “those who remained behind”

    Quran 48:16word 2

    “to those who remained behind”

مُخْلِفٌ

mukhlifun

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.

  1. One who fails to fulfill a promise or undertaking.

    The participle describes a person characterized by failure to keep a promised commitment.

    • Lane · entry 19893
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 14:47word 4

    “will fail”

مُسْتَخْلَفٌ

mustakhlafun

Part of speech
Passive 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.

  1. Entrusted with stewardship or made a successor.

    The Quranic plural portrays people as entrusted with what has been placed in their care or authority.

    • Lane · entry 19897
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 57:7word 7

    “trustees”

مُخْتَلِفٌ

mukhtalifun

Part of speech
Active participle
Quran occurrences
10 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.

  1. Differing or disagreeing in opinion, position, or assertion.

    Used of people, speech, or claims when they do not coincide or agree.

    • Lane · entry 19896
    • Lane · entry 19930
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 78:3word 4

    “(in) disagreement”

  2. Various, diverse, or differing in kind, appearance, color, or quality.

    Used of created things and their observable properties; the difference need not imply opposition or contradiction.

    • Lane · entry 19896
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 16:13word 6

    “(of) varying”

    Quran 35:27word 12

    “(of) various”

خَالِفٌ

khālifun

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.

  1. One who remains behind or does not go forth with others.

    In the Quranic context the plural refers to people staying behind rather than joining an expedition.

    • Lane · entry 19917
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 9:83word 25

    “those who stay behind”

خَلِيفَةٌ

khalīfahun

Part of speech
Noun
Quran occurrences
9 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.

  1. A successor or substitute who takes the place of one who preceded him.

    The word may refer to a successor after someone’s departure or death, or to one who assumes another’s position.

    • Lane · entry 19915
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 10:14word 3

    “successors”

  2. A vicegerent, steward, or appointed authority entrusted to act in the earth.

    This sense emphasizes delegated authority or stewardship rather than mere chronological succession.

    • Lane · entry 19915
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 2:30word 9

    “a vicegerent”

    Quran 38:26word 4

    “a vicegerent”

خَلْفٌ

khalfun

Part of speech
Noun · adverbial
Quran occurrences
22 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.

  1. What is behind or after; the rear position or succeeding time.

    Used as a noun or adverb with a pronoun or possessive construction for spatial or temporal position behind/after someone or something.

    • Lane · entry 19898
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 20:110word 6

    “(is) behind them”

  2. A remnant, generation, or people who come after others.

    The word can denote a succeeding generation or remnant, sometimes with an explicitly negative evaluation in the surrounding expression.

    • Lane · entry 19898
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 7:169word 4

    “successors”

    Quran 19:59word 4

    “successors”

خَالِفَةٌ

khālifahun

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.

  1. A woman or other person remaining behind those who have departed.

    The Quranic plural is explained as referring especially to women remaining in the homes while men go forth, though the lexical notion is remaining behind.

    • Lane · entry 19917
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 9:87word 5

    “those who stay behind”

    Quran 9:93word 12

    “those who stay behind”

خِلَافٌ

khilāfun

Part of speech
Noun
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.

  1. Contrary position, opposition, or opposite sides.

    In مِن خِلَافٍ, the term indicates two things arranged on contrary or opposite sides.

    • Lane · entry 19892
    • Lane · entry 19910
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 20:71word 17

    “opposite sides”

  2. Behind or after someone.

    This temporal or positional use occurs in constructions such as خِلَافَكَ, meaning after or behind you.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19892
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 17:76word 11

    “after you”

    Quran 9:81word 4

    “behind”

خِلْفَةٌ

khilfahun

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.

  1. Alternation or succession, with one thing following another.

    The Quranic expression describes night and day as each replacing or following the other, and by extension as providing alternating times.

    • Lane · entry 19907
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 25:62word 6

    “(in) succession”

اِخْتِلَافٌ

āikhtilāfun

Part of speech
Verbal noun
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.

  1. Alternation or succession, one thing following another.

    Used of recurring natural sequences such as the alternation of night and day.

    • Lane · entry 19896
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 2:164word 6

    “and alternation”

  2. Difference, disagreement, or contradiction.

    Used of opinions, speech, judgments, or parties that do not agree; contradiction is a contextual specialization of disagreement.

    • Lane · entry 19896
    • Mufradāt · row 432
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 4:82word 12

    “contradiction”

    Quran 30:22word 6

    “and the diversity”

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 2:30خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖa vicegerent
  • 2:66خَلْفَهَاafter them
  • 2:80يُخْلِفَwill break
  • 2:113يَخْتَلِفُونَdiffering
  • 2:164وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِand alternation
View all 127 occurrences

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 46 Classical meanings

  • خَلْفٌ

    The back or rear side, especially the side of a house opposite its entrance.

    A concrete spatial noun distinct from the general adverbial sense of being behind.

    • Lane · entry 19898

  • خَلَفَ

    To seize someone from behind or come behind him to strike him.

    A transitive physical action involving approach from the rear.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلَفَ

    To speak of, defame, or act against someone behind his back.

    Includes speech or conduct performed in another person’s absence.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلَفَ

    To withdraw, go away, flee, or ascend.

    These are separately attested motion uses of the Form I verb.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلَفَ

    To become bad, corrupt, or lacking in good.

    A character or evaluative use, not the neutral sense of succeeding another.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19898
    • Lane · entry 19917

  • خَلَفٌ

    Foolishness, stupidity, deficient understanding, or lack of usefulness.

    Applied to a person or character described as intellectually deficient or unprofitable.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19906
    • Lane · entry 19917

  • خَلَفَ

    To become altered or spoiled in taste or odor; specifically, the altered odor of a fasting mouth.

    Used of water, milk, food, beverages, the mouth, or a disposition that has changed for the worse.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • أَخْلَفَ

    To draw or carry water for others; a water-drawer.

    The noun and verb are associated with supplying water to people or animals.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19900
    • Lane · entry 19917
    • Lane · entry 19931

  • خَلَفَ

    To repair a garment by removing its worn middle and sewing the edges together, or by replacing a piece.

    The related noun can denote the repaired garment or a patch.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19893
    • Lane · entry 19907
    • Lane · entry 19912

  • خَلَفَ

    To mix one substance with another, such as milk, saffron, or medicine with water.

    A transitive material-mixture use.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلِفَةٌ

    A pregnant she-camel, or a camel that has conceived after giving birth.

    A specialized pastoral term with several stated details concerning the stage of pregnancy.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19902

  • مُخْلِفٌ

    An animal that has exceeded a named age stage, especially a camel beyond the bāzil stage.

    A technical age designation applied to male or female camels and, more broadly, beasts.

    • Lane · entry 19893
    • Lane · entry 19922

  • أَخْلَفُ

    A camel suffering a painful hind ailment and walking or leaning to one side.

    Includes the specialized description of injury or pressure affecting the sheath and urine passage.

    • Lane · entry 19893
    • Lane · entry 19919

  • خِلْفٌ

    The teat, extremity, or udder of a she-camel or other cloven-hoofed animal.

    The term may denote the whole udder or a particular teat according to the cited usage.

    • Lane · entry 19900

  • خِلْفٌ

    The shortest and thinnest rib next to the belly.

    An anatomical term for the lower or innermost small rib.

    • Lane · entry 19900

  • خِلْفَةٌ

    A later growth, crop, leaf, fruit, or grain that appears after an earlier one.

    Used of seasonal herbage, renewed leaves, later fruit, vine produce, or replacement sowing.

    • Lane · entry 19893
    • Lane · entry 19907
    • Lane · entry 19929

  • خِلْفَةٌ

    A disorder involving repeated evacuation, looseness, diarrhea, or disturbed digestion.

    The expression can refer to frequent movement to the privy, purging, or a stomach disorder.

    • Lane · entry 19896
    • Lane · entry 19907
    • Lane · entry 19927

  • خِلْفٌ

    Obstinacy, contentiousness, or a strongly contrary disposition.

    Applied to a person, slave, companion, or character; this is a character specialization of contrariness.

    • Lane · entry 19900
    • Lane · entry 19917
    • Lane · entry 19918
    • Lane · entry 19919

  • خُلْفٌ

    Breach or non-fulfillment of a promise.

    A noun for promise-breaking, especially in the future; distinct from the Form IV verb as a headword.

    • Lane · entry 19899
    • Lane · entry 19912
    • Lane · entry 19926

  • خُلُوفٌ

    A tribe or household whose men have gone away, or the people remaining behind in their absence.

    The term can be used for either the absent group or those left present, depending on context.

    • Lane · entry 19898
    • Lane · entry 19911

  • خَلْفٌ

    Old and worn out, especially a worn skin vessel.

    An adjectival or nominal description of age and deterioration.

    • Lane · entry 19898

  • خَلْفٌ

    The blade, head, or edge of an axe, adze, razor, or similar cutting tool.

    Includes the specialized two-headed axe and the head of a razor or pointed tool.

    • Lane · entry 19898

  • خُلْفُفٌ

    A calamity or misfortune, especially a great one.

    An idiomatic expression rather than a productive general sense of the root.

    • Lane · entry 19908

  • خِلَافٌ

    The sleeve of a shirt.

    A concrete garment term.

    • Lane · entry 19910

  • خَالِفَةٌ

    A rear pole, side, or structural part of a tent or house.

    May denote a tent pole in the hinder part or the rear angles and sides of a tent.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19918

  • خِلْفَةٌ

    An object suspended behind a rider or behind a carrying frame.

    A concrete object-position term.

    • Lane · entry 19907

  • خِلْفَةٌ

    What remains in a trough, tank, or between the teeth after use.

    Applied to residual water or food.

    • Lane · entry 19907

  • خِلْفَةٌ

    A mixed or alternating set, such as offspring differing by sex from one year to another or children divided between male and female.

    A specialized application of alternation and difference to reproduction and offspring.

    • Lane · entry 19907

  • خَلِيفٌ

    A woman shortly after childbirth, or a she-camel on the second day after giving birth.

    A specialized postpartum term; related usage also denotes the milk following the first colostrum.

    • Lane · entry 19912

  • خَلِيفٌ

    Milk produced after the first colostrum.

    A pastoral term for the later milk of a recently calved camel.

    • Lane · entry 19912

  • خَلِيفٌ

    A narrow gap, road, valley, or watercourse between mountains.

    A geographic noun, sometimes simply a mountain road or passage.

    • Lane · entry 19912

  • خَلِيفٌ

    A sharp arrow.

    The lexical attribution is reported with a competing reading حَلِيفٌ, so the sense is specialized and less secure.

    • Lane · entry 19912

  • مِخْلَافٌ

    A district, province, or regional administrative territory, especially in Yemen.

    The plural denotes such districts; a related usage refers to a community’s poor-rate.

    • Lane · entry 19926

  • مَخَالِيفُ

    The poor-rates or communal alms collected for a particular people.

    A specialized social and administrative use of the plural.

    • Lane · entry 19926

  • خِلَافٌ

    A willow-like tree or species of ṣafṣāf.

    A collective plant name, with the lexical explanation connecting it to being carried or growing away from its original place.

    • Lane · entry 19910
    • Lane · entry 19924

  • اِخْتَلَفَ

    To become complicated, intricate, or confused.

    This is a Classical extension describing an affair that becomes difficult and thereby a subject of disagreement.

    • Lane · entry 19896

  • خَلَفَ

    To be unfaithful to a spouse by pursuing another in the spouse’s absence.

    A construction describing conduct toward another person’s wife when the husband is absent.

    • Lane · entry 19890
    • Lane · entry 19907

  • خِلَافٌ

    The contrary or opposite of a thing.

    A general noun of opposition, distinct from the specific arrangement of things on opposite sides.

    • Lane · entry 19910

  • خَلَفَ

    A frequent promise-breaker.

    Applied to a person characterized by repeatedly failing to keep promises.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلِفَ

    To incline or lean to one side, said of a camel.

    A physical description of an animal’s posture or gait.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلَفٌ

    Left-handedness.

    An independently attested physical description of a person’s handedness.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلَفٌ

    Squinting or being cross-eyed.

    An independently attested physical description of the eyes.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلِفَ

    To become pregnant, said of a she-camel.

    A pastoral verb describing conception in a she-camel.

    • Lane · entry 19890

  • خَلَّفَ

    To bind one of a she-camel’s teats so that its young cannot suck it.

    A pastoral action performed by fastening the teat with a cord or similar restraint.

    • Lane · entry 19891

  • أَخْلَفَ

    To weaken someone by causing frequent evacuation, said of medicine.

    A causative medical use describing a medicine’s effect on the patient.

    • Lane · entry 19893

  • أَخْلَفَ

    To bring a stallion again to a she-camel that has not conceived at once.

    A pastoral breeding construction involving a second covering.

    • Lane · entry 19893

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The Quranic form خَلْفٌ combines nominal and locative/adverbial QAC groups; the latter is merged under the normalized dictionary headword خَلْفٌ.

  • خَالِفٌ and خَالِفَةٌ are normalized from Quranic plural forms; the feminine form preserves the explicitly reported Quranic interpretation of people, especially women, remaining behind.

  • The Form IV branch includes both failure to fulfill a promise and provision of a replacement; these are distinct constructions rather than merely stylistic translations.

  • Lane’s historical Quran references were not converted into modern verse locations unless the corresponding location was independently supplied by QAC.

Unassigned or ambiguous evidence

  • lane-unit:xlf:19893:g1:sub5 reports a rare contronymic use of أَخْلَفَ meaning fulfilling a promise; the evidence does not establish whether it belongs to the Quranic promise-breaking sense or should be treated as a separate branch.

  • lane-unit:xlf:19919:g1:sub7 gives a rare animal-name interpretation of أَخْلَفُ, but the passage itself attributes the meanings to a disputed poetic reading and does not permit a confident independent assignment.