Quranic root
زلف
z · l · f
The root denotes advancing or pressing forward toward something in proximity, and hence drawing near or bringing near.
From this central notion of approach, the lexicon develops meanings of causative bringing near, nearness in rank or favor, portions of time approaching one another, and places or stages that bring a person nearer to a destination.
- Maqāyīs · row 2282
- Mufradāt · row 627
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 10
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَزْلَفَ
ʾazlafa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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.
To bring or draw near.
A causative construction; in the Quranic passive occurrences, Paradise is brought near to the pious or made near for viewing and entrance.
- Lane · entry 31458
- Mufradāt · row 627
Selected Quran examples
Quran 26:90word 1
“And (will be) brought near”
Quran 50:31word 1
“And will be brought near”
Quran 81:13word 3
“is brought near”
To gather or bring together.
Used in the Quranic active construction of bringing a group together at a place.
- Lane · entry 31458
- Mufradāt · row 627
Selected Quran examples
Quran 26:64word 1
“And We brought near”
زُلْفَى
zulfā
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
Nearness, privileged standing, or favor before someone.
Used for proximity in rank, degree, station, or access; in the Quran it includes advancement or standing that brings a person near to God.
- Lane · entry 31466
- Mufradāt · row 627
Selected Quran examples
Quran 34:37word 8
“(in) position”
Quran 38:25word 7
“surely is a near access”
Quran 38:40word 4
“surely is a near access”
Quran 39:3word 16
“(in) nearness”
زُلْفَة
zulfah
- 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.
Nearness or proximity; an approaching state.
In the Quranic use, it describes the punishment as near or approaching.
- Lane · entry 31466
- Mufradāt · row 627
Selected Quran examples
Quran 67:27word 3
“approaching”
A portion or period of the night.
Used in the plural or collective expression for successive periods of the night, including evening and nightfall.
- Lane · entry 31466
- Mufradāt · row 627
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:114word 5
“and (at) the approach”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 11:114وَزُلَفًۭاand (at) the approach
- 26:64وَأَزْلَفْنَاAnd We brought near
- 26:90وَأُزْلِفَتِAnd (will be) brought near
- 34:37زُلْفَىٰٓ(in) position
- 38:25لَزُلْفَىٰsurely is a near access
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 17 Classical meanings
زَلَّفَ
To do, put, or send something forward beforehand; to advance it or perform it previously.
A Form II transitive usage, including advancing an action such as an evil deed.
- Lane · entry 31457
زَلَّفَ
To disquiet or agitate people progressively, step by step.
Reported especially of a guide or one who moves people onward in stages.
- Lane · entry 31457
زَلَّفَ
To add to or exaggerate a discourse or narration.
A conventional usage concerning speech or reported accounts.
- Lane · entry 31457
أَزْلَفَ
To bring someone or something near destruction.
A Classical resultative construction in which being brought near means being brought close to ruin or death.
- Lane · entry 31458
اِزْدَلَفَ
To approach, draw near, advance, or go forward toward someone or something.
The object may be introduced with إِلَى or مِنْهُ; the usage also describes an arrow or a person moving nearer.
- Lane · entry 31460
زَلْفٌ، زَلَفٌ
Advancing or going forward from place to place.
Nominal expressions for the act of progressing or moving nearer.
- Lane · entry 31460
زِلْفٌ
A meadow or green tract.
A Classical nominal usage, also reported in an interpretation of a traditional expression.
- Lane · entry 31463
زَلَفَةٌ
A full reservoir or watering-trough.
A vessel or basin filled with water.
- Lane · entry 31467
زَلَفَةٌ
A bowl or serving dish, especially when full.
A Classical vessel term for a ṣaḥفة-like bowl.
- Lane · entry 31467
زَلَفَةٌ
A green vessel or basin.
A Classical usage for an ijjānah-type vessel; the associated plural or collective forms are also reported.
- Lane · entry 31467
زَلَفَةٌ
A mother-of-pearl shell, oyster shell, or similar shell.
A Classical interpretation of the term in a traditional expression.
- Lane · entry 31467
زَلَفَةٌ
A smooth rock or a tract of ground, including rugged, swept, or even ground on a soft mountain.
The term is reported for several kinds of rock or terrain surface.
- Lane · entry 31467
زَلَفَةٌ
A mirror or its face.
A Classical nominal usage associated with a smooth, clean surface.
- Lane · entry 31467
زَلُوفٌ
Far-extending or long-reaching, said of a stage of a journey.
An attributive description of a journey stage or travel distance.
- Lane · entry 31469
زَلِيفٌ
Advancing or going forward.
An adjectival or descriptive form for one that advances or progresses.
- Lane · entry 31470
مَزْلَفَةٌ
A town or settlement between the desert and cultivated land, or between the desert and a sea or great river.
A geographical term for an intermediate settlement or borderland town; its plural is مَزَالِفُ.
- Lane · entry 31473
مَزَالِفُ
Places of ascent, steps, or stairs by which one approaches a higher destination.
A plural usage motivated by the idea of bringing a person nearer to the place ascended to.
- Lane · entry 31473
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's historical Quran citation notation is not used to infer modern verse locations; the Quran examples here use only independently supplied QAC locations.
The related forms زُلْفَى and زُلْفَة are retained as separate public Quranic forms because QAC assigns them to distinct form groups and their attested constructions differ.