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الف

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Form 1أَلِفَهُ3 senses · 2 main
muḍāriʿـَيَفْعَلُ·ـِيَفْعِلُيُؤْلِفُيُؤَالِفُيَأْلَفُmaṣdarإِلُفٌ إِيلَافٌ مُؤَالَفَةٌ

Core sense — he kept to it; he became familiar with it; he gave him a thousandgenerated

1.1he kept to it, he clung to it—أَلَفَهُ

He kept, or clung, to it — a thing, or a place.; maṣdar إِلُفٌ, أَلْفٌ, إِلَافٌ, وِلَافٌ (which is irregular), and أَلَفَانٌ.

.

he kept to it, he clung to it—آلفهُ

.

he kept to it, he clung to it—آلفهُ

.

he kept to it, he clung to it—إِلَافٌ

[He frequented it, or resorted to it habitually — said of a place;] he became familiar with it, or accustomed to it — said of a thing; he became familiar, sociable, companionable, friendly, or amicable with him; he loved him, liked him, approved of him, or took pleasure in him.

[the birds kept to the sacred territory]—أَلِفَتِ الطَّيْرُ الحَرَمَ
[the houses]—البُيُوتَ
the gazelles kept to the sands—آلَفَتِ الظِّبَآءُ الرَّمْلِ

on this sense These meanings belong to all the forms given above.

1.1.1a writing of security, written by a king for people so that they may be safe in his territory—إِلَافٌ

There are three ways of reading the passage in the Qur'ān 106:1 and 2, لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَآءِ وَ الصَّيْفِ, the second and third being لِإِلَافِ and لِإِلْفِ. The first and second have been adopted (Aboo-Is-hák), and the third as well, this being the reading of the Prophet himself. [On all these readings the passage may be rendered: For the keeping of Kureysh, for their keeping to the journey of the winter and of the summer, or spring; the chapter going on to say, for this reason "let them worship the Lord of this House," etc.]

The second and third readings are from أَلِفَ, and on these readings the passage may be rendered as just given; but on the first reading the meaning is: for the preparing and fitting out [of men and beasts in the journey of the winter, etc.]. So says IAmb, and Fr explains the third reading in the same way.

IAar says that on this reading the meaning is: the protecting. He says that the persons who protected were four brothers, Háshim, 'Abd-Shems, El-Muttalib and Nowfal, the sons of 'Abd-Menáf. They gave protection to Kureysh in their procuring of corn: Háshim obtained a grant of security from the king of the Greeks, Nowfal from Kisrà, 'Abd-Shems from the Nejáshee, and El-Muttalib from the kings of Himyer; the merchants of Kureysh used to travel to and from the great towns of these kings with the brothers' grants of security, and no one opposed them. Háshim used to give protection [to those journeying] to Syria, 'Abd-Shems to Abyssinia, El-Muttalib to El-Yemen, and Nowfal to Persia.

Or إِيلَاف in the Qur'ān means a covenant, or an obligation, and something resembling permission or protection, with an obligation involving responsibility for safety; first obtained by Háshim from the kings of Syria. The explanation is that Kureysh were living in the sacred territory, with neither seed-produce nor udders to yield them milk, secure in getting their provisions from other parts and in their changes of place in winter and summer, or spring, while the people around them had their property seized; but when any cause of trouble came upon them they said, "We are people of the sacred territory," and then no one opposed them.

Or the ل is to express wonder, the meaning being: wonder at the ايلاف of Kureysh.

Some say the meaning is connected with what follows: let them worship the Lord of this House for the ايلاف. Others, as J says, that it is connected with what precedes, the meaning being: I have destroyed the masters of the elephant to make Kureysh remain at Mekkeh, and for their joining the journey of the winter to that of the summer, or spring, so that when they finished one they began the other; and this is like the saying ضَرَبْتُهُ لِكَذَا ضَرَبْتُهُ لِكَذَا َ لِكَذَا, with suppression of the conjunctive و.

But Ibn-'Arafeh disapproves of this for two reasons: first, because the phrase "In the name of God" etc. comes between the two chapters [Bd, however, mentions that in Ubeí's copy the two make up one chapter]; secondly, because ايلاف means the covenants, or obligations, which they obtained when they went out on trading expeditions, and by which they became secure.

Used by Musáwir Ibn-Hind in the sense of اِيتِلَافٌ [as is also إِلْفٌ ] when he says, satirizing Benoo-Asad:

shāhid
زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّ إِخْوَتَكُمْ قُرَيْشٌلَهُمْ إِلْفٌ وَ لَيْسَ لَكُمْ إِلَافُ

meaning: You asserted [that your brothers are Kureysh; that is,] that you are like Kureysh — but how should you be like them? They have [an alliance by which they are protected in] the trade of El-Yemen and Syria, and you have no such alliance.

the safeguard, or protection, of God—إِلَافُ ٱللّٰهِ

A phrase used in the manner of an oath. According to others it means an honourable station from God.

1.2he gave him a thousand, of articles of property or of camels—أَلَفَهُ

.

Show Lane's original text
, (T, S, M, Msb, K,) aor. اَلَفَ , (S, Msb, K,) inf. n. إِلُفٌ (S, M, Msb, K) and أَلْفٌ (K) and إِلَافٌ and وِلَافٌ , which is anomalous, and أَلَفَانٌ , (M, TA,) He kept, or clave, to it; (A'Obeyd, T, M, Msb, * TA;) namely, a thing, (A'Obeyd, T, M, TA,) or a place; (S, Msb, TA;) as also أَلَفَهُ , aor. اَلِفَ ; (TA;) and آلفهُ , (A'Obeyd, T, S, M, Msb,) aor. يُؤْلِفُ (S, TA,) inf. n. إِيلَافٌ ; (S, Msb, TA;) and آلفهُ , aor. يُؤَالِفُ , inf. n. مُؤَالَفَةٌ and إِلَافٌ : (S, Msb, TA:) [he frequented it, or resorted to it habitually; namely, a place:] he became familiar with it; or accustomed, or habituated, to it; namely, a thing: (AZ, T:) he became familiar, sociable, companionable, friendly, or amicable, with him: (AZ, T, Msb:) he loved, or affected, him; liked, approved, or took pleasure in, him. (Msb.) You say, أَلِفَتِ الطَّيْرُ الحَرَمَ [The birds kept to the sacred territory], and البُيُوتَ [the houses]: and آلَفَتِ الظِّبَآءُ الرَّمْلِ The gazelles kept to the sands. (T.) There are three manners of reading the passage in the Kur [evi. 1 and 2], لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَآءِ وَ الصَّيْفِ ; the second and third being لِإِلَافِ and لِإِلْفِ ; the first and second of which have been adopted; (Aboo-Is-hák, T, TA;) and the third also; this being the reading of the Prophet [himself]: (TA:) [accord. to all these readings, the passage may be rendered, For the keeping of Kureysh, for their keeping to the journey of the winter and of the summer, or spring; the chapter going on to say, for this reason "let them worship the Lord of this House," &c. : or] the second and third readings are from أَلِفَ , aor. يَأْلَفُ ; [and accord. to these readings, the passage may be rendered as above;] but accord. to the first reading, the meaning is, for the preparing and fitting out [&c.; i. e., preparing and fitting out men and beasts in the journey of the winter &c.]: so says IAmb; and Fr explains in the same manner the third reading: but IAar says that, accord. to this reading, the meaning is, the protecting [&c.]: he says that the persons who protected were four brothers, Háshim and 'Abd-Shems and El-Muttalib and Nowfal, the sons of 'Abd-Menáf: these gave protection to Kureysh in their procuring of corn: (T:) Háshim obtained a grant of security from the king of the Greeks, and Nowfal from Kisrà, and 'Abd-Shems from the Nejáshee, and ElMuttalib from the kings of Himyer; and the merchants of Kureysh used to go to and from the great towns of these kings with the grants of security of these brothers, and none opposed them: Háshim used to give protection ( يُؤْلِفُ [in the copies of the K يُؤَلِّفُ ]) [to those journeying] to Syria, and 'Abd-Shems to Abyssinia, and ElMuttalib to El-Yemen, and Nowfal to Persia: (T, K: *) or إِيلَاف in the Kur signifies a covenant, or an obligation; and what resembles permission, ( إِجَازَة , as in some copies of the K and in the TA,) or protection, ( إِجَارَة , as in the CK,) with an obligation involving responsibility for safety; first obtained by Háshim, from the kings of Syria; (K, * TA;) and the explanation is, that Kureysh were dwelling in the sacred territory, (K,) having neither seed-produce nor udders [to yield them milk], (TA,) secure in the procuring of their provisions from other parts, and in their changes of place, in winter and summer, or spring; the people around them having their property seized; whereas, when any cause of mischief occurred to them, they said, "We are people of the sacred territory," and then no one opposed them: (K:) so in the O: (TA:) or the ل is to denote wonder; and the meaning is, wonder ye at the ايلاف of Kureysh [&c.]: (K:) some say that the meaning is connected with what follows; i. e., let them worship the Lord of this House for the ايلاف [&c., agreeably with the first explanation which we have given]: others, that it is connected with what precedes; as J says; (TA;) the meaning being, I have destroyed the masters of the elephant to make Kureysh remain at Mekkeh, and for their uniting the journey of the winter and of the summer, or spring; that when they finished one, they should commence the other; (T, S;) and this is like the saying, ضَرَبْتُهُ لِكَذَا ضَرَبْتُهُ لِكَذَا َ لِكَذَا , with suppression of the [conjunctive] و : (S:) but Ibn-'Arafeh disapproves of this, for two reasons: first, because the phrase "In the name of God" &c. occurs between the two chapters: [Bd, however, mentions that in Ubeí's copy, the two compose one chapter:] secondly, because ايلاف signifies the covenants, or obligations, which they obtained when they went forth on mercantile expeditions, and whereby they became secure. (TA.) إِلَافٌ [in like manner] signifies A writing of security, written by the king for people, that they may be secure in his territory: and is used by Musáwir Ibn-Hind in the sense of اِيتِلَافٌ [as is also إِلْفٌ ,] when he says, in satirizing Benoo-Asad, 1 meaning Ye asserted [that your brothers are Kureysh; i. e.,] that ye are like Kureysh: but how should ye be like them? for they have [an alliance whereby they are protected in] the trade of El-Yemen and Syria; and ye have not that [alliance]. (Ham p. 636.) [Hence,] إِلَافُ ٱللّٰهِ [a phrase used in the manner of an oath,] accord. to some, signifies The safeguard, or protection, of God: or, accord. to others, an honourable station from God. (TA.) زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّ إِخْوَتَكُمْ قُرَيْشٌ | لَهُمْ إِلْفٌ وَ لَيْسَ لَكُمْ إِلَافُ أَلَفَهُ , aor. اَلِفَ , He gave him a thousand; (S, K) of articles of property, and of camels. (TA.)
Form 2ٱلّف بَيْنَهُمْ6 senses · 4 main
maṣdarتَأْلِيفٌ

Core sense — he united them, he brought them together; he composed a bookgenerated

2.1[I united, or put together, the two things]—أَلَّفْتُ بَيْنَ الشَّيْئَيْنِ

. He united them, or brought them together after separation, and made them love one another; he caused union, or companionship, to come about between them.

Maṣdar as above.

he united, or gathered together, the several parts of the thing—ألّف الشَّىْءَ
2.1.1[the composition of books]—تَأْلِيفُ الكُتُبِ

From the sense above.

2.1.2putting many things into such a state that one name becomes applicable to them—تَأْلِيفٌ

This holds whether or not some of the parts stand to others in a relation of precedence and sequence. So it is a more general term than تَرْتِيبٌ, the collecting or putting together of suitable things, from الالفة [that is, الأُلْفَةُ ]; and a more specific term than تَرْكِيبٌ, which is the putting together of things whether suitable or not, and whether placed in order or not.

2.2

أَلَّفُوا إِلَى كَذَا: see form 5.

2.3he wrote an alif—ألّف أَلِفًا

Like the way one says جَيَّمَ جِيمًا.

2.4

See also form 4, in three places.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 2
3:103
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.

8:63
وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts: not if thou hadst spent all that is in the earth, couldst thou have produced that affection, but Allah hath done it: for He is Exalted in might, Wise.

24:43
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزْجِى سَحَابًا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيْنَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ رُكَامًا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِنۢ بَرَدٍ فَيُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَصْرِفُهُۥ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُ ۖ يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرْقِهِۦ يَذْهَبُ بِٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ

Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? - then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away from whom He pleases, the vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight.

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text
, inf. n. تَأْلِيفٌ , (T, Msb, K,) He united them, or brought them together, (T, Msb, TA,) after separation; (T, TA;) and made them to love one another; (Msb;) he caused union, or companionship, ( أُلْفَة ,) to take place between them. (K.) And أَلَّفْتُ بَيْنَ الشَّيْئَيْنِ , inf. n. as above, [I united, or put together, the two things.] (S.) And ألّف الشَّىْءَ He united, or connected, (T,) or gathered or collected or brought together, (M,) the several parts of the thing. (T, M.) Hence, تَأْلِيفُ الكُتُبِ [The composition of books]. (T, TA.) تَأْلِيفٌ is The putting many things into such a state that one name becomes applicable to them, whether there be to some of the parts a relation to others by precedence and sequence, or not: so that it is a more general term than تَرْتِيبٌ : (KT:) or the collecting together, or putting together, suitable things; from الالفة [i. e. الأُلْفَةُ ]; and is a more particular term than تَرْكِيبٌ , which is the putting together things, whether suitable or not, or placed in order or not. (Kull p. 118.) أَلَّفُوا إِلَى كَذَا : see 5. ألّف أَلِفًا He wrote an alif; (K;) like as one says جَيَّمَ جِيمًا . (TA.) See also 4, in three places.
Form 3آلفهُ3 senses
maṣdarمُؤَالَفَةٌ

Core sense — he traded; he made a condition with him for a thousandgenerated

3.1

See form 1, first sentence.

3.2he traded, or trafficked—آلف

. Said of a man. [Apparently the sense is: he made a covenant with another to be protected during a journey for the purpose of trade, or traffic — see form 1 — and hence the meaning given.]

3.3he made a condition with him for a thousand—شَاَرَةٌ مُؤَالَفَةً

Like the way one says شَارَطْتُهُ مُمَا آةً, meaning for a hundred; so IAar, in the article مأى.

Show Lane's original text
: see 1, first sentence. آلف , (M, TA,) inf. n. مُؤَالَفَةٌ , (TA,) [app., He made a covenant with another to be protected during a journey for the purpose of trade, or traffic: (see 1:) and hence,] he (a man) traded, or trafficked. (M, TA.) شَاَرَةٌ مُؤَالَفَةً He made a condition with him for a thousand: (IAar, M:) like as one says, شَارَطْتُهُ مُمَا آةً , meaning, for a hundred. (IAar, M, K, in art. مأى .)
Form 4آلفهُ5 senses · 4 main
maṣdarإِيلَافٌ

Core sense — he made him keep to it; he joined it; he made them a thousand completegenerated

4.1

see form 1, in three places.

4.2he made him keep, or cling, to the thing—آلفهُ الشَّىْءَ
he made him keep, or cling, to the place—المَوْضِعَ
he made him keep, or cling, to such a place—مَكَانَ كَذَا

on this sense Maṣdar as above.

4.2.1I joined, or united, the thing—آلَفْتُ الشَّىْءَ
4.3I made the people, or company of men, a thousand complete—آلَفْتُ القَوْمَ
he made the number a thousand—آلف العَدَدَ

Maṣdar as above. They were before that nine hundred and ninety-nine [and he completed the number by adding himself].

Also أَلَّفَهُ, or ألّف الأَلْفَ: he completed the thousand.

I made the dirhems a thousand complete—آلَفْتُ الدَّرَاهِمَ
they said to them, May you live a thousand years—أَلَّفُو لَهُمُ الأَعْمَارَ

In the article عمر.

4.4they became a thousand complete—آلَفُوا
the dirhems became a thousand complete—آلَفَتِ الدَّارَهِمُ
Show Lane's original text
, inf. n. إِيلَافٌ : see 1, in three places. آلفهُ الشَّىْءَ , (T, M,) or المَوْضِعَ , (S,) or مَكَانَ كَذَا , (K,) inf. n. as above, (T,) He made him to keep, or cleave, to the thing, or to the place, or to such a place. (T, S, * M, K. *) آلَفْتُ الشَّىْءَ I joined, conjoined or united, the thing. (T.) آلَفْتُ القَوْمَ , (T, * S, K, *) inf. n. as above, (S,) I made the people, or company of men, to be a thousand complete [by adding to them myself]; (T, S, K, TA;) they being before nine hundred and ninety-nine. (T, TA.) And آلف العَدَدَ He made the number to be a thousand; as also أَلَّفَهُ : (M:) or ألّف الأَلْفَ he completed the thousand. (K.) And in like manner, (S,) آلَفْتُ الدَّرَاهِمَ I made the dirhems to be a thousand (S, K) complete. (S.) And أَلَّفُو لَهُمُ الأَعْمَارَ They said to them, May you live a thousand years. (A in art. عمر .) آلَفُوا They became a thousand (T, S, M) complete. (S.) And آلَفَتِ الدَّارَهِمُ The dirhems became a thousand (S K) complete. (S.)
Form 5تألّف القَوْمُ3 senses · 2 main

Core sense — they became united and loved one another; he coaxed him with giftsgenerated

5.1the people, or party, became united and loved one another—ٱئْتَلَفُوا

Written with the disjunctive alif, اِيْتَلَفُوا. [They came together after separation; see form 2, of which each of these verbs is said in the TA to be quasi-passive.]

Or the meaning of ٱئْتِلَافٌ [and of تَأَلُّفٌ as well] is being in a state of union, alliance, agreement, congruity, or congregation, and being familiar, sociable, companionable, friendly, or amicable with one another.

they became united, or put together; said of two things—تَأَلَّفَا

See form 2. Also ائتلفا.

the several parts of the thing kept together—ائتلف الشَّىْءُ
it became put together in order—تألّف
5.1.1they sought, or asked for, [a covenant ensuring them] protection—تألّفوا

إِلَى كَذَا [meaning in a journey for the purpose of trade, or traffic, to such a place, as is shown in the T by an explanation of the words of IAar, كَانَ هَاشِمٌ يُؤْلِفُ إِلَى الشَّامِ, in a passage where the foregoing meaning is assigned to تألّفوا ]. Also أَلَّفُوا الى كذا.

5.2he coaxed him and gave him gifts in order to incline him to himself—تألّفهُ

He treated him with gentleness, behaved in a sociable, friendly, or familiar way with him, and attracted him; or he only pretended sociableness, friendliness, or familiarity with him.

[I allured him, and gave him a gift, or gifts, in order to incline him to embrace El-Islám]—تَأَلَّفْتُهُ عَلَى الإِسْلَامِ
Show Lane's original text
, (Msb, K,) and ٱئْتَلَفُوا [written with the disjunctive alif اِيْتَلَفُوا ], (T, K,) The people, or party, became united, or came together, (Msb, K,) [after separation, (see 2, of which each is said in the TA to be quasi-pass.,)] and loved one another: (Msb:) or the meaning of ٱئْتِلَافٌ [and تَأَلُّفٌ also] is the being in a state of union, alliance, agreement, congruity, or congregation: (Msb:) and the being familiar, sociable, companionable, friendly, or amicable, one with another. (TA.) And تَأَلَّفَا is said of two things; [meaning They became united, or put together; (see 2;)] as also ائتلفا . (S.) And ائتلف الشَّىْءُ signifies The several parts of the thing kept, or clave, together. (M.) And تألّف It became put together in order. (M.) تألّفوا They sought, desired, or asked, [a covenant to ensure them] protection, (IAar, T, M,) إِلَى كَذَا [meaning in a journey for the purpose of trade, or traffic, to such a place, as is shown in the T by an explanation of the words of IAar, كَانَ هَاشِمٌ يُؤْلِفُ إِلَى الشَّامِ , in a passage in which the foregoing signification is assigned to تألّفوا ]; (M;) as also أَلَّفُوا الى كذا . (M.) تألّفهُ He treated him with gentleness or blandishment, coaxed him, or wheedled him; (K;) behaved in a sociable, friendly, or familiar, manner with him; (TA;) attracted him, or allured him; and gave him a gift, or gifts; (T, K; *) in order to incline him to him: (K:) or he affected sociableness, friendliness, or familiarity, with him. (Mgh.) You say, تَأَلَّفْتُهُ عَلَى الإِسْلَامِ [I attracted him, or allured him; and gave him a gift, or gifts, in order to incline him; to embrace ElIslám]. (S.)
Form 8إِاْتَلَفَ1 sense

Core sense — they became united, they came together and loved one anothergenerated

8.1

See form 5, in four places.

Show Lane's original text
see 5, in four places.

Derived nouns 16

Nounأَلْفٌ1 sense

Core sense — a thousandgenerated

1[three thousand]—ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافٍ

A certain well-known number, a round number, [namely a thousand]; it is of the masculine gender.

Not ثَلَاثَ آلَافٍ.

[this is one thousand]—هٰذَا أَلْفٌ وَاحِدٌ

Not وَاحِدَةٌ.

[a complete thousand]—أَلْفٌ أَقْرَعُ

Not قَرْعَآءُ.

It is not allowable to make it feminine; so say IAmb and others. Or it is allowable to make it feminine, as being a plural. Or, according to ISK, one may say هٰذِهِ أَلْفٌ meaning هٰذِهِ الدَّرَاهِمُ أَلْفٌ [these dirhems are a thousand]; and Fr and Zj say the same.

The plural is آلُفٌ applied to three, آلَافٌ applied to a number from three to ten inclusive, and أُلُوفٌ used for more than ten; and الأَافُ [in the TA الأَلَفُ ] is used by poetic licence for الآلَافُ, by suppression of the radical ل.

Qur’ānic occurrences أَلْف 1 shown of 13
97:3
لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text
, meaning A certain number, (S, M, K,) well known, (M,) i. e. a certain round number, (Msb,) [namely a thousand,] is of the masc. gender: (T, S, Msb, K:) you say ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافٍ [Three thousand], not ثَلَاثَ آلَافٍ ; (TA;) and هٰذَا أَلْفٌ وَاحِدٌ [This is one thousand], not وَاحِدَةٌ ; (S;) and أَلْفٌ أَقْرَعُ , [A complete thousand], (T, S,) not قَرْعَآءُ : (S:) it is not allowable to make it fem.: so say IAmb and others: (Msb:) or it is allowable to make it fem. as being a pl.: (T:) or, accord. to ISK, it is allowable to say, هٰذِهِ أَلْفٌ as meaning هٰذِهِ الدَّرَاهِمُ أَلْفٌ [These dirhems are a thousand]; (S, K; *) and Fr and Zj say the like: (Msb:) the pl. is آلُفٌ , applied to three, (M,) and آلَافٌ , (T, S, M, Msb, K,) applied to a number from three to ten, inclusively, (TA,) and أُلُوفٌ , (T, S, M, Msb, K,) used to denote more than ten; (T;) and الأَافُ [in the TA الأَلَفُ ] is used by poetic licence for الآلَافُ , by suppression of the [radical] ل (M.)
Nounإِلْفٌ1 sense

Core sense — one with whom a person is familiar, a constant companion, a mategenerated

1such a one is my constant companion, or associate—فثلَانٌ إِلْفِى

[Originally a maṣdar of أَلِفَهُ, which see.]

One with whom a person is familiar, sociable, companionable, friendly, or amicable; one to whom a person keeps or clings; [a constant companion or associate; a mate; a fellow; a yoke-fellow; one who is familiar with another or others; see مُؤَلَّفٌ ].

Same in meaning as أَلِيفٌ, which is an ism fāʿil of أَلِفَهُ, as is also آلِفٌ; and أَلِفٌ too is synonymous with أَلِيفٌ.

The female is called إِلْفَةٌ and إِلْفٌ, both meaning a woman with whom you are familiar and who is familiar with you; and the feminine of آلِفٌ is آلِفَةٌ.

The plural of إِلْفٌ is آلَافٌ, which is also the plural of أَلِفٌ; that of أَلِيفٌ is أَلَائِفُ and أُلَفَآءُ; and that of آلِفٌ is أُلَّافٌ and آلَافٌ, as أَنْصَارٌ is the plural of نَاصِرٌ; and so too, in my opinion [says ISd], is أُلُوفٌ, as شُهُودٌ is the plural of شَاهِدٌ, though some say it is the plural of إِلْفٌ; and the plural of آلِفَةٌ is أَوَالِفُ and آلِفَاتٌ.

such a one is my constant companion, or associate—أَلِيفِى
[the female mate yearned towards the mate]—حَنَّتِ الإِلْفُ إِلَى إِلْفِ
[the camel yearned towards his mates]—نَزَعَ البَعِيرُ إِلَى آلَافِهِ
persons who keep to the large towns, or cities—أُلَّافٌ

So IAar; also written آلَافٌ.

أُلُوفٌ in the Qur'ān 2:244 is said by some to be the plural of إِلْفٌ or of آلِفٌ, but by others to mean "thousands."

the birds that keep to Mekkeh and the sacred territory—أَوَالِفُ الطَّيْرِ
domestic pigeons—أَوَالِفُ الحَمَامِ
Qur’ān 2:244 approximate — somewhere between 2:223 and 2:246 Lane cites “Kur ii. 244”
Qur’ān 2:243 located by this root inside the range Lane’s citation allows
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَحْيَـٰهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

Didst thou not Turn by vision to those who abandoned their homes, though they were thousands (In number), for fear of death? Allah said to them: "Die": Then He restored them to life. For Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but Most of them are ungrateful.Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

Show Lane's original text
[originally an inf. n. of أَلِفَهُ , q. v.,] He with whom one is familiar, sociable, companionable, friendly, or amicable; he to whom one keeps or cleaves; [a constant companion or associate; a mate; a fellow; a yoke-fellow; one who is familiar, &c., with another or others; (see مُؤَلَّفٌ ;)] (M;) i. q. أَلِيفٌ ; (T, S, M, K;) which is an act. part. n. of أَلِفَهُ ; (Msb;) as is also آلِفٌ ; (Msb, K;) and أَلِفٌ also is syn. with أَلِيفٌ : (K:) the female is termed إِلْفَةٌ and إِلْفٌ ; (M;) both of these signifying a woman with whom thou art familiar, &c., and who is familiar, &c., with thee: (K:) and the fem. of آلِفٌ is آلِفَةٌ : (K:) the pl. of إِلْفٌ is آلَافٌ ; (T, M;) which is also pl. of أَلِفٌ : (TA:) and that of أَلِيفٌ is أَلَائِفُ (S, K, TA) and أُلَفَآءُ : (M, TA:) and that of آلِفٌ is أُلَّافٌ (T, S, Msb, K) and آلَافٌ , like as أَنْصَارٌ is pl. of نَاصِرٌ , (TA,) and so, (M, TA,) in my opinion, [says ISd,] (M,) is أُلُوفٌ , like as شُهُودٌ is pl. of شَاهِدٌ , (M, TA,) though some say that it is pl. of إِلْفٌ : (M:) and the pl. of آلِفَةٌ is أَوَالِفُ and آلِفَاتٌ . (K.) You say, فثلَانٌ إِلْفِى and أَلِيفِى [Such a one is my constant companion or associate, &c.] (T.) And حَنَّتِ الإِلْفُ إِلَى إِلْفِ [The female mate yearned towards the mate]. (S.) And نَزَعَ البَعِيرُ إِلَى آلَافِهِ [The camel yearned towards his mates]. (T.) أُلَّافٌ , (T,) or آلَافٌ (TA,) is said by IAar to mean Persons who keep to the large towns, or cities. (T, TA.) أُلُوفٌ in the Kur ii. 244 is said by some to be pl. of إِلْفٌ or of آلِفٌ : but by others, to signify "thousands." (Bd, L, TA.) أَوَالِفُ الطَّيْرِ signifies The birds that keep to Mekkeh and the sacred territory: and أَوَالِفُ الحَمَامِ Domestic pigeons. (T.)
Nounأَلِفٌ5 senses · 2 main

Core sense — the letter alif; one who is familiar with another; a man having no wifegenerated

1

See إِلْفٌ, in two places.

1.1

As some say, it also means a man having no wife.

2

One of the letters of the alphabet, the first of them; also أَلِيفٌ.

Ks says that in the usage of the Arabs it is feminine, and so are all the other letters of the alphabet [and hence its plural is أَلِفَاتٌ ], but it is allowable to make it masculine. Sb says that every one of them is both masculine and feminine, as لِسَانٌ is.

See art. ا.

2.1figurative · مجاز

A certain vein lying inside the upper arm, [extending] to the fore arm; so called from being likened to an ا. The two are called الأَلِفَانِ.

2.2figurative · مجاز — inferred

One of any kind of thing, as being likened to the ا, since that denotes the number one.

Show Lane's original text
: see إِلْفٌ , in two places. As some say, (O,) it also signifies A man having no wife. (O, K.) One of the letters of the alphabet; (M;) the first thereof; (K;) as also أَلِيفٌ : (M:) Ks says that, accord. to the usage of the Arabs, it is fem., and so are all the other letters of the alphabet; [and hence its pl. is أَلِفَاتٌ ;] but it is allowable to make it masc.: Sb says that every one of them is masc. and fem., like as is لِسَانٌ . (M.) See art. ا . A certain vein lying in the interior of the upper arm, [extending] to the fore arm: (K, TA:) so called as being likened to an ا : (TA:) the two are called الأَلِفَانِ . (K.) One of any kind of things: (K, TA:) as being likened to the ا ; for it denotes the number one. (TA.)
Nounأُلْفَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — familiarity, sociableness, union, friendshipgenerated

1

A state of keeping, or clinging, to a person or thing; a state of union, alliance, agreement, congruity, or congregation.

A noun from الاِئْتِلَافُ, and as such also meaning familiarity, sociableness, companionableness, friendliness, fellowship, companionship, friendship, and amity.

Show Lane's original text
A state of keeping or cleaving [to a person or thing]: (M:) a state of union, alliance, agreement, congruity, or congregation; (Msb;) a subst. from الاِئْتِلَافُ : (Msb, K, TA:) and, as such, (TA,) signifying also familiarity, sociableness, socialness, companionableness, friendliness, fellowship, companionship, friendship, and amity. (Msb, TA. *)
Nounأَلْفِىٌّ1 sense

Core sense — of, or relating to, a thousandgenerated

1

Of, relating to, or belonging to the number called أَلْفٌ [a thousand].

Show Lane's original text
Of, or relating to, or belonging to, the number termed أَلْفٌ [a thousand]. (TA.)
Nounقَامَةٌ أَلِفِيَّةٌ1 sense

Core sense — a stature like the letter alifgenerated

1

[A stature resembling the letter alif. It often occurs in late works.]

Show Lane's original text
[ A stature resembling the letter alif. Often occurring in late works.]
Nounإِلَافٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — keeping to something, familiarity; a covenant of protectiongenerated

1

A maṣdar of أَلِفَهُ, used as a noun: see form 1.

1.1lightning whose flashes follow one another closely—بَرْقٌ إِلَافٌ
Qur’ānic occurrences إِلَٰف
106:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لِإِيلَـٰفِ قُرَيْشٍ

For the covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the Quraish,

106:2
إِۦلَـٰفِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ ٱلشِّتَآءِ وَٱلصَّيْفِ

Their covenants (covering) journeys by winter and summer,-

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text
an inf. n. of أَلِفَهُ : and used as a subst.: see 1. بَرْقٌ إِلَافٌ Lightning of which the flashes are consecutive or continuous. (TA.)
Nounأَلُوفٌ1 sense

Core sense — one who is very familiar and sociablegenerated

1

Having much أُلْفَةٌ [that is, familiarity, sociableness, and the like].

Plural أُلُفٌ.

Show Lane's original text
Having much أُلْفَةٌ [meaning familiarity, sociableness, &c.]: pl. أُلُفٌ . (K.)
Nounأَلِيفٌ2 senses

Core sense — one with whom a person is familiar, a companiongenerated

1

See إِلْفٌ, in three places.

2

See also أَلِفٌ.

Show Lane's original text
: see إِلْفٌ , in three places: and see أَلِفٌ .
Nounآلِفٌ1 sense

Core sense — keeping to a thing, familiar with itgenerated

1

This, and آلِفَةٌ, and أَوَالِفُ the plural of the latter: see إِلْفٌ, in seven places.

Show Lane's original text
and آلِفَةٌ ; and أَوَالِفُ , the pl. of the latter: see إِلْفٌ , in seven places.
Nounإِيْلَافٌ1 sense

Core sense — making someone keep to a thing; protection givengenerated

1

A maṣdar, also used as a noun: see form 1.

Show Lane's original text
an inf. n.: and used as a subst.: see 1.
Nounمَأْلَفٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — an accustomed place, a place one keeps togenerated

1

[An accustomed place;] a place a man keeps or clings to, [which he frequents, or habitually resorts to,] with which he is familiar, or to which he is accustomed; a place with which men or camels [or birds and the like] are familiar.

1.1

And from this: leafy trees that animals of the chase come near to.

Show Lane's original text
[An accustomed place;] a place to which a man keeps or cleaves; [which he frequents, or to which he habitually resorts;] with which he is familiar, or to which he is accustomed; (Msb;) a place with which men or camels [or birds and the like] are familiar, &c. (K, * TA.) And hence, Leafy trees to which animals of the chase draw near. (AZ, K.)
Nounمؤلفون1 sense

Core sense — possessors of thousands, men whose camels number a thousand eachgenerated

1

With fet-h, [that is, مُؤْلَفُونَ or مُؤَلَّفُونَ ]: possessors of thousands; or men whose camels have come to be a thousand each.

Show Lane's original text
, with fet-h, [i. e. مُؤْلَفُونَ or مُؤَلَّفُونَ ,] Possessors of thousands; or men whose camels have become, to each, a thousand. (TA.)
Nounمُؤَلَّفٌ4 senses · 2 main

Core sense — kept to, familiar; won over in heart by kindness; made completegenerated

1kept to, or clung to—مَأْلُوفٌ

Applied to a thing, and to a person; of a person it means one with whom others are familiar, sociable, and the like.

[the believer is one who is familiar, or sociable, with others, and with whom others are familiar]—إِلْفٌ مَأْلُوفٌ المُؤْمِنُ

Said in a tradition.

1.1those whose hearts are made to incline, or are won over, by kindness and affection—المُؤَلَّفَةُ قُلُوبُهُمْ

As used in the Qur'ān 9:60 it is applied to certain chief men of the Arabs whom the Prophet was commanded to attract, or allure, and to present with gifts from the poor-rates, so that they might make those after them wish to become Muslims, and so that concern for things they held sacred, together with the weakness of their intentions, should not lead them to join the unbelievers in hostility against the Muslims. For this purpose he gave them, on the day of Honeyn, eighty [in the TA two hundred] camels.

They were certain men of eminence among the Arabs to whom the Prophet used to give gifts from the poor-rates: to some, to prevent their acting injuriously; to some, out of a desire that they, and their followers too, should become Muslims; and to some, so that they might stay firm as Muslims, since they had only recently become such. But when Aboo-Bekr was appointed to the government, he forbade this practice.

2[these are a thousand] made complete—أَلْفٌ مُؤَلَّفَةٌ
2.1

See also مؤلفون.

Show Lane's original text
and مَأْلُوفٌ Kept to, or clove to; applied to a thing [and to a person; and meaning when applied to the latter, with whom one is familiar, sociable, &c.]. (T.) It is said in a trad., إِلْفٌ مَأْلُوفٌ المُؤْمِنُ [The believer is one who is familiar, or sociable, &c., with others, and with whom others are familiar, &c.]. (TA.) المُؤَلَّفَةُ قُلُوبُهُمْ Those whose hearts are made to incline, or are conciliated, by beneficence and love or affection: (S, * Msb:) as used in the Kur [ix. 60], it is applied to certain chief persons of the Arabs, whom the Prophet was commanded to attract, or allure, and to present with gifts, (T, K,) from the poor-rates, (TA,) in order that they might make those after them desirous of becoming Muslims, (T, K,) and lest care for things which they deemed sacred, or inviolable, together with the weakness of their intentions, should induce them to combine in hostility with the unbelievers against the Muslims; for which purpose, he gave them, on the day of Honeyn, eighty [in the TA two hundred] camels: (T:) they were certain men of eminence, of the Arabs, to whom the Prophet used to give gifts from the poor-rates; to some of them, to prevent their acting injuriously; and to some, from a desire of their becoming Muslims, (Mgh, Msb,) and their followers also; (Msb;) and to some, in order that they might remain stedfast as Muslims, because of their having recently become such; but when Aboo-Bekr became appointed to the government, he forbade this practice. (Mgh, Msb.) أَلْفٌ مُؤَلَّفَةٌ [These are a thousand] made complete. (S.) See also مؤلفون .
Nounمُؤَلِّفٌ1 sense

Core sense — a composer of a book, an authorgenerated

1

[A composer of a book or books; an author.]

Show Lane's original text
[ A composer of a book or books; an author.]
Nounمَأْلُوفٌ1 sense

Core sense — kept to, familiar, accustomedgenerated

1

See مُؤَلَّفٌ, in two places.

Show Lane's original text
: see مُؤَلَّفٌ , in two places.