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سلف

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Form 1سَلَفَ6 senses · 2 main
muḍāriʿـُيَفْعُلُ·ـِيَفْعِلُmaṣdarسَفٌ سُلُوفٌ سَلْفٌ

Core sense — it passed away; he went before, preceded; he turned over land for sowinggenerated

1.1it went before, or preceded—سالف

or according to some سَلِفَ; and according to IKtt سَلَفٌ and سَلِفَ. [both apparently correct].

It (a thing), and also he (a man), passed, passed away, came to an end, or was cut off.

With: he (a man), and also it (a thing), went before, or preceded.

Said of a camel.

In a verse cited under سَلْفَ رَدَادٌ, the form is used by poetic licence for سَلَفَ; but the Basrees allow this kind of contraction only in verbs whose middle radical letter has kesr or ḍamm, as عَلْمَ for عَلِمَ and كَرْمَ for كَرُمَ.

See سَرُعَ.

1.1.1a good, or righteous, deed of his went before—سَلَفَ لَهُ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ

[So as to prepare a future reward for him.]

1.1.2the she-camel was among the foremost of the camels in reaching the water—سَلَفَتِ النَّاقَةُ

.

1.1.3

[Golius and Freytag mention سَلَفَ also as a transitive verb; Golius explains it as “Præteriit, præcessit, rem,” and Freytag adds “tempore,” assigning to it the maṣdars سَلْفٌ and سُلُوفٌ on the authority of the K, in which I find no sign of such a use of this verb.]

1.2he turned over the land for sowing—سَلَفَ الأَرْضَ

maṣdar سَلْفٌ and اسلفها.

Or (so in the K, but in the M “and”) he made it even with the مِسْلَفَة [q. v.].

1.2.1he oiled, or greased, the مزادة [or leathern water-bag]—سَلَفَ المَزَادَةَ

[in some copies of the K سَلَف].

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 1
2:275
ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury," but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (The offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (for ever).

4:22
وَلَا تَنكِحُوا۟ مَا نَكَحَ ءَابَآؤُكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً وَمَقْتًا وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًا

And marry not women whom your fathers married,- except what is past: It was shameful and odious,- an abominable custom indeed.

4:23
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُمْ وَعَمَّـٰتُكُمْ وَخَـٰلَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأُخْتِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُم مِّنَ ٱلرَّضَـٰعَةِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُ نِسَآئِكُمْ وَرَبَـٰٓئِبُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى فِى حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَحَلَـٰٓئِلُ أَبْنَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلَـٰبِكُمْ وَأَن تَجْمَعُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلْأُخْتَيْنِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Prohibited to you (For marriage) are:- Your mothers, daughters, sisters; father's sisters, Mother's sisters; brother's daughters, sister's daughters; foster-mothers (Who gave you suck), foster-sisters; your wives' mothers; your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom ye have gone in,- no prohibition if ye have not gone in;- (Those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins; and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time, except for what is past; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful;-

5:95
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْدَ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَهُۥ مِنكُم مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآءٌ مِّثْلُ مَا قَتَلَ مِنَ ٱلنَّعَمِ يَحْكُمُ بِهِۦ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ هَدْيًۢا بَـٰلِغَ ٱلْكَعْبَةِ أَوْ كَفَّـٰرَةٌ طَعَامُ مَسَـٰكِينَ أَوْ عَدْلُ ذَٰلِكَ صِيَامًا لِّيَذُوقَ وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِۦ ۗ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ ۚ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَيَنتَقِمُ ٱللَّهُ مِنْهُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ

O ye who believe! Kill not game while in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. If any of you doth so intentionally, the compensation is an offering, brought to the Ka'ba, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged by two just men among you; or by way of atonement, the feeding of the indigent; or its equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of the penalty of his deed. Allah forgives what is past: for repetition Allah will exact from him the penalty. For Allah is Exalted, and Lord of Retribution.

8:38
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them).

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
, (S, M, Msb, K,) aor. سَلُفَ , (S, M, Msb,) or, accord. to some, سَلِفَ , and accord. to IKtt, سَلَفٌ and سَلِفَ , (MF,) inf. n. سَفٌ , (S, K,) or سُلُوفٌ , (Msb,) [both app. correct,] It (a thing, K) [and also he (a man)] passed; passed away; (S, Msb, K;) came to an end, or to nought; or became cut off: (Msb:) and, (K,) inf. n. سَلْفٌ , (M, MF, and so in copies of the K,) or سَفٌ , (so in the CK,) and سُلُوفٌ , (M, K,) he (a man, K) [and also it (a thing)] went before, or preceded; (M, K;) and so سالف , said of a camel. (K.) In a verse cited voce سَلْفَ رَدَادٌ is used by poetic license for سَلَفَ : but this kind of contraction is allowed by the Basrees only in verbs of which the medial radical letter is with kesr or damm, as in عَلْمَ for عَلِمَ , and كَرْمَ for كَرُمَ . (M. [See سَرُعَ .]) You say also, سَلَفَ لَهُ عَمَلٌ صَالِحٌ , meaning A good, or righteous, deed of his preceded [so as to prepare for him a future reward]. (TA.) And سَلَفَتِ النَّاقَةُ , inf. n. سُلُوفٌ , The she-camel was, or became, among the foremost of the camels in arriving at the water. (TA.) [Golius and Freytag mention also سَلَفَ as a trans. verb; the former explaining it as signifying “ Præteriit, præcessit, rem; ” and the latter adding “ tempore, ” and assigning to it the inf. ns. سَلْفٌ and سُلُوفٌ ; as on the authority of the K; in which I find no indication of such a usage of this verb.] سَلَفَ الأَرْضَ , (S, M, K;) aor. سَلُفَ , inf. n. سَلْفٌ ; (S, M;) and اسلفها ; (M, K;) He turned over the land for sowing: (M, K:) or (so in the K, but in the M “ and ”) he made it even with the مِسْلَفَة [q. v.]. (S, M, K.) سَلَفَ المَزَادَةَ , inf. n. سَلْفٌ , [in some copies of the K سَلَف ,] He oiled, or greased, the مزادة [or leathern water-bag]. (K.)
Form 2تَسْلِيفٌ4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — making a thing go before; giving, or eating, a light portion of foodgenerated

2.1

Making a thing go before, or precede.

2.1.1

Same as إِسْلَافٌ. See form 4, in six places.

2.1.2he gave the man the portion of food so called—سلّف الرَّجُلَ

Giving another the portion of food termed سُلفَة [q. v.].

Also expressed as [سلّف لَهُ or] سلّف لَهُمْ.

he gave the people, or party, the portion of food so called—القَوْمَ

Maṣdar as above.

2.1.3

And eating the portion of food termed سُلْفَة. [See also form 5.]

Show Lane's original text
signifies The making [a thing] to go before, or precede. (S, K.) And I. q. إِسْلَافٌ . (K.) See 4, in six places. And The giving to another the portion of food termed سُلفَة [q. v.]. (S.) You say, سلّف الرَّجُلَ , (S,) or القَوْمَ , (M,) inf. n. as above, (S,) He gave to the man, (S,) or to the people or party, (M,) the portion of food so called; (S, M;) as also [ سلّف لَهُ , or] سلّف لَهُمْ . (M.) And The eating of the [portion of food termed] سُلْفَة . (K.) [See also 5.]
Form 3سالف3 senses · 2 main
maṣdarمُسَالَفَةٌ

Core sense — he kept pace with him; he equalled him in an affairgenerated

3.1

See form 1, first sentence.

3.2he kept pace, or ran, with him in the land—سالفهُ فِى الأَرْضِ

Or he vied, contended, or competed with him in going or running, as though striving to be before him.

. Same as سَايَرَهُ. Ibn-ʿAbbād.

3.2.1he equalled him in an affair—سالفهُ

Ibn-ʿAbbād.

Show Lane's original text
: see 1, first sentence. سالفهُ فِى الأَرْضِ , (Ibn-'Abbád, K,) inf. n. مُسَالَفَةٌ , (Ibn- 'Abbád, TA,) i. q. سَايَرَهُ [i. e. He went, or kept pace, or ran, with him, or he vied, contended, or competed, with him in going or running, in the land; as though striving to be before him]. (Ibn- 'Abbád, K.) And سالفهُ He equalled him in an affair. (Ibn-'Abbád, K.)
Form 4اسلفهُ4 senses · 2 main
maṣdarإِسْلَافٌ

Core sense — he did it beforehand; he paid in advance for it; he lent him propertygenerated

4.1

He did it previously, or beforehand. Mentioned in art. زلف.

4.1.1he paid in advance, or beforehand, for such a thing—اسلف فِى

Also كَذَا; and سلّف فِيهِ, maṣdar تَسْلِيفٌ.

That is, for a commodity described to him, or wheat or the like, for which the seller became responsible, [with something added to the equivalent of the current price at the time of the payment, ] to be delivered at a fixed time.

أَسْلَمَ means the same.

One says أَسْلَفْتُ إِلَيْهِ فِى كَذَا and سَلَّفْتُ إِلَيْهِ: I paid in advance to him for such a thing.

Hence the saying in a tradition, مَنْ سَلَّفَ فَيُسَلِّفْ فِى كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ: whoever pays in advance for a commodity for which the seller is responsible, let him pay in advance for a fixed measure and a fixed weight, to be delivered at a fixed time.

4.1.2figurative · مجاز — inferredhe lent him property—اسلفهُ مَالًا

Also سلّفهُ. The property is to be repaid, or returned, without any profit. [See, again, سَلَفٌ.]

he did him a good action, or an evil one, to be requited for it—اسلفهُ إِحْسَانًا

And so a poet says

shāhid
تُسَلِّفُ الجَارَ شِرْبًا وَهْىَ حَائِمَةٌوَالمَآءُ لَزْنٌ بَكِىْءُ العَيْنِ مُقْتَسَمُ

[They (referring to camels) yield promptly to the neighbour a draught of milk, while they are thirsty, and going round about the water, when the water is crowded upon, scanty in the source, divided by lot].

[See also some verses of El-Aqraʿ Ibn-Moʿādh, in which the first hemistich occurs with a different second hemistich, in the Ḥam. p. 753.]

Also سلّفهُ and سلّفهُ.

This is shown by the words مَا أَسْلَفْتَ مِنْ إِسَآءَةٍ أَوْ إِحْسَانٍ وَمَا تُعْطِيهِ لِتُقْضَاهُ in art. قرض in the K, and by the corresponding words مَا سَلَّفْتَ مِنْ إِحْسَانٍ وَمِنْ إِسَآءَةٍ in the same article in the S; see also Bd on 36:11, and see زَلَّفَهُ.

Lane cites “Bd in xxxvi. 11” — a commentary, not the verse; no modern number is given
4.2

See also form 1, last sentence but one.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 4
10:30
هُنَالِكَ تَبْلُوا۟ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّآ أَسْلَفَتْ ۚ وَرُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ

There will every soul prove (the fruits of) the deeds it sent before: they will be brought back to Allah their rightful Lord, and their invented falsehoods will leave them in the lurch.

69:24
كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَآ أَسْلَفْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَيَّامِ ٱلْخَالِيَةِ

"Eat ye and drink ye, with full satisfaction; because of the (good) that ye sent before you, in the days that are gone!"

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
He did it previously, or beforehand. (O and TA in art. زلف .) [Hence,] اسلف فِى , كَذَا , (S, Mgh, Msb, TA,) inf. n. إِسْلَافٌ ; (TA;) and سلّف فِيهِ , (Mgh, Msb, TA,) inf. n. تَسْلِيفٌ ; (Msb, TA;) He paid in advance, or beforehand, for such a thing, (S, Mgh, TA,) i. e. a commodity described to him, (S,) or wheat or the like, for which the seller became responsible, [with something additional to the equivalent of the current price at the time of the payment, (see سَلَفٌ ,)] (TA,) to be delivered at a certain period: (S:) and أَسْلَمَ signifies the same. (TA.) You say, أَسْلَفْتُ إِلَيْهِ فِى كَذَا and سَلَّفْتُ إِلَيْهِ [I paid in advance to him for such a thing, &c.]. (Msb.) Hence the saying in a trad., مَنْ سَلَّفَ فَيُسَلِّفْ فِى كَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَوَزْنٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ i. e. He who pays in advance for a commodity for which the seller is responsible, let him pay in advance for a certain measure, and a certain weight, to be delivered at a certain period. (TA.) And اسلفهُ مَالًا , (S, M, Mgh, TA,) and سلّفهُ , (M, Mgh, TA,) He lent him property [to be repaid, or returned, without any profit]. (M, Mgh, TA. [See, again, سَلَفٌ .]) [Whence one says, اسلفهُ إِحْسَانًا and سلّفهُ , and سلّفهُ , meaning He did to him, to be requited it, a good action and an evil action; as is shown by the words مَا أَسْلَفْتَ مِنْ إِسَآءَةٍ أَوْ إِحْسَانٍ وَمَا تُعْطِيهِ لِتُقْضَاهُ in art. قرض in the K, and by the corresponding words مَا سَلَّفْتَ مِنْ إِحْسَانٍ وَمِنْ إِسَآءَةٍ in the same art. in the S: see also Bd in xxxvi. 11: and see زَلَّفَهُ . And hence,] a poet says, 1 [They (referring to camels) yield promptly to the neighbour a draught of milk, while they are thirsty, and going round about the water, when the water is crowded upon, scanty in the source, divided by lot]. (TA. [See also some verses of El-Akra' Ibn-Mo'ádh, in which the former hemistich occurs with a different latter hemistich, in the Ham p. 753.]) تُسَلِّفُ الجَارَ شِرْبًا وَهْىَ حَائِمَةٌ | وَالمَآءُ لَزْنٌ بَكِىْءُ العَيْنِ مُقْتَسَمُ See also 1, last sentence but one.
Form 5تسلّف4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — he received payment in advance; he took a loan; he ate a light early mealgenerated

5.1he took, or received, what is termed سَلَف—استسلف

He received payment in advance.

[Perhaps a mistranscription for استلف.] It may signify the same as the above.

5.1.1he received a loan from him—تسلّف مِنْهُ

Same as اِقْتَرَضَ; also استلف. Mentioned in art. قرض.

he received such a thing from him as a loan—تسلّف مِنْهُ كَذَا
5.1.2

See also form 10.

5.1.3he ate the portion of food termed سُلْفَة—تسلّف

[See also form 2.]

Show Lane's original text
He received payment in advance: and استسلف [perhaps a mistranscription for استلف ] signifies [the same; or] he took, or received, what is termed سَلَف . (Msb.) [And hence,] تسلّف مِنْهُ He received from him a loan; syn. اِقْتَرَضَ ; as also استلف . (A in art. قرض .) And تسلّف مِنْهُ كَذَا He received as a loan from him such a thing. (TA.) See also 10. And تسلّف He ate the [portion of food termed] سُلْفَة . (MA.) [See also 2.]
Form 6تسالفا1 sense

Core sense — they two took as their wives two sistersgenerated

6.1

They two took as their wives two sisters.

Show Lane's original text
They two took as their wives two sisters. (M, K.)
Form 8إِسْتَلَفَ1 sense

Core sense — he took, or received, as a loangenerated

8.1

See form 5, in two places.

Show Lane's original text
see 5, in two places.
Form 10اِسْتَسْلَفْتُ مِنْهُ دَرَاهِمَ4 senses · 2 main

Core sense — I asked him for money as a loan; he sought its price in advancegenerated

10.1he asked an Arab of the desert for the loan of a بَكْر—استسلف مِنْ أَعْرَابِىٍّ بَكْرًا

I sought, or demanded, of him money as a loan.

Also تَسَلَّفْتُ.

[A youthful he-camel.]

10.1.1he sought, or demanded, its price in advance—استسلف ثَمَنَهُ

Same as اِسْتَقْرَضَهُ.

10.1.2

See also form 5.

10.2he took as his wife the wife of his deceased brother—استسلف

So in a version of the Bible, Deut. 25:5; mentioned by Golius.

Show Lane's original text
I sought, or demanded, of him money as a loan; as also تَسَلَّفْتُ . (S, * TA.) Hence, استسلف مِنْ أَعْرَابِىٍّ بَكْرًا He sought, or demanded, as a loan, from an Arab of the desert, a [youthful he-camel such as is termed] بَكْر . (TA.) And استسلف ثَمَنَهُ He sought, or demanded, its price in advance; syn. اِسْتَقْرَضَهُ . (Har p. 530.) See also 5. [And استسلف He took as his wife the wife of his deceased brother: so in a version of the Bible, in Deut. xxv. 5: mentioned by Golius.]

Derived nouns 19

Nounسَلْفٌ1 sense

Core sense — a bag for travelling-provisions; a hide not thoroughly tannedgenerated

1

A جِرَاب of any sort [i.e. a bag for travelling-provisions and the like].

Or a large جِرَاب [and also the contrary, that is, a small one: Freytag, from the Kitāb el-Aḍdād].

Or a hide not well, or not thoroughly, tanned.

Plural أَسْلُفٌ [of paucity] and سُلُوفٌ [of multitude].

Show Lane's original text
A [bag for travelling-provisions &c., such as is termed] جِرَاب , (M, K,) of any sort: (M:) or a large جِرَاب : (S, M, K:) [and the contr., i. e. a small one: (Freytag, from the Kitáb el-Addád:)] or a hide not well, or not thoroughly, tanned: (M, K, TA:) pl. [of pauc.] أَسْلُفٌ and [of mult.] سُلُوفٌ . (M, K.)
Nounسُلْفٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — a certain species of bird, not specifiedgenerated

1

[Perhaps a mistranscription for سُلَفٌ, q. v.] A certain species of bird, not specified.

1.1

See also مِسْلَفٌ.

Show Lane's original text
[perhaps a mistranscription for سُلَفٌ , q. v.,] A certain species of bird, not particularized. (TA.) See also مِسْلَفٌ .
Nounسِلْفٌ2 senses

Core sense — the husband of the sister of a man's wifegenerated

1

This word and its feminine, formed with ة, and their duals: see سَلِفٌ, in five places.

2

And see سَلَفٌ, last sentence.

Show Lane's original text
; and its fem., with ة ; and their duals: see سَلِفٌ , in five places: and see سَلَفٌ , last sentence.
Nounسَلَفٌ8 senses · 3 main

Core sense — predecessors, the preceding generations; money paid in advance; a loan without profitgenerated

1the first chief persons of the Tābiʿees—السَّلَفُ الصَّالِحُ

Those who have gone before, or preceded [i.e. the preceding generations]; also سَلِيفٌ and سُلْفَةٌ and سَلُوفٌ, all of them ism jamʿ, of which the singular is سَالِفٌ.

Or those of a man's ancestors and relations who have gone before him, being above him in age and in excellence [but this addition is not always in agreement with usage]; one of them is termed سَالِفٌ.

The plural of سَلَفٌ is أَسْلَافٌ and سُلَّافٌ [the first a plural of paucity, the second of multitude]; or the second is plural of سَالِفٌ, and so is سَلَفٌ [said to be, though this is more properly called, as it is in the M, an ism jamʿ].

According to Zj, سُلُفٌ is plural of سَلِيفٌ, and سُلَفٌ is plural of سُلْفَةٌ, which means a company that has passed away.

Or سَالِفٌ and سَلِيفٌ mean the same: going before, preceding; same as مُتَقَدِّمٌ.

[According to Abu-l-Maḥāsin, السَّلَفُ is applied particularly to ʿĀïsheh the wife of Mohammad, the three Khaleefehs Aboo-Bekr and ʿOmar and ʿOthmān, Ṭalḥah and Ez-Zubeyr, the Khaleefeh Moʿāwiyeh, and ʿAmr Ibn-El-Āṣ.]

an appellation of the prophet Mohammad—السَّلَفُ المُقَدَّمُ
the tenets of the early Muslims—مَذَاهِبُ السَّلَفِ
1.1

Also a people, or party, going before, or preceding, in journeying.

1.2a company of men came to me—جَآءَنِى سَلَفٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ

It also means simply a company of men.

1.3

And any good, or righteous, deed that one has done beforehand [by way of preparing a future reward].

Or any فَرَط [i.e. cause of reward, or recompense, in the world to come, such as a child dying in infancy] that, as it were, goes before one. A ʿObeyd.

1.4

Same as سَلَمٌ: any money, or property, paid in advance as the price of a commodity for which the seller has become responsible and which one has bought on description.

Or payment for a commodity to be delivered at a fixed future time, with something added to the equivalent of the current price at the time of such payment, this being a source of profit to the one who makes the payment; سَلَمٌ also has this meaning.

Or a sort of sale in which the price is paid in advance and the commodity is withheld, on the condition of description, to a fixed future time.

It is a substantive from الإِسْلَافُ.

1.5

And a loan in which there is no profit to the lender except recompense in the world to come and thanks, and which the one who receives it must return as he received it. Hr: this is how the Arabs term it.

In this sense also the word is a substantive from الإِسْلَافُ.

2

Also a stallion-camel.

3

Also, or سُلْفَةٌ: the foreskin of a boy; so says Lth.

And سَلِفٌ and سِلْفٌ mean the same; for this is what is meant by الجِلْدُ as an explanation of السَّلِفُ and السِّلْفُ in the K, in some copies of which الخُلْدُ is put by mistake for الجِلْدُ.

Qur’ānic occurrences سَلَف
43:56
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِّلْـَٔاخِرِينَ

And We made them (a people) of the Past and an Example to later ages.

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
Such as have gone before, or preceded; (M, Msb; *) [i. e. the preceding generations;] as also سَلِيفٌ and سُلْفَةٌ and سَلُوفٌ ; all quasipl. ns.; (M;) of which the sing. is سَالِفٌ : (M, Msb: *) or such as have gone before, or preceded, of a man's ancestors (S, K) and of his relations, (K,) that are above him in age and in excellence; [but this addition is not always agreeable with usage;] one of whom is termed سَالِفٌ : (TA:) the pl. of سَلَفٌ is أَسْلَافٌ and سُلَّافٌ , (S, K,) [the former a pl. of pauc. and the latter of mult.,] or the latter is pl. of سَالِفٌ , and so is سَلَفٌ [said to be, though this is more properly termed, as it is in the M, a quasi-pl. n.]: (IB, Msb, TA:) and, accord. to Zj, سُلُفٌ is pl. of سَلِيفٌ , and سُلَفٌ is pl. of سُلْفَةٌ , which means a company ( عُصْبَةٌ ) that has passed away: (M:) or سَالِفٌ and سَلِيفٌ signify the same; going before; preceding; syn. مُتَقَدِّمٌ . (S.) [Accord. to Abu-lMahásin, السَّلَفُ is particularly applied to 'Áïsheh the wife of Mohammad, the three Khaleefehs Aboo-Bekr and 'Omar and 'Othmán, Talhah and Ez-Zubeyr, the Khaleefeh Mo'áwiyeh, and 'Amr Ibn-El-Ás. (De Sacy's Chrest. Ar., sec. ed., i. 156.)] And السَّلَفُ الصَّالِحُ is applied to the first chief persons of the Tábi'ees. (TA.) And السَّلَفُ المُقَدَّمُ is an appellation of the prophet Mohammad. (Ham p. 780.) [Hence, مَذَاهِبُ السَّلَفِ The tenets of the early Muslims.] Also A people, or party, going before, or preceding, in journeying. (TA.) And [simply] A company of men; as in the saying, جَآءَنِى سَلَفٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ [A company of men came to me]. (M.) And Any good, or righteous, deed, that one has done beforehand [by way of preparing a future reward]: or any فَرَط [i. e. cause of reward, or recompense, in the world to come, such as a child dying in infancy], that [as it were] goes before one. (A 'Obeyd, O, K.) And i. q. سَلَمٌ ; (T, Hr, Mgh, O, K, TA;) i. e. Any money, or property, paid in advance, or beforehand, as the price of a commodity for which the seller has become responsible and which one has bought on description: (T, TA:) or payment for a commodity to be delivered at a certain [future] period with something additional to [the equivalent of] the current price at the time of such payment; this [transaction] being a cause of profit to him who makes such payment; and سَلَمٌ also has this meaning: (TA:) or a sort of sale in which the price is paid in advance, and the commodity is withheld, on the condition of description, to a certain [future] period: (S, O:) it is a subst. from الإِسْلَافُ . (Msb, * K, TA.) And A loan ( قَرْضٌ ) in which is no profit (Hr, O, Mgh, K, TA) to the lender (Hr, O, K, TA) except recompense [in the world to come] and thanks, (TA,) and which it is incumbent on the recipient thereof to return as he received it: (Hr, O, K, TA:) thus the Arabs term it: (Hr, O, TA:) and in this sense also the word is a subst. from الإِسْلَافُ . (TA.) Also A stallion-camel. (IAar, M, TA.) Also, (M,) or سُلْفَةٌ , (O, TA,) The prepuce of a boy; (M, O, TA;) so says Lth; (O, TA;) and سَلِفٌ and سِلْفٌ signify the same; for this is meant by الجِلْدُ as an explanation of السَّلِفُ and السِّلْفُ in the K, in some copies of which الخُلْدُ is erroneously put for الجِلْدُ . (TA.)
Nounسَلِفٌ2 senses

Core sense — the husband of the sister of a man's wifegenerated

1the two husbands of two sisters—سَلِفَانِ

This word and سِلْفٌ: the husband of the sister of a man's wife.

Also سِلْفَانِ.

According to IAar, the adjective سَلِفَةٌ [or سِلْفَةٌ] is not applied to a woman; one only uses the term سَلِفَانِ, applied to two men.

Or, according to Kr, سَلِفَتَانِ or سِلْفَتَانِ is applied to the two wives of two brothers. [In the present day, سِلْفَةٌ is used as meaning a woman's husband's sister, and her brother's wife.]

The plural applied to men is أَسْلَافٌ, and that applied to women is سَلَفٌ.

2

See also سَلَائِفُ, last sentence.

Show Lane's original text
and سِلْفٌ The husband of the sister of the wife of a man: (S, K:) and [the duals] سَلِفَانِ (M, TA) and سِلْفَانِ (M, K) signify the two husbands of two sisters: (M, K:) accord. to IAar, the epithet سَلِفَةٌ [or سِلْفَةٌ ] is not applied to a woman; (M;) one only uses the term سَلِفَانِ applied to two men: (M:) or, (M, K,) accord. to Kr, سَلِفَتَانِ , (M,) or سِلْفَتَانِ , (K,) is applied to the two wives of two brothers: (M, K:) [in the present day, سِلْفَةٌ is used as meaning a woman's husband's sister, and her brother's wife:] the pl. applied to men is أَسْلَافٌ , (M, K, TA,) and that applied to women is سَلَفٌ . (TA.) See also سَلَائِفُ , last sentence.
Nounسَلَفٌ1 sense

Core sense — the young one of the partridgegenerated

1

The young one of the حَجَل [or partridge]; or, according to Kr, of the قَطَاة [ism waḥda of قَطًا, q. v.].

AA says that he had not heard سُلَفَةٌ applied to the female; but if one said سُلَفَةٌ, as one says سُلَكَةٌ for a single female of what are termed سِلْكَانِ, it would be acceptable.

The plural is سِلْفَانِ and سُلْفَانٌ.

Some say that سِلْفَانٌ means a species of bird, not specified. [See also سُلَحٌ and سُلَكٌ.]

Show Lane's original text
The young one of the حَجَل [or partridge]: (S, M, K:) or, accord. to Kr, of the قَطَاة [n. un. of قَطًا , q. v.]: (M:) AA says that he had not heard سُلَفَةٌ , applied to the female; but if one said سُلَفَةٌ , like as one says سُلَكَةٌ as meaning a single female of what are termed سِلْكَانِ , it would be approvable: (S:) the pl. is سِلْفَانِ (S, M, K) and سُلْفَانٌ : (M, K:) some say that سِلْفَانٌ signifies a species of bird, not particularized. (M.) [See also سُلَحٌ and سُلَكٌ .]
Nounسُلْفَةٌ6 senses · 3 main

Core sense — a portion of food taken early, before the morning meal; thin lining skin for bootsgenerated

1they came one after another, at each other's heels—جَاؤُوا سُلْفَةً سُلْفَةً

See سَلَفٌ, first sentence, in two places.

1.1

Also a portion of food which a man takes early, or with which he contents, or satisfies, himself [so as to allay the craving of his stomach], before the morning-meal called غَدَآء; same as لُمْجَةٌ and لُهْنَةٌ.

Or a لُهْنَة that is supplied early for a guest, before the غَدَآء.

1.2what a woman keeps ready, or prepares, to present to her visitor—السُّلْفَة

[Apparently of food.]

2

Also a piece, or portion, of land of seed-produce made even [with the مِسْلَفَة, q. v.].

Plural سُلَفٌ.

3

And thin skin which is put as a lining to boots, sometimes red and sometimes yellow.

3.1

See also سَلَفٌ, last sentence.

Show Lane's original text
: see سَلَفٌ , first sentence, in two places. [Hence,] one says, جَاؤُوا سُلْفَةً سُلْفَةً , meaning They came [one before another; or, which is virtually the same,] one after, or near after, or at the heels of, another. (AZ, K.) Also A portion of food (S, M, TA) which a man takes betimes, (S,) or with which one contents, or satisfies, himself [so as to allay the craving of his stomach], (M,) before the [morning-meal called] غَدَآء ; (S, M, TA;) i. q. لُمْجَةٌ (K, TA) and لُهْنَةٌ : (TA:) or a لُهْنَة that is supplied betimes for a guest, before the غَدَآء . (TA.) And السُّلْفَة also signifies That which a woman reposits, or prepares, or provides, [app. of food,] to present to her visiter. (M.) Also A piece, or portion, of land of seed-produce made even [with the مِسْلَفَة , q. v.]: pl. سُلَفٌ . (Az, O, K.) And Thin skin (M, O, K) which is put as a lining to boots, (O, K,) sometimes red, and [sometimes] yellow. (O.) See also سَلَفٌ , last sentence.
Nounسِلْفَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — the wife of one's husband's brothergenerated

1

This word and its dual: see سَلِفٌ, in three places.

Show Lane's original text
; and its dual: see سَلِفٌ , in three places.
Nounأَرْضٌ سَلِفَةٌ2 senses

Core sense — land in which are few treesgenerated

1

Land in which are few trees.

2

[See also سَلَفٌ.]

Show Lane's original text
Land in which are few trees. (AA, K.) [See also سَلَفٌ .]
Nounسُلَافٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — grape-juice that flows before pressing; the clearest, purest winegenerated

1

This word and سُلَافَةٌ: the portion of the juice of the grape that flows before being pressed out; this is the most excellent of wine.

Or the first part of the wine that is expressed; or the portion that flows without being pressed; or the first part of it that descends.

Or the clearest, or purest, and most excellent of wine, such as flows from the grapes without their being pressed and without steeping or maceration; and likewise such as flows from dates and from raisins before water has been added to it after the first part of it has exuded.

Or the latter word means the first that is expressed of anything; or it has this meaning also, and the former is a name for wine absolutely; or each has this meaning; or each means the clear, or pure, part of wine, and of anything.

1.1

سُلَافُ العَسْكَرِ: see سَالِفٌ.

Show Lane's original text
(T, S, M, Mgh) and سُلَافَةٌ (T, M, Mgh) The portion that flows before its being expressed, (S, Mgh,) of the juice of the grape; (S;) and this is the most excellent of wine: (Mgh:) or the first that is expressed, of wine: or the portion that flows without its being expressed: or the first that descends, thereof: (M:) or the clearest, or purest, and most excellent, of wine, such as flow from the grapes without their being pressed, and without steeping, or maceration; (T, TA;) and in like manner, such as flows from dates, (T, TA,) and from raisins, before water has been added to it (T, M, * TA) after the exuding of the first thereof; (T, TA:) or the latter signifies the first that is expressed, of anything: (M:) or it has this meaning also: and the former is a name for wine [absolutely]: (S:) or each has this meaning: (K:) or each signifies the clear, or pure, of wine, and of anything. (M.) سُلَافُ العَسْكَرِ : see سَالِفٌ .
Nounسَلُوفٌ4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — a she-camel among the foremost in coming to water; a swift horsegenerated

1

See سَلَفٌ, first sentence.

1.1

Applied to a she-camel: one that is among the foremost of the camels when they come to the water; or that goes before the other camels to the watering-trough or tank; or that goes before, or leads, the other camels.

Opposed to عَنُودٌ. El-Keysee, in art. عند.

1.2

And a swift, or fleet, horse; plural سُلْفٌ.

1.3

And an arrow having a long head; or a long arrow-head.

Show Lane's original text
: see سَلَفٌ , first sentence. Also, applied to a she-camel, (S, M, K,) That is among the foremost of the camels when they come to the water: (S, K:) or that precedes the [other] camels to the watering-trough or tank: (M:) or that precedes, or leads, the other camels; opposed to عَنُودٌ . (El-Keysee, TA in art. عند .) And A swift, or fleet, horse: (M, K:) pl. سُلْفٌ . (K.) And An arrow having a long head: (M:) or a long arrow-head. (K.)
Nounسَلِيفٌ2 senses

Core sense — a road, or way; those who have gone beforegenerated

1

See سَلَفٌ, first sentence, in three places.

2

Also a road, or way.

Show Lane's original text
: see سَلَفٌ , first sentence, in three places. Also A road, or way. (TA.)
Nounسُلَافَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — grape-juice that flows before pressing; the clearest, purest winegenerated

1

See سُلَافٌ.

Show Lane's original text
: see سُلَافٌ .
Nounسَالِفٌ1 sense

Core sense — passing, passing away; going before, precedinggenerated

1the peoples that go before, or that have passed away before, those remaining—الأُمَمُ السَّالِفَةُ

Passing; passing away; coming to an end, or being cut off; and going before, preceding. Plural سُلَّافٌ, and as an ism jamʿ سَلَفٌ. See سَلَفٌ, first sentence, in four places.

Plural سَوَالِفُ.

that was in the time of the preceding peoples and the preceding generations—كَانَ ذٰلِكَ فِى الأُمَمِ السَّالِفَةِ وَالقُرُونِ السَّوَالِفِ

The plural is used here because every portion of the قرون is termed سَالِفَةٌ.

the van of the army—العَسْكَرِ سُلَّافٌ

In the K, by implication, سُلَافُ العسكر, the first word like غُرَاب, whereas it is correctly like رُمَّان; the meaning is as explained in the K.

Show Lane's original text
Passing; passing away; coming to an end, or to nought; becoming cut off: (Msb:) and going before; preceding: (S:) pl. سُلَّافٌ and [quasi-pl. n.] سَلَفٌ : (IB, Msb, TA:) see سَلَفٌ , first sentence, in four places. [Hence,] الأُمَمُ السَّالِفَةُ The peoples going before, or preceding, [or that have gone, or passed away, before,] those remaining, or continuing: (K, * TA:) pl. سَوَالِفُ . (TA.) One says, كَانَ ذٰلِكَ فِى الأُمَمِ السَّالِفَةِ وَالقُرُونِ السَّوَالِفِ [That was in the time of the preceding peoples, and the preceding generations]: the pl. in this instance being used because every portion of the قرون is termed سَالِفَةٌ . (TA.) [Hence also,] العَسْكَرِ سُلَّافٌ , in the K, by implication, سُلَافُ العسكر , the former word like غُرَاب , whereas it is correctly like رُمَّان , The van of the army, as expl. in the K. (TA.)
Nounسَالِفَةٌ4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — the side of the fore part of the neckgenerated

1

Feminine of سَالِفٌ, q. v.

1.1she is fair in respect of the سَالِفَة—إِنَّهَا لَوَضَّاحَةُ السَّوَالِفِ

And hence, as a substantive: the side of the fore part of the neck, from the place where the ear-ring hangs to the hollow (قَلْت [in the CK wrongly قَلْب]) of the collar-bone.

Or the upper, or uppermost, part of the neck; or the side of the neck, from the place where the ear-ring hangs to the حَاقِنَة [here meaning the pit of the collar-bone]. Plural سَوَالِفُ.

Mentioned by Lh; the term سالفة is made applicable to every part of it, and then the plural is used accordingly.

I will certainly fight them, or combat them, until the side of my neck becomes separate—لَأُقَاتِلَنَّهُمْ حَتَّى تَنْفَرِدَ سَالِفَتِى

That is, separate from what is next to it — an allusion to death. Said in a tradition about the covenant at El-Ḥodeybiyeh.

1.2figurative · مجاز — inferred

And hence, by applying the name of the place to what occupies the place: the locks of hair that are made to hang down upon the cheek [or rather upon the side of the fore part of the neck]. MF says this is metonymic, or figurative.

1.3

Also the fore part of the neck of a horse and the like; so in the O and L.

Show Lane's original text
[fem. of سَالِفٌ , q. v. And hence, as a subst.,] The side of the fore part of the neck, from the place of suspension of the ear-ring to the hollow ( قَلْت [in the CK erroneously قَلْب ]) of the collar-bone: (S, K:) or the upper, or uppermost, part of the neck: (M:) or the side of the neck, (M, Mgh, TA,) from the place of suspension of the ear-ring to the حَاقِنَة [here meaning the pit of the collar-bone]: pl. سَوَالِفُ . (M.) In the saying إِنَّهَا لَوَضَّاحَةُ السَّوَالِفِ [Verily she is fair in respect of the سَالِفَة ], mentioned by Lh, the term سالفة is made applicable to every part thereof, and then the pl. is used accordingly. (M.) It is said in a trad. respecting [the covenant at] El-Hodeybiyeh, لَأُقَاتِلَنَّهُمْ حَتَّى تَنْفَرِدَ سَالِفَتِى i. e. [I will assuredly fight with them, or combat them,] until the side of my neck shall become separate from what is next to it: an allusion to death. (TA.) And [hence, i. e.] by the application of the name of the place to that which occupies the place, The locks of hair that are made to hang down upon the cheek [or rather upon the side of the fore part of the neck]: said by MF to be metonymical, or tropical. (TA.) Also The fore part of the neck of a horse (K, TA) &c.: so in the O and L. (TA.)
Nounبَيْنَهُمَا أُسْلُوفَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — affinity, as of two men married to two sistersgenerated

1

Between the two of them is صِهْرٌ [i.e. affinity, apparently through their having married two sisters: see سَلِفٌ].

Show Lane's original text
Between them two is صِهْرٌ [i. e. affinity, app. by their having married to sisters: see سَلِفٌ ]. (O, K.)
Nounمُسْلِفٌ1 sense

Core sense — a woman of about forty-five years, middle-agedgenerated

1

So in some copies of the K, as in the S and elsewhere; but in other copies of the K, wrongly, سُلْفٌ.

A woman who has reached the age of forty-five years, or thereabouts; or the same as نَصَفٌ [i.e. middle-aged, or forty-five years old, or fifty years old]. An adjective applied specially to a female.

A poet says

shāhid
وَكَاعِبٌ وَمُسْلِفُفِيهِ ثَلَاثٌ كَالدُّمَى

[Among them three females like the images of ivory, or of marble, and one with swelling breasts, and one of middle age].

In the O with إِلَى in the place of فِيهَا.

Show Lane's original text
, (S, M, O, L,) thus in some copies of the K, as in the S &c., but in other copies of the K, erroneously, سُلْفٌ , (TA,) A woman that has attained the age of five and forty years, (S, M, O, K,) and the like: (S, M, O:) or i. q. نَصَفٌ [i. e. middle-aged, or forty-five years old, or fifty years old]: (M:) an epithet specially applied to a female. (S, O.) A poet says, 1 [Among them three females like the images of ivory, or of marble, &c., and one with swelling breasts, and one of middle age, &c.]. (S, M: in the O with إِلَى in the place of فِيهَا .) وَكَاعِبٌ وَمُسْلِفُ | فِيهِ ثَلَاثٌ كَالدُّمَى
Nounمِسْلَفَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — an instrument of stone with which land is made evengenerated

1

An instrument, of stone, with which land is made even.

A ʿObeyd says: I think it is a stone made round [or cylindrical, that is, a stone roller] which is rolled upon the land to make it even.

[In the present day, applied to a harrow.]

Show Lane's original text
An instrument with which land is made even, (S, M, O, K, TA,) of stone: A 'Obeyd says, I think it is a stone made round [or cylindrical, i. e. a stone roller,] which is rolled upon the land to make it even. (TA.) [In the present day, applied to A harrow.]
Nounأَرْضٌ الجَنَّةِ مَسْلُوفَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — the ground of Paradise is made evengenerated

1

Occurring in a tradition: the ground of Paradise is made even.

As says this is of the dialect of El-Yemen and Eṭ-Ṭāïf; according to IAth it means smooth and soft.

Show Lane's original text
, occurring in a trad., The ground of Paradise is made even: (As, T, S, O, TA:) said by As to be of the dial. of El-Yemen and Et-Táïf: accord. to IAth, smooth and soft. (TA.)