1
A particle governing the genitive case, used in the ways and senses explained below.
1.1figurative · مجاز — inferred[The Greeks have been overcome in the nearer, or nearest, part of the land, and they, after being overcome, shall overcome in some few years]—غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ فِى أَدْنَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ
[And there is, for you, in retaliation, life, or an advantage]—وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْقِصَاصِ حَيٰوةٌ
It relates to a receptacle, and, in a wider use, to what closely resembles one, and also to what is regarded as a receptacle. It denotes inclusion, or being within, either in relation to place or in relation to time, and it does so both properly and figuratively.
In the Kur 30:1–3; an example of its relation to place and to time.
In the Kur 2:175; an example of its figurative use. For the meaning, see art. حى.
[I inserted my finger into the signet-ring]—أَدْخَلْتُ الخَاتَمَ فِى أُصْبَعِى
[The water is in the vessel]—المَآءُ فِى الإِنَآءِ
[It is in the wallet]—هُوَ فِى الجِرَابِ
[in the purse]—فِى الكِيسِ
[He is in the belly of his mother]—هُوَ فِى بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ
[He is in the shackle for the neck]—هُوَ فِى الغُلِّ
[Zeyd is in the house]—زَيْدٌ فِى الدَّارِ
An example of its relation to place, but the proposition is inverted.
These are examples of its proper use.
Or within the house, and in the midst of it; فِى الدَّارِ means دَاخِلِهَا and وَسْطَهَا.
[Doubt, or uncertainty, is in the information]—الشَّكُّ فِى الخَبَرِ
[In him is a fault, or blemish]—فِيهِ عَيْبٌ
An example of its figurative use.
If it relates to a real عَيْب, the usage is proper; if to an ideal عَيْب, it is figurative.
[In, or during, certain numbered days]—فِى أَيَّامٍ مَعْدُودَاتٍ
[The inmates of Paradise this day shall indeed be in the midst of diverting occupation, cheerful, or happy]—إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلْيَوْمَ فِى شُغُلٍ فَاكِهُونَ
literally, As to his saying this, in it is what is in it—أَمَّا قَوْلُهُ كَذَا فِيهِ مَا فِيهِ
The former is such as the amputation of the hand of a thief, or a redundant hand; the latter, such as the running away of a slave.
When it relates to time, it may in some cases be rendered In, or during. In the Kur 2:139.
In the Kur 36:55.
Used as a polite way of expressing objection or contradiction, like فِيهِ تَأَمُّلٌ.
in many instances it may be rendered Of, or concerning, or in respect of—فِى
[He said of, or concerning, him, or it, thus]—قَالَ فِيهِ كَذَا
For قَالَ فِى ذِكْرِهِ كَذَا, He said in mentioning him, or it, thus, or فِى وَصْفِهِ, in describing him, or it, or the like.
[He wrote a book of, or concerning, the science of lexicology]—كَتَبَ كِتَابًا فِى عِلْمِ اللُّغَةِ
[Do you argue with us concerning, or in respect of, God?]—أَتُّحَاجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللّٰهِ
In the Kur 2:133.
Lane cites “Kur ii. 175” — Flügel numbering, not yet mapped
Qur’ān 2:145 approximate — somewhere between 2:143 and 2:151 Lane cites “Kur ii. 139”
Qur’ān 36:56 approximate — somewhere between 36:7 and 36:66 Lane cites “Kur xxxvi. 55”
Lane cites “Kur ii. 133” — Flügel numbering, not yet mapped
Qur’ān 2:144 located by this word inside the range Lane’s citation allows
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَWe see the turning of thy face (for guidance to the heavens: now Shall We turn thee to a Qibla that shall please thee. Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque: Wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that that is the truth from their Lord. Nor is Allah unmindful of what they do.Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)
1.2figurative · مجاز — inferred[He shall say, Enter with peoples]—قَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا فِى أُمَمٍ
It also denotes concomitance, and in this case it is synonymous with مَعَ.
In the Kur 7:36. Or, as some say, the meaning is فِى جَمَاعَةِ أُمَمٍ, in the company of peoples.
[With the inmates of Paradise]—فِى أَصْحَابِ الجَنَّةِ
In the Kur 46:15.
[Or in these and similar instances, فِى may be rendered, more in keeping with the primary meaning, as Among.]
In the K, the sense denoting concomitance and the sense identical with مَعَ are made distinct. It has been said that بِ denotes the continuance of concomitance and مَعَ denotes its commencement, though this is not always the case.
Length together with laxness—طُولٌ فِى ٱسْتِرْخَآءٍ
Hence it is used to denote a combination of two qualities.
This phrase occurs in the K under طَنَبٌ.
Blackness blending with redness—سَوَادٌ فِى حُمْرَةٍ
Its length is twenty cubits by three cubits in breadth—طُولُهُ عِشْرُونَ ذِرَاعًا فِى ثَلَاثِ أَذْرُعٍ عَرْضًا
In the same way it is used to denote the combination of the length and the breadth of a thing.
In this case the number of square cubits is expressed by عِشْرُونَ فِى ثَلَاثٍ, as though meaning twenty as a multiplicand with three as its multiplier, that is, twenty multiplied by three; see ضَرَبَ, meaning “he multiplied”.
1.3[Because of completing the possession of forty sheep or goats, the giving of a sheep or goat for the poor-rate is incumbent on the owner]—فِى أَرْبَعِينَ شَاةٌ
Or this may be rendered: in the case of the possession of forty, a sheep or goat is to be given.
[And that is he because of whom you blamed me]—فَذٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ
In the Kur 12:32.
[A woman indeed entered the fire of Hell because of a she-cat which she confined without food]—إِنَّ ٱمْرَأَةً دَخَلَتِ النَّارَ فِى هِرَّةٍ حَبَسَتْهَا
From a tradition.
[He paid in advance, or beforehand, for, or on account of, such a thing]—أَسْلَفَ فِى كَذَا
on this sense It also denotes the assigning of a cause.
Lane cites “Kur xii. 32” — Flügel numbering, not yet mapped
1.4[And I will certainly crucify you upon the trunks of palm-trees]—وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ
It also denotes superiority; that is, it is used in the sense of عَلَى.
In the Kur 20:74.
So too in the verse of ʿAntarah cited under سَرْحٌ.
[I alighted, or descended and stopped, at the abode of your father]—نَزَلْتُ فِى أَبِيكَ
Yoo asserts that the Arabs say this, using it in the sense of عَلَيْهِ.
1.5[And horsemen skilful in piercing the aortas and the kidneys ride on it in the day of fear]
shāhidوَتَرْكَبُ يَوْمَ الرَّوْعِ فِيهَا فَوَارِسُبَصِيرُونَ فِى طَعْنِ الأَبَاهِرِ والكُلَى
It is also sometimes synonymous with بِ.
From a saying of Zeyd-el-Kheyl; the meaning is بِطَعْنِ الاباهر والكلى.
In a verse cited by Fr, أَرْغَبُ is made transitive by فِى and عَنْ instead of بِ and عَنْ.
لَيْسَ فِى شَىْءٍ is also sometimes used for لَيْسَ بِشَىْءٍ, meaning It is nothing, or of no account or weight; see more in art. شيأ.
1.6[And they put their hands to their mouths]—فَرَدُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِى أَفْوَاههم
It is also synonymous with إِلَى.
In the Kur 14:10.
1.7[Of, or among, nine signs]—فِى تِسْعِ آيَاتٍ
It is also synonymous with مِنْ.
In the Kur 27:12.
[Take for me ten of the camels; of, or among, them let there be two stallions]—خُذْ لِى عَشْرًا مِنَ الإِبِلِ فِيهَا فَحْلَانِ
[He is of, or among, the purest in race of his people]—هُوَ فِى أَصْلِ قَوْمِهِ
And the like of this.
1.8[But the enjoyment of the present life, in comparison with that which is to come, is only little]—فَمَا مَتَاعُ ٱلْحَيٰوةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
In the Kur 9:38.
It also denotes comparison; this is when it stands between a preceding mention of a thing excelled and a following mention of a thing excelling.
Qur’ān 9:38 approximate — somewhere between 9:34 and 9:40 Lane cites “Kur ix. 38”
Qur’ān 9:38 the verse Lane’s citation points to, and it uses this word
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌO ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter.Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)
1.9[I beat, or struck, him whom you desired]—ضَرَبْتُ فِيمَنْ رَغِبْتَ
It is also used for compensation; this is when it is redundant as a compensation for another [فِى] which is suppressed.
For ضَرَبْتُ مَنْ رَغِبْتَ فِيهِ. This is allowed by Ibn-Málik alone.
1.10[And he said, Embark in it]—وَقَالَ ٱرْكَبُوا فِيهَا
It is also used for corroboration; this is when it is redundant without being for compensation. El-Fárisee allows this in verse where necessity requires it, citing as an example:
For ٱرْكَبُوهَا. In the Kur 11:43, according to some; the like of it occurs also in 18:70 and 29:65.
[I am Aboo-Saad; when the night becomes dark, you imagining its blackness to be black leather]
shāhidأَنَا أَبُوا سَعْدٍ إِذَا اللَّيْلُ دَجَاتَخَالُ فِى سَوَادِهِ يَرَنْدَجَا
2
For فِى as a prefixed noun in the genitive case, synonymous with فَم, and for فِىَّ as synonymous with فَمِى, see فُوهٌ in art. فوه.
Show Lane's original text
is a particle governing the gen. case [and used in the manners and senses expl in what here follows]. (T, S, M, Mughnee, K.) It relates to a receptacle; (Sb, S, M;) and, when used in a wider sense, to that which has some near resemblance thereto; (Sb, M;) [i. e.,] and also to what is considered as a receptacle: (S:) [in other words,] it denotes inclusion, or inbeing, (Msb, Mughnee, K, TA,) either in relation to place or in relation to time: (Mughnee, K, TA;) properly and tropically. (Msb, Mughnee, TA.) غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ فِى أَدْنَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ [The Greeks have been overcome in the nearer, or nearest, part of the land, and they, after the overcoming of them, shall overcome in some few years], in the Kur [xxx. 1 — 3], is an ex. of its relation to place and to time. (Mughnee.) And وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْقِصَاصِ حَيٰوةٌ [And there is, to you, in retaliation, life, or an advantage, (respecting the meaning of which see art. حى ,) in the Kur ii. 175,] is an ex. of its being used tropically, (Mughnee.) أَدْخَلْتُ الخَاتَمَ فِى أُصْبَعِى is an ex. of its relation to place, but the proposition is inverted [i. e. the meaning is I inserted my finger into the signet-ring]. (Mughnee.) [Using it properly,] you say, المَآءُ فِى الإِنَآءِ [The water is in the vessel]: (S:) and هُوَ فِى الجِرَابِ [It is in the wallet,] and فِى الكِيسِ [in the purse]: and هُوَ فِى بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ [He is in the belly of his mother]: and هُوَ فِى الغُلِّ [He is in the shackle for the neck]: (M:) and زَيْدٌ فِى الدَّارِ [Zeyd is in the house], (S, M, * Msb,) or within the house, and in the midst of it, for فِى الدَّارِ , means دَاخِلِهَا , and وَسْطَهَا : (T:) and [using it tropically, you say,] الشَّكُّ فِى الخَبَرِ [Doubt, or uncertainty, is in the information]. (S.) The saying فِيهِ عَيْبٌ [In him is a fault, or blemish], if relating to a real عَيْب , is proper; and if relating to an ideal عَيْب , tropical: the former is such as the amputation of the hand of the thief, and the redundance of a hand; and the latter, such as the runningaway of a slave. (Msb.) [When relating to time, it may in some cases be rendered In, or during; as in the phrase فِى أَيَّامٍ مَعْدُودَاتٍ , in the Kur ii. 139, i. e. In, or during, certain numbered days. إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلْيَوْمَ فِى شُغُلٍ فَاكِهُونَ , in the Kur xxxvi. 55, may be rendered Verily the inmates of Paradise this day shall be in the midst of diverting occupation, cheerful, or happy. The phrase أَمَّا قَوْلُهُ كَذَا فِيهِ مَا فِيهِ , lit. As to his saying thus, in it is what is in it, is used as a polite expression of objection, or contradiction; like فِيهِ تَأَمُّلٌ , q. v. In many instances, فِى may be rendered Of, or concerning, or in respect of; as in قَالَ فِيهِ كَذَا He said of, or concerning, him, or it, thus; for قَالَ فِى ذِكْرِهِ كَذَا He said in mentioning him, or it, thus, or فِى وَصْفِهِ in describing him, or it; or the like hence, for ex., one says كَتَبَ كِتَابًا فِى عِلْمِ اللُّغَةِ He wrote a book of, or concerning the science of lexicology: and hence, in the Kur ii. 133, أَتُّحَاجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللّٰهِ Do ye argue with us concerning, or in respect of, God?] It also denotes concomitance, (Mughnee, K,) and (K) in this ease (Mughnee) it is syn. with مَعَ . (Msb, Mughnee, K.) Thus in the phrase, قَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا فِى أُمَمٍ [He shall say, Enter ye with peoples]. (Msb, Mughnee, TA,) in the Kur [vii. 36]: (Msb, TA:) or, as some say, the meaning is, فِى جَمَاعَةِ أُمَمٍ [in the company of peoples]. (Mughnee.) Thus. too, in the phrase, in the Kur [xlvi. 15], فِى أَصْحَابِ الجَنَّةِ [With the inmates of Paradise]. (Msb, TA.) [Or in these and similar instances, فِى may be rendered, more agreeably with the primary signification, as meaning Among.] In the K, the meaning as denoting concomitance and that which is identical with مَعَ are made distinct: and it has been said that بِ denotes the continuance of concomitance and مَعَ denotes its commencement; though this is not invariably the case. (MF, TA.) [Hence it is used to denote a combination of two qualities: as in the phrase طُولٌ فِى ٱسْتِرْخَآءٍ Length together with laxness: (occurring in the K voce طَنَبٌ :) and سَوَادٌ فِى حُمْرَةٍ Blackness blending with redness: and the like. And in like manner it is used to denote the combination of the length and breadth of a thing: as in the phrase طُولُهُ عِشْرُونَ ذِرَاعًا فِى ثَلَاثِ أَذْرُعٍ عَرْضًا Its length is twenty cubits with (or as we say by) three cubits in breadth: in which case the number of square cubits is expressed by the phrase عِشْرُونَ فِى ثَلَاثٍ as though meaning Twenty as a multiplicand with three as its multiplier; i. e. twenty multiplied by three: see ضَرَبَ as signifying “ he multiplied. ”]. It also denotes the assigning of a cause. (Msb, Mughnee, K.) Thus in the phrase فِى أَرْبَعِينَ شَاةٌ i. e. On account, or because, of completing [the possession of] forty sheep or goats, [the giving of] a sheep or goat [for the poor-rate] is incumbent [on the possessor: or this may be rendered, in the case of the possession of forty, a sheep or goat is to be given]. (Msb.) And thus in the saying, [in the Kur xii. 32,] فَذٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ [And that is he because of whom ye blamed me]. (Mughnee.) Thus also in the saying, in a trad., إِنَّ ٱمْرَأَةً دَخَلَتِ النَّارَ فِى هِرَّةٍ حَبَسَتْهَا [Verily a woman entered the fire of Hell because of a she-cat which she confined without food]. (Mughnee.) [And thus in the phrase أَسْلَفَ فِى كَذَا He paid in advance, or beforehand, for, or on account of, such a thing.] It also denotes superiority; (Mughnee, K, TA;) i. e. (TA) it is used in the sense of عَلَى . (T, S, M, Msb, TA.) Thus in the saying, in the Kur [xx. 74], وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ [And I will assuredly crucify you upon the trunks of palm-trees]. (T, S, Msb, Mughnee, TA.) And so in the verse of 'Antarah cited voce سَرْحٌ . (T, M, Mughnee, TA.) And Yoo asserts that the Arabs say, نَزَلْتُ فِى أَبِيكَ , meaning عَلَيْهِ [i. e. I alighted, or descended and stopped, &c., at the abode of thy father]. (S.) It is also syn. with بِ , (T, S, M, Mughnee, K,) sometimes. (S.) Thus in the saying of Zeyd-el-Kheyl, 1 (S, Mughnee, TA,) meaning, بِطَعْنِ الاباهر والكلى [i. e. And horsemen skilful in piercing the aortas and the kidneys ride in the day of fear therein]. (S, TA.) And thus in a verse cited by Fr, أَرْغَبُ is made trans. by فِى and عَنْ instead of بِ and عَنْ . (T, TA.) [Thus, also, لَيْسَ فِى شَىْءٍ is sometimes used for لَيْسَ بِشَىْءٍ , meaning It is nought; or not of any account or weight; &c.: see more in art. شيأ .] وَتَرْكَبُ يَوْمَ الرَّوْعِ فِيهَا فَوَارِسُ | بَصِيرُونَ فِى طَعْنِ الأَبَاهِرِ والكُلَى It is also syn. with إِلَى . (Mughnee, K.) Thus in the Kur [xiv. 10], فَرَدُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِى أَفْوَاههم [And they put their hands to their mouths]. (Mughnee, TA.) It is also syn. with مِنْ . (M, Mughnee, K, TA.) Thus in the Kur [xxvii. 12], فِى تِسْعِ آيَاتٍ [Of, or among, nine signs]. (M, TA.) And in the saying, خُذْ لِى عَشْرًا مِنَ الإِبِلِ فِيهَا فَحْلَانِ [Take thou for me ten of the camels; of, or among, them let there be two stallions. (M, TA.) [Thus too in the saying هُوَ فِى أَصْلِ قَوْمِهِ He is of, or among, the purest in race, &c., of his people: and the like thereof.] It also denotes comparison; and this is when it occurs between a preceding [mention of a] thing excelled and a following [mention of a] thing excelling: as in the saying, [in the Kur ix. 38,] فَمَا مَتَاعُ ٱلْحَيٰوةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ [But the enjoyment of the present life, in comparison with that which is to come, is no other than little]. (Mughnee, K.) It is also used for compensation; and this is when it is redundant as a compensation for another [ فِى ] which is suppressed: as in the saying, ضَرَبْتُ فِيمَنْ رَغِبْتَ for ضَرَبْتُ مَنْ رَغِبْتَ فِيهِ [I beat, or struck, him whom thou desiredst]: (Mughnee, K:) but this is allowed by Ibn-Málik alone. (Mughnee.) And it is used for corroboration: (Mughnee, K:) this is when it is redundant without its being for compensation: and this El-Fárisee allows in a case of necessity in verse; citing as an ex., 1 [I am Aboo-Saad; when the night becomes dark, thou imagining its blackness to be black leather]. (Mughnee.) And it is thus used in the saying, in the Kur [xi. 43], وَقَالَ ٱرْكَبُوا فِيهَا [for ٱرْكَبُوهَا , i. e. And he said, Embark ye therein, the like of which occurs also in xviii. 70 and xxix. 65], (Mughnee, K,) accord. to some. (Mughnee.) أَنَا أَبُوا سَعْدٍ إِذَا اللَّيْلُ دَجَا | تَخَالُ فِى سَوَادِهِ يَرَنْدَجَا فِى as a prefixed noun in the gen. case, syn. with فَم , and فِىَّ as syn. with فَمِى , see voce فُوهٌ , in art. فوه .