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ءلا

Root entry · 7 derived lemmas

This root primarily concerns particles used for initiating speech, drawing attention, questioning, or expressing regret. It encompasses various forms of 'ala' and 'alla' with distinct grammatical functions and meanings, ranging from simple interjections to complex conditional or negational structures.

Derived headwords

أَلَاparticle
  1. 1.
    Behold! / Verily!both

    A particle used to initiate speech, draw attention, or announce something important, similar to 'know that'.

  2. 2.
    O!classical

    Used as an interjection or vocative particle, often preceding a call or command.

  3. 3.
    Why don't you...?classical

    Used to propose or invite an action, similar to 'why don't you do X?'.

  4. 4.
    Why didn't you...?classical

    Used to express regret or reproach for not having done something.

ألا إن زيدا خارج — Behold, Zayd is leaving.
ألا قم — O, stand up!
ألا تنزل تأكل — Why don't you come down and eat?
ألا تندم على فعالك — Why don't you regret your actions?
أَلَاparticle
  1. 1.
    Is it not...?classical

    A particle used for rhetorical questioning or to express surprise.

أَلَا لَاparticle
  1. 1.
    No, there is no...classical

    A combination of 'ala' and 'la' used for emphasis, functioning as a strong negation or denial.

ألا لا من سبيل إلى هند — No, there is no way to Hind.
أَلَاparticle
  1. 1.
    Indeed, they say...both

    Used in conjunction with 'inna' (إنّ) for emphasis in declarative sentences.

ألا إنهم من إفكهم ليقولون — Indeed, they say, out of their falsehood...
أَلَاparticle
  1. 1.
    O, [vocative particle]classical

    When followed by 'ya' (يا), 'ala' primarily serves as a vocative particle for emphasis.

ألا يا اسلمي يا دارمي على البلى — O, be well, O house of Darim, despite decay.
أَلَّاparticle
  1. 1.
    that notboth

    A compound particle formed by 'anna' (أنّ) and 'la' (لا), used to negate a following clause, often after verbs of commanding or forbidding.

أمرته ألا يفعل ذلك — I ordered him not to do that.
أَلَّاparticle
  1. 1.
    if notclassical

    A compound particle formed by 'anna' (أنّ) and 'la' (لا), used in a conditional sense, similar to 'if not' or 'unless'.

Parallel reading

تقول ألا إن زيدا خارج كما تقول اعلم أن زيدا خارج.
You say, 'Behold, Zayd is leaving,' just as you say, 'Know that Zayd is leaving.'
ألا قم
Stand up!
ألا لا تقم
Do not stand up!
ألا إن زيدا قد قام
Behold, Zayd has stood up.
ألا تنزل تأكل
Why don't you come down and eat?
ألا تندم على فعالك
Why don't you regret your actions?
ألا تستحي من جيرانك
Why don't you feel ashamed before your neighbors?
ألا تخاف ربك
Why don't you fear your Lord?
فقد تردف ألا بلا أخرى فيقال: ألا لا
And 'ala' may be followed by another 'la', so it is said: 'Ala la'.
جعل ألا تنبيها ولا نفيا
He made 'ala' an attention-getter and 'la' a negation.
ألا إنهم من إفكهم ليقولون
Indeed, they say, out of their falsehood...
ألا إنهم هم المفسدون
Indeed, they are the corrupters.
ألا يا اسلمي يا دارمي على البلى
O, be well, O house of Darim, despite decay.
أمرته ألا يفعل ذلك
I ordered him not to do that.
ويجوز إظهار النون كقولك: أمرتك أن لا تفعل ذلك
And it is permissible to show the 'nun' as in your saying: 'I ordered you not to do that'.
ل أن ي سألني ربي: ألا فعلت، أحب إلي من أن يقول لي: لم فعلت؟
That my Lord asks me: 'Why didn't you do [it]?' is more beloved to me than Him saying to me: 'Why did you do [it]?'