لا

Root entry · 14 derived lemmas

This root primarily functions as a particle of negation, with various grammatical roles and applications. It can negate verbs and nominal sentences, act as a conjunction, express prohibition, or be used as an emphatic particle.

Derived headwords

لاparticle

1.
notboth
A particle used for general negation, functioning in various grammatical capacities.
2.
noboth
Used as a negative response to a question that uses 'yes' (نعم).
3.
withoutboth
Used to indicate absence or lack of something, often preceding a noun.
4.
do notboth
Used to prohibit an action, typically preceding a jussive (jazm) present tense verb.

براحnoun

1.
moving awayclassical
Indicates movement, departure, or separation. Often used in negation to mean 'not at all' or 'certainly'.

زادnoun

1.
provisionsboth
Refers to food, supplies, or anything needed for a journey or sustenance.

شيءnoun

1.
thingboth
A general term for an object, matter, or concept. In the context of 'لا شيء', it means 'nothing'.

تتخذواverb

1.
you (pl.) takeboth
The second-person plural present tense verb form of 'to take' or 'to adopt', used here in a prohibitive sense.

عدويnoun

1.
my enemyboth
The noun 'enemy' with the first-person singular possessive suffix.

وعدوكمnoun

1.
and your enemyboth
The noun 'enemy' with the second-person plural possessive suffix, conjoined with 'and'.

أولياءnoun

1.
alliesboth
Plural of 'wali' (ally, guardian, friend), referring to those who support or protect.

منعكverb

1.
prevented youboth
The past tense verb 'prevented' with the second-person singular object pronoun 'you'.

ضلواverb

1.
they went astrayboth
The third-person plural past tense verb form of 'to go astray' or 'to err'.

تتبعنيverb

1.
you follow meboth
The second-person singular present tense verb form of 'to follow' with the first-person singular object pronoun 'me'.

تسجدverb

1.
you prostrateboth
The second-person singular present tense verb form of 'to prostrate' or 'to bow down'.

يعلمverb

1.
he knowsboth
The third-person singular present tense verb form of 'to know'.

أهل الكتابnoun phrase

1.
People of the Bookboth
A term referring to Jews and Christians, as well as other monotheistic communities recognized in Islam.

Parallel reading

وهي على خمسة أوجه

And it has five aspects.

عاملة عمل إن

Operating like 'inna' (if).

وعمل ليس

And operating like 'laysa' (is not).

ولا تعمل إلا في النكرات

And it does not operate except on indefinite nouns.

من صد عن نيرانها ... فأنا ابن قيس لا براح

Whoever turns away from its fires... then I am the son of Qays, not moving away.

وتكون عاطفة بشرط أن يتقدمها إثبات

And it can be a conjunction, provided that affirmation precedes it.

كجاء زيد لا عمرو

Like 'Zayd came, not 'Amr'.

أو أمر: كاضرب زيدا لا عمرا

Or a command: like 'Strike Zayd, not 'Amr'.

وأن يتغاير متعاطفاها

And that its conjoined items differ.

فلا يجوز: جاءني رجل لا زيد

So it is not permissible: 'A man came to me, not Zayd'.

لأنه يصدق على زيد اسم الرجل

Because the name 'man' applies to Zayd.

وتكون جوابا مناقضا لنعم

And it can be an answer contradicting 'na'am' (yes).

وتعرض بين الخافض والمخفوض

And it appears between the preposition and the prepositional object.

نحو: جئت بلا زاد

For example: 'I came without provisions'.

وغضبت من لا شيء

And 'I was angry from nothing'.

وتكون موضوعة لطلب الترك

And it is used to request abandonment.

وتختص بالدخول على المضارع

And it is specific to entering upon the present tense verb.

وتقتضي جزمه واستقباله

And it requires its jussive mood and future reference.

{لا تتخذوا عدوي وعدوكم أولياء}

{Do not take My enemy and your enemy as allies.}

{ما منعك إذ رأيتهم ضلوا ألا تتبعني}

{What prevented you, when you saw them, going astray, from following me?}

{ما منعك أن لا تسجد}

{What prevented you from not prostrating?}

{لئلا يعلم أهل الكتاب}

{So that the People of the Book may know.}