ليه

Root entry · 8 derived lemmas

This root primarily deals with concepts of elevation, rising, and being high, often in a divine or revered context. It also encompasses terms related to deities, idols, and divine appellations, as well as notions of covering or veiling.

Derived headwords

لَاهَ يَلِيهِ لَيْهَاverb

1.
to be high, elevatedclassical
To rise or be elevated, often used in a context of divine or supreme status.
2.
to cover, veilclassical
To conceal or cover something, as in a protective or secretive manner.

لَاهُname

1.
God (Allah)classical
An appellation for God, derived from the root 'lah' (to be divine/elevated), with the definite article 'al-' prefixed, functioning as a proper noun.

كدعوة من أبي كبار يسمعها لاهه الكبار أي إلاهه — Like a supplication from Abu Kabar that the great ones hear it, meaning their God. (The definite article 'al-' was added, making it function like a proper noun.)

إِلَاهَةnoun

1.
deity, goddessclassical
A divine being, often referring to the sun as a deity due to its elevated position, or a general term for a god or goddess.

وسميت الشمس إلاهة لارتفاعها في السماء — And the sun was named Ilaha (goddess) due to its elevation in the sky.

لَاهُوتnoun

1.
divinity, divine natureclassical
The divine essence or nature, particularly in theological contexts, sometimes contrasted with 'nasut' (humanity). It is considered a Hebrew term adopted into Arabic.

وقد ذكر الواحدي أنهم يقولون لله لاهوت، وللناس ناسوت — And Al-Wahidi mentioned that they say for God is 'Lahut' (divinity) and for people is 'Nasut' (humanity).

اللَّاتname

1.
Al-Lat (idol)classical
A pre-Islamic idol worshipped by the tribe of Thaqif in Ta'if. Its etymology is debated, with some suggesting it derives from 'lawi' (to bend towards) or is a feminine form related to 'ilah'.

واللات: صنم لثقيف كان بالطائف — And Al-Lat: an idol of Thaqif that was in Ta'if.

لَاهُمparticle

1.
O God!classical
An exclamation or vocative used to call upon God, where the 'mim' (م) is a substitution for the vocative particle 'ya' (ي).

قولهم: لاهم، الميم بدل من ياء النداء أي يا ألله — Their saying: 'Lahum', the mim is a substitute for the vocative particle 'ya', meaning 'O Allah'.

لَاهِparticle

1.
Indeed! (vocative)classical
A particle used in exclamations or vocative expressions, often implying emphasis or a call to attention.

لاه ابن عمك لا أفضلت في حسب عني ولا أنت دياني فتخزوني — Indeed, son of your uncle, you have not excelled me in lineage, nor are you my judge to make me fear.

وَلِيهِnoun

1.
nation, peopleclassical
A term referring to a community or a group of people, an ethnic or national group.

وليه، بالكسر: أمة من الأمم — Waliyh, with kasra: a nation from among the nations.

Parallel reading

وجوز سيبويه اشتقاق اسم الجلالة منها

And Sibawayh permitted the derivation of the name of God from it.

كدعوة من أبي كبار يسمعها لاهه الكبار أي إلاهه

Like a supplication from Abu Kabar that the great ones hear it, meaning their God.

أدخلت عليه الألف واللام فجرى مجرى الاسم العلم كالعباس والحسن إلا أنه خالف الأعلام من حيث كان صفة

The definite article 'al-' was added to it, so it functioned like a proper noun, like 'Al-Abbas' and 'Al-Hasan', except that it differed from proper nouns in that it was an attribute.

علا وارتفع

It rose and became elevated.

وسميت الشمس إلاهة لارتفاعها في السماء

And the sun was named Ilaha (goddess) due to its elevation in the sky.

كأنهم سموها إلاهة لتعظيمهم لها في عبادتهم إياها

It is as if they called it Ilaha (goddess) due to their veneration of it in their worship of it.

فإن الهمزة في الإلاهة هي فاء الكلمة فهو اشتقاق بعيد لا يصح إلا بتكلف بل لا يصح

For the hamza in 'Ilaha' is the first letter of the root, so it is a distant derivation that is not valid except with effort, rather it is not valid.

وكان أصله لاهة أدخلت عليه الألف واللام فجرى مجرى الاسم العلم

And its origin was 'Lahah', to which the definite article 'al-' was added, so it functioned like a proper noun.

فإن كان من كلامهم أي العرب وصح ذلك

If it is from their speech, meaning the Arabs, and that is correct.

ففعلوت من لاه، مثل رغبوت ورحموت

Then it is 'fa'alut' from 'lah', like 'raghabut' and 'rahimut'.

واللات: صنم لثقيف كان بالطائف

And Al-Lat: an idol of Thaqif that was in Ta'if.

حق اللات أن يذكر في فصل لوي، فإن أصله لوية مثل ذات من قولك ذات مال

The right of Al-Lat is to be mentioned in the section of 'lawi', for its origin is 'lawiyah', like 'dhat' from your saying 'dhat mal' (possessor of wealth).

فإن الأصنام يلوى عليها ويعكف

For idols are bent towards and frequented.

قولهم: لاهم، الميم بدل من ياء النداء أي يا ألله

Their saying: 'Lahum', the mim is a substitute for the vocative particle 'ya', meaning 'O Allah'.

لله ابن عمك لا أفضلت في حسب عني ولا أنت دياني فتخزوني

By Allah, son of your uncle, you have not excelled me in lineage, nor are you my judge to make me fear.

الحمد لاه رب العالمين

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.