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لولا

Root entry · 6 derived lemmas

The root 'لولا' primarily functions as a conditional particle expressing 'if not for' or 'were it not for,' indicating that the absence of one thing prevents the occurrence of another. It can also be used for exhortation, reproach, or even as a negative particle.

Derived headwords

لَوْلَاparticle
  1. 1.
    if not forboth

    A particle used to express a conditional relationship where the existence of one thing prevents the occurrence of another. It implies a hypothetical situation.

  2. 2.
    were it not forboth

    Used to introduce a condition that, if not met, would lead to a different outcome. It highlights the dependency of one event on the presence of another.

  3. 3.
    why notboth

    Used for exhortation or urging someone to do something, often directed at a present tense verb.

  4. 4.
    why didn'tboth

    Used for reproach or blame, typically directed at a past tense verb, questioning why something was not done.

  5. 5.
    notclassical

    In some contexts, it can function as a negative particle, similar to 'lam' (لم), indicating negation.

لولا زيد لهلك عمرو — Were it not for Zayd, Amr would have perished.
لولاك ما قمت — Were it not for you, I would not have stood up.
لولا تستغفرون الله — Why do you not seek forgiveness from Allah?
لولا جاؤوا عليه بأربعة شهداء — Why did they not bring four witnesses against him?
لَوْلَايَparticle
  1. 1.
    were it not for meboth

    A specific form of the conditional particle 'lā' (لولا) when referring to the first person singular.

ولولاي طحت كما هوى بأجرامه — And were it not for me, I would have fallen as he fell with his body from the summit of the peak.
لَوْلَاهُparticle
  1. 1.
    were it not for himboth

    A specific form of the conditional particle 'lā' (لولا) when referring to the third person masculine singular.

ولولاه لم يعرض لأحسابنا — And were it not for him, they would not have attacked our honor.
لَوْلَاهَاparticle
  1. 1.
    were it not for herboth

    A specific form of the conditional particle 'lā' (لولا) when referring to the third person feminine singular.

لَوْلَاكُمْparticle
  1. 1.
    were it not for you (pl.)both

    A specific form of the conditional particle 'lā' (لولا) when referring to the second person plural.

لولا أنتم لكنا مؤمنين — Were it not for you, we would have been believers.
لَوْلَاهُمْparticle
  1. 1.
    were it not for themboth

    A specific form of the conditional particle 'lā' (لولا) when referring to the third person plural.

Parallel reading

مركبة من معنى أن ولو، وذلك أن لولا تمنع الثاني من أجل وجود الأول
It is compounded from the meaning of 'an' (أن) and 'law' (لو), and that is because 'lā' (لولا) prevents the second [event] due to the existence of the first.
فجعل لولا حرف امتناع لوجود
So he made 'lā' (لولا) a particle of prevention for the sake of existence.
لولا زيد لأكرمتك
Were it not for Zayd, I would have honored you.
لولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم بالسواك عند كل صلاة
Were it not that it would be a hardship on my community, I would have commanded them to use the tooth stick at every prayer.
لولا تستغفرون الله
Why do you not seek forgiveness from Allah?
لولا أخرتني إلى أجل قريب
Why did you not defer me until a near term?
لولا جاؤوا عليه بأربعة شهداء
Why did they not bring four witnesses against him?
فلولا نصرهم الذين اتخذوا من دون الله قربانا آلهة
Then why did not their gods, whom they took as deities apart from Allah, help them?
ولولا إذا سمعتموه قلتم
And why, when you heard it, did you not say...
فلولا إذ بلغت الحلقوم
Then why, when it reached the throat...
فلولا كانت قرية آمنت فنفعها إيمانها إلا قوم يونس
Then why was there not a town that believed so its faith benefited it, except the people of Yunus?
فلولا إذ جاءهم بأسنا تضرعوا
Then why, when Our might came to them, did they not humble themselves?