ميل

Core meaning

To lean: to leave the balance on one side, out of desire, out of partiality, or to swoop down on someone.

Uses

1. تَمِيلُوا۟, مَيْلًا, ٱلْمَيْلِ → "to lean", "a leaning" : leaving the balance, toward one's desires or toward a single wife.

   • «أَن تَمِيلُوا۟ مَيْلًا عَظِيمًۭا» — "want you to lean with an immense leaning" (4:27)
   • «فَلَا تَمِيلُوا۟ كُلَّ ٱلْمَيْلِ» — "so do not lean entirely" (4:129)

2. فَيَمِيلُونَ, مَّيْلَةًۭ → "to swoop down upon", "in a single rush" : throwing one's whole weight on the opponent, in one movement.

   • «فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ» — "so as to swoop down upon you in a single rush" (4:102)

Evidence from the text

All six uses are in sura 4. In 4:27, those who follow their desires want to make the believers lean with an immense leaning: the departure is willed, and great. In 4:129, the matter is fairness between wives: one will not manage to be just between them, but one must not lean "entirely", to the point of forsaking the other as though hanging.

In 4:102, the same gesture becomes an attack: those who disown watch for the moment the believers would neglect their arms, "so as to swoop down upon you in a single rush". To lean, here, is to bear down on someone with one's whole weight.

Distinctions

• زيغ — to deviate from a received axis and lose the way; ميل says leaning to one side
• جنح — to incline toward peace, with no idea of a wrongful departure