كمل

Core meaning

An attained fullness: what is brought to its full, with nothing lacking or remaining.

Uses

1. أَكْمَلْتُ, لِتُكْمِلُوا۟ → "perfect", "make full" : to bring a Law or a count to its fullness.

   • «ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ» — "Today, I have perfected for you your Law" (5:3)
   • «وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ» — "and that you make the number of days full" (2:185)

2. كَامِلَة, كَامِلَيْنِ → "full" : a duration or a burden without reduction.

   • «تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ» — "that is ten full days" (2:196)
   • «حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ» — "two full years" (2:233)
   • «لِيَحْمِلُوٓا۟ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةًۭ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ» — "so as to bear, on the Day of Appearance, their burdens in full" (16:25)

Evidence from the text

The five uses state a fullness without lack. In 2:185, the number of the days of fasting is brought to its full; in 2:196, three days and seven make ten full days; in 2:233, the care of the child covers two full years; in 16:25, those who mislead bear their burdens without reduction.

In 5:3, the word applies to the Law itself, and the verse sets it beside تمم: the Law is perfected, the blessing is completed. كمل says the fullness of what is reached, تمم the completion of what was under way.

Distinctions

• تمم — to complete: to finish what was under way; the two follow each other in 5:3
• تقن — to finish a work flawlessly in its execution

See also

عدد (the number of days)