قلل

Core meaning

To be few or little: small quantity, small number, slight measure; in the comparative, to be less; in form IV, to lift what one carries as a light thing.

Uses

1. قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ, قَلِيلٌ → "a few", "a small number" : the reduced part of a group, which makes the exception.

   • «إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّنكُمْ» — "except a few of you" (2:83)
   • «وَمَآ ءَامَنَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌۭ» — "And only a few had believed with him" (11:40)

2. كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا, يُقَلِّلُكُمْ → "few", "to make appear few" : the small number of a people, real or as seen.

   • «إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًۭا فَكَثَّرَكُمْ» — "that you were few, and He made you many" (7:86)
   • «وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِىٓ أَعْيُنِهِمْ» — "and made you appear few in their eyes" (8:44)

3. قَلِيلًا مَّا → "how little", "only a little" : the observation of what man does too rarely.

   • «قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ» — "How little you remember" (7:3)
   • «فَقَلِيلًۭا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ» — "and they believe only a little" (2:88)

4. ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا → "a paltry price" : what one obtains by paying with the signs or the pact of God.

   • «وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِى ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًۭا» — "and do not buy, with My signs, a paltry price" (2:41)

5. قَلَّ, أَقَلّ → "little", "fewest" : the lesser measure, set against "much" or "more".

   • «مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ» — "whether little or much" (4:7)
   • «وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًۭا» — "and fewest in number" (72:24)

6. أَقَلَّتْ → "to be laden" : to carry by lifting, as a light thing.

   • «حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًۭا ثِقَالًۭا» — "when they are laden with heavy clouds" (7:57)

7. قَلِيلًا (duration) → "a little" : the small measure of a delay or a stay.

   • «وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا» — "and grant them a little respite" (73:11)
   • «إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا» — "You remained only a little" (23:114)

Evidence from the text

The root always measures: a number (2:249, 11:40), a duration (17:52, 23:114), an enjoyment granted for a time ("a brief enjoyment", 2:126), a portion of inheritance (4:7). The text often makes it an observation about man: few believe (2:88), few remember (7:3, 27:62, 69:42), and "few of My obedient ones are grateful" (34:13).

The small number is no weakness: "How many a small battalion has overcome a large battalion, with God's permission!" (2:249). The price received in exchange for the signs of God, however, is always paltry, whatever it be (2:41, 2:79, 3:77, 9:9): it is little against what one gives.

Distinctions

• كثر — the great number, abundance, which the text sets against قلل (4:7, 7:86)
• ثمن — the price itself, which قلل qualifies
• مهل — the respite: 86:17 calls it "short", with رُوَيْدًا; قَلِيلًا makes it "a little respite" (73:11)

See also

عدد (number)