نفد

Core meaning

To be exhausted: to reach the end of what one has, until nothing is left.

Uses

1. نَفِدَ, يَنفَدُ → "be exhausted" : what is exhausted is finite; the negation is reserved for what comes from God.

   • «مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ» — "What is with you is exhausted" (16:96)
   • «لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَٰتُ رَبِّى» — "the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Guardian were exhausted" (18:109)

2. نَفَاد → "end" : the noun, negated: a provision without end.

   • «مَا لَهُۥ مِن نَّفَادٍ» — "which knows no end" (38:54)

Evidence from the text

The text opposes two measures. What is with people is exhausted, what is with God remains (16:96): every human good has its limit. The sea turned into ink would be exhausted before the words of the Guardian, even reinforced by another sea (18:109), or by seven (31:27).

The noun occurs once, negated: the provision given in the Garden "knows no end" (38:54). The negation of exhaustion is always said of what comes from God.

Distinctions

• نقص — to diminish a quantity; نفد says it reaches its end.