امد

Core meaning

The extended interval between two points, in time or in space: a span whose existence is certain, but whose measure is not given to man.

Uses

1. أَمَد → "span" : the interval wished for, counted, prolonged or left open.

   • «تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُۥٓ أَمَدًۢا بَعِيدًۭا» — "it would wish there were between that and itself a distant span" (3:30)
   • «فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ» — "and the span grew long for them, so their cores hardened" (57:16)
   • «أَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَمَدًا» — "or whether my Guardian will set for it a span" (72:25)

Evidence from the text

The four uses set an interval without ever disclosing its measure. The Self would wish to put "a distant span" between itself and the evil it has done (3:30); the young men of the Cave sleep "for numbered years", and what is at stake is which party "better enumerated the span for which they had remained" (18:12); among those who received the Scripture the span lengthens and the cores harden (57:16); the messenger does not know whether what is promised is near or whether a span will be set for it (72:25).

The word therefore expresses the existence of a distance, not its length: that remains on God's side.

Distinctions

• اجل — the term: the deadline fixed in advance, whereas أَمَد is the interval leading to it
• دهر — time as impersonal flow, without bounds
• طول — extent itself; in 57:16 it says that the span lengthens

See also

قسو (the hardening of the core) · لبث (to remain)