ل

Core meaning

Preposition that attaches a thing or an act to someone: what belongs to him, what falls to him, the one for whom one acts. In the text it almost always carries a suffixed pronoun.

Uses

1. لَّهُۥ, لَهُمْ → "to Him belongs", "to" : belonging: what is someone's.

   • «لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ» — "To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth" (2:255)

2. لَنَآ → "to us" : the share that falls to each.

   • «لَنَآ أَعْمَٰلُنَا» — "To us our works" (28:55)

3. لَّنَا, لَهُۥ → "us", "for him" : the one for whom one gives or acts; English often joins it to the verb.

   • «وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا» — "give us, from Yourself, a protector" (4:75)
   • «فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا» — "you hold nothing for him against God" (5:41)

Evidence from the text

The preposition first says belonging: "To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth" (2:255). It then says each one's share: "To us our works, to you yours" (28:55). Lastly it names the one for whom one acts: "give us, from Yourself, a protector" (4:75), or the one for whom nothing can be done: "you hold nothing for him against God" (5:41).

The attachment stays the same; only what is attached changes: a possession, a deed, a gift. The translation renders it by "to", by "for", or by the object pronoun of the verb.

Distinctions

• لدن — لدن says provenance ("from"); ل says destination.
• لدى — لدى says presence beside someone; ل, attachment to him.