What does « ʿYl » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word ʿYl (عيل) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

عيل

ʿYl

Root: ع - ل

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of ʿYl

The Almighty says: 'And if you fear poverty' (At-Tawba 28), meaning destitution.

Al-'ayla: poverty and need. 'Found you in need' (Ad-Duha 8).

God enriches after poverty.

ʿYl in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

At-Tawba 1

Ad-Duha 1

Surah At-Tawba : 28 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا يَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلْمَسْجِدَ ٱلْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَيْلَةً فَسَوْفَ يُغْنِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ إِن شَآءَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾

O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Wise.

Surah Ad-Duha : 8 Meccan

﴿وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلًا فَأَغْنَىٰ﴾

And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.