زلفة

• زُلْفَى (zulfā)

زُلْفَة • (zulfa) f (plural زُلَف (zulaf) or زُلَفَات (zulafāt)) (archaic)

1. nearness, proximity, neighborliness literally and figuratively

   Synonym: قُرْبَة (qurba)

   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 38:25:
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 38:40:

     وَإِنَّ لَهُ، عِنْدَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ

     waʔinna lahū, ʕindanā lazulfā waḥusna maʔābin

     And to him and to us there is neighborliness

2. those who are near, thy neighbours, or those who have a higher rank in relation to something
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 39:3:

     مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰٓ

     We worship them not but to come closer to God’s intimate circle.

   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 34:37:

     وَمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰٓ

     And neither your riches nor your children are what bring you close to the intimate circle.

   • 7th century CE, Jamīʿ at-Tirmiḏiyy, section 49:

     هُوَ مِنْ أَقْرَبِهِمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى

     huwa min ʔaqrabihim ʔilā l-lahi zulfā

     He is most intimately close to God.

3. grovelling, flattery by coming close in a respect
4. a period time comprising a commencing portion of either night or day

See there.

زَلَفة or زِلْفَة • (zalafa or zilfa) f (singulative, collective زَلَف m (zalaf) or زِلْف (zilf)) (obsolete)

1. singulative of زَلَف (zalaf, “mother-of-pearl-shell”)

زلفة • (zalafe) f (singulative, plural زلف (zalaf))

1. spoon

   Synonym: معلقة