A1adjective
مُختَلِف
mukhtalif
different
Example
لَدَينا آراءٌ مُختَلِفة
ladaynā ārāʾun mukhtalifa
We have different opinions
Grammar
Feminine form: mukhtalifa (مُختَلِفة). Form VIII active participle from ikhtalafa (اِختَلَفَ, to differ).
← Root Explorer
Arabic root
خ-ل-ف
4 words from this root family
B1verb
اِخْتَلَفَ
ikhtalafa
to differ / to disagree (Form VIII)
Example
اِختَلَفَ العُلَماءُ في هذِهِ المَسأَلَة.
ikhtalafa l-ʿulamāʾu fī hādhihi l-masʾala.
The scholars disagreed on this issue.
B1noun
خَلِيفَةٌ
khalīfah
vicegerent / successor / steward
Example
إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً
innī jāʿilun fī al-arḍi khalīfah
Indeed, I will make upon the earth a vicegerent (2:30)
Grammar
Feminine in form (tāʾ marbūṭa) but refers to a male (Adam). Plural: خُلَفَاءُ (khulafāʾ). From خَلَفَ (to succeed/follow after).
Culture
Humanity's role as God's khalīfah on earth implies stewardship and moral responsibility — a cornerstone of Islamic environmental and social ethics.
B2noun
خِلَافَةٌ
khilāfah
succession / stewardship / caliphate
Example
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ
waʿada Allāhu alladhīna āmanū minkum wa-ʿamilū aṣ-ṣāliḥāti layastakhlifannahum fī al-arḍ
Allah has promised those who believed among you and did righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession on earth (24:55)
Grammar
Feminine noun. From خَلَفَ (to succeed). Related: خَلِيفَةٌ (q200), اسْتَخْلَفَ (Form X, to appoint as successor). Verb here: لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ.
Culture
God's promise of khilāfah is conditional on faith and righteous deeds — succession is a divine trust, not a right.