إلاexcept

Example sentences

• وإن كان عند التحقيق يؤول إلى الإفلاس، لكنهم لم يكونوا يقبلون من المناظرة إلا ما يفيد ولو ظنًّا ضعيفًا للناظر

  although upon closer examination it leads to nothing, they would only accept from debate what was beneficial, even if it gave only a weak impression to the observer.

  إِلاَّ — only. 'except, only' — after the negation it carves out the one thing accepted: 'accept nothing... except...'.

  From: Rules of Scholarly Debate →

• تالله مَا عدا عَلَيْك الْعدو إِلَّا بعد أَن تولى عَنْك الْوَلِيّ

  By Allah, no enemy came upon you except after the Protector withdrew from you.

  إِلَّا — except. The exception particle after the negation — 'except after…'. It carves out the one circumstance in which the enemy could strike.

  From: Guarding the Heart →

• فَمَا أَصَابَك بلَاء قطّ إِلَّا مِنْهَا

  No trial ever befell you except from it.

  إِلَّا — except. The exception particle after the negation — 'except from it'. It carves out the single source.

  From: Guarding the Heart →

• الْمعرفَة بِسَاط لَا يطَأ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا مقرب

  Knowledge is a carpet stepped on only by those close to it.

  إِلَّا — except. The exception particle after the negation — 'except one brought near'. It singles out who alone may tread.

  From: Love and Devotion to God →

• والمحبة نشيد لَا يطرب عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا محب مغرم

  Love is a hymn enjoyed only by an infatuated lover.

  إِلَّا — except. The exception particle after the negation — 'except a smitten lover'. It singles out who alone is thrilled.

  From: Love and Devotion to God →

• لَيْسَ للعابد مستراح إِلَّا تَحت شَجَرَة طُوبَى

  For the worshipper, there is no resting place except under the Tree of Tuba.

  إِلَّا — except. The exception particle after the negation — 'except beneath…'. It carves out the single resting-place.

  From: Love and Devotion to God →

• وَلَا للمحب قَرَار إِلَّا يَوْم الْمَزِيد

  And for the lover, there is no settlement except on the Day of More.

  إِلَّا — except. The exception particle after the negation — 'except the Day of…'. It carves out the single time of rest.

  From: Love and Devotion to God →

• فقال ألا أعلمكم شيئًا تدركون به من سبقكم، وتسبقون به من بعدكم، ولا يكون أحد أفضل منكم إلا من صنع مثل ما صنعتم؟

  He said: 'Shall I not teach you something by which you will catch up with those who have surpassed you, and you will surpass those after you, and no one will be better than you except those who do as you do?'

  إِلَّا — except. This is the exception-word 'except', carving the one case out of 'no one is better' — except those who match your practice. It introduces the qualifier.

  From: Praises That Elevate the Poor →

• كَمَا قَالَ الْمَسِيحُ ﴿مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِه﴾،

  as the Messiah said: 'I said nothing to them except what You commanded me with',

  إِلَّا — except. This is the exception particle 'except', which restricts the negation to a single allowed thing. With the prior 'I said nothing', it builds 'nothing except', limiting what was said to only the commanded content.

  From: The Messenger as Conveyor of Revelation →

• وأنه لا يحدث شيء إلا بإرادته،

  and that nothing happens except by His will,

  إِلَّا — except. An exception word, 'except', that carves out the one case left standing after the denial. The pattern 'nothing... except...' is Arabic's way of restricting: it first sweeps everything away, then admits a single exception.

  From: Trusting God's Decree →

• فليس له إلا الرضا والتسليم

  so he has nothing but acceptance and submission.

  إِلَّا — except. An exception word, 'except', carving out what is left after the denial. The frame 'there is nothing for him except...' first denies everything, then admits the one thing that remains.

  From: Trusting God's Decree →

• وَمَا تَوْفِيقِيُ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

  My success is only by God.

  إِلَّا — only. An exception-particle that, working with the earlier negator, produces the exclusive 'only' frame: nothing but what follows. It carves out the single allowed case, restricting the source of success to the one thing named next.

  From: Guidance for the Seeker →

• لَا يُوزَنُ بِهِ رِجْلٌ إِلَّا رَجَحَ بِهِ

  No leg is weighed with it without tipping the balance.

  إِلَّا — except. An exception word, 'except / unless', that carves out a contrast against the negation set up earlier. With the preceding 'not', it builds an 'only / without fail' frame: nothing is weighed against it without the result that follows.

  From: The Prophet's Marriage to Khadijah →