عِلَّةٌ
Root: عل
Full Definition
2 And hence, A disease, sickness, or malady; because, by its befalling, the state becomes altered from strength to weakness; so says El-Munáwee in the “ Tow- keef: ” or a disease that diverts [from the ordinary occupations; app. regarded as being from what next follows]: pl. عِلَلٌ [and عِلَّاتٌ].
3 Also An accident, or event, that diverts the person to whom it occurs from his course, or from the object of his want: as though it became a second occupation hindering him from his former occupation.
4 And [hence,] an excuse; an apology; a plea whereby one excuses himself. Hence, لَاتَعْدَمُ خَرْقَآءُ عِلَّةً [expl. in art. خرق]. [See also another ex. in art. سأل, conj. 3.]
5 And A cause: [and particularly an efficient cause:] one says, هٰذَا عِلَّةٌ لِهٰذَا This is a cause of this: and هٰذِهِ عِلَّتُهُ This is its cause: [and عِلَّةٌ Cause and effect; a phrase of frequent occurrence in theological and other works:] and [sometimes عِلَّةٌ signifies a pretext, or pretence:] it is said in a trad. of 'Áïsheh, فَكَانَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمٰنِ يَضْرِبُ رِجْلِى بِعِلَّةِ الرَّاحِلَةِ, meaning And 'Abd-Er-Rahmán was beating my leg with the pretence, or pretext, of his beating the side of the camel with his leg.
6 The phrase عَلَى عِلَّاتِهِ means In every case. Zubeyr says,
[Verily the niggard is blamed wherever he be; but the liberal in all his circumstances is Herim]: meaning his companion Herim Ibn-Sinán El-Murree. (S in art. هرم.)إِنَّ البَخِيلَ مَلُومٌ حَيْثُ كَانَ وَاٰ كِنَّ الجَوَادَ عَلَى عِلَّاتِهِ هَرِمُ
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