بِيْئَةٌ
Root: بوأ
Full Definition
2 A mode, or manner, of taking for oneself a place of abode: and [hence,] a state, or condition. You say, إِنَّهُ لَحَسَنُ البِيْئَةِ Verily he has a good mode, or manner, of taking for himself a place of abode: or verily he is of good state or condition. And بَاتَ بِبِيْئَةِ He passed the night in an evil state or condition بَوَآءٌ Equal; equivalent; like; alike; a match; and particularly, if slain in retaliation for another. It is applied to one, and to two, and to more: so that you say, فُلَانٌ بَوَآءٌ فُلَانٌ Such a one is the equal, &c., of such a one if slain in retaliation for him: and هُوَ بَوَآءٌ He is an equal, &c.; and so هِىَ she: and هُمْ بَوَآءٌ They are equals, &c.; and so هُنَّ they, referring to females: and هُمْ بَوَآءٌ فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ They are equals in this affair. Hence, in a trad. of 'Alee, respecting witnesses, إَذَ كَانُوا بَوَآءٌ When they are equals in number and rectitude. And مَا فُلَانٌ لِفُلَانٍ بِبَوَآءٌ Such a one is not an equal, &c., to such a one. And دَمُ فُلَانٍ بَوَآءٌ لِدَمِ فُلَانٍ The blood of such a one is an equivalent for the blood of such a one. And الجِرَاحَاتُ بَوَآءٌ Wounds are to be retaliated equally: a trad. And القَوْمُ عَلَى بَوَآءِ The people, or company of men, are in a state of equality. And قُسِمَ المَالُ بَيْنَهُمْ عَلَى بَوَآءٍ The property was divided among them equally. (T. [A similar ex. is given in the Mgh, and explained in the same manner; but there I find عَنْ بَوَآءٍ; perhaps a mistranscription.]) And كَلَّمْنَاهُمْ فَأَجَابُوا عَنْ بَوَآءٍ وَاحِدٍ [in a copy of the M عَلَى بوآء واحد] We spoke to them, and they replied with one reply: i. e., their reply was not discordant: عَنْ being here used in the sense of بِ.
3 Also Retaliation. [See 1, near the end of the paragraph: as well as in other places.] It is related in a trad., that Jaafar Es-Sádik, being asked the reason of the rage of the scorpion against the sons of Adam, said, تُرِيدُ البَوَآءَ [It desires retaliation]; i. e., it hurts like as it is hurt.
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