Re-examination of the Qur'anic Word "Niḥlah" from the Etymology and the History of Lexicography Point of View

"Niḥlah" is one of the oldest Semitic vocabularies that is used only once in the Holy Qur'an (Q. 4:4). Reviewing the Qur'anic exegeses, this study shows that the meaning of "Niḥlah" has been the subject of controversy among Muslim scholars. That's why different meanings have been offered for this word throughout the history. This study, paying attention to the history of lexicography, is going to discuss the history of meanings that has been proposed for "Niḥlah" in exegetical resources. Moreover, this study is going to discover the oldest meaning of "Niḥlah" by adopting the etymological approach. The present study indicates that the original meaning of "Niḥlah" is "transferring property to somebody". Therefore, mentioning "Niḥlah" in the context of "paying bride’s marriage portion" in the Holy Qur'an was an attempt to notify that the bride’s marriage portion is the women's inalienable right. In addition, the present study proves that contrary to the most lexicographers and exegetes’ viewpoint, there is no etymological relationship between "Niḥlah" and "Naḥl" which respectively means “bride’s marriage portion" and "bee". Accordingly, the Semitic root "N-Ḥ-L" has two different origins, and is mistakenly regarded homonymous.