k-l-f

Description

The Arabic root كلف (k-l-f) carries the core meaning of imposing a burden, duty, or obligation upon someone, often involving effort or difficulty that may exceed one's natural capacity. In the Quran, this root is primarily used to establish the principle that God does not burden any soul beyond what it can bear, emphasizing divine mercy and justice in religious obligations. The root also extends to meanings of artificial affectation or forcing oneself beyond natural limits, as seen in the term for those who pretend or strain themselves unnaturally in speech or behavior.