Al-lamam denotes a touch of madness. A man afflicted with it is called malmūm. It is also said, “So-and-so has suffered a lammah from the jinn,” meaning a touch of possession. The word also denotes a small amount. This was stated by al-Jawharī.

I say: The word’s basic meaning is to draw near. Hence the saying of the Most High:

“Those who avoid major sins and shameful deeds, apart from minor lapses.”

These are minor sins. Ibn ‘Abbās—may Allah be pleased with them both—said: “I have seen nothing that better illustrates minor lapses than what Abū Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—said: ‘The eye commits adultery, and its adultery is looking; the hand commits adultery, and its adultery is grasping; the foot commits adultery, and its adultery is walking; and the mouth commits adultery, and its adultery is kissing.’”

From the same root comes alamma bi-kadhā, meaning to approach something or draw near to it. A ghulām mulimm is a boy approaching puberty. The hadith states:

“Some of what spring brings forth causes fatal bloating, or nearly does so.”

That is, it comes close to doing so.

The saying of Allah Most High:

53:59–61 “Do you then marvel at this message, and laugh rather than weep, while you amuse yourselves?”

‘Ikrimah reported from Ibn ‘Abbās: “Samūd means singing in the language of Himyar. They say, ‘Ismadī lanā,’ meaning, ‘Sing for us.’” Abū Zubayd said:

“As though the sounds within it were songs for drinking companions,
From a drinker being serenaded.”

Abū ‘Ubaydah said: “Masmūd means someone to whom songs are sung.” ‘Ikrimah said: “Whenever they heard the Quran, they would sing. Then this verse was revealed.”

This does not contradict the explanation that samūd in this verse means heedlessness and inattention to something.

Al-Mubarrid said: “It means being distracted from something by a sorrow or joy that occupies one’s attention.” He cited the following verse: