زلفة

From the root ز ل ف‎ (z-l-f).

• زُلْفَى‎ (zulfā)

زُلْفَة • (zulfa) f (plural زُلَف‎ (zulaf) or زُلَفَات‎ (zulafāt)) (archaic)

1. nearness, proximity, neighborliness literally and figuratively

   Synonym: قُرْبَة‎ (qurba)

   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 38:25:

   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 38:40:

     ‏وَإِنَّ لَهُ، عِنْدَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ‎

     waʔinna lahū, ʕindanā lazulfā waḥusna maʔābin

     And to him and to us there is neighborliness

2. those who are near, thy neighbours, or those who have a higher rank in relation to something
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 39:3:

     ‏مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰٓ‎

     We worship them not but to come closer to God’s intimate circle.

   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 34:37:

     ‏وَمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰٓ‎

     And neither your riches nor your children are what bring you close to the intimate circle.

   • 7th century CE, Jamīʿ at-Tirmiḏiyy, 49:

     ‏هُوَ مِنْ أَقْرَبِهِمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى‎

     huwa min ʔaqrabihim ʔilā l-lahi zulfā

     He is most intimately close to God.

3. grovelling, flattery by coming close in a respect
4. a period time comprising a commencing portion of either night or day

See there.

زَلَفة or زِلْفَة • (zalafa or zilfa) f (singulative, collective زَلَف‎ m (zalaf) or زِلْف‎ m (zilf)) (obsolete)

1. singulative of زَلَف‎ (zalaf, “mother-of-pearl-shell”)