عِلَّةٌ

An accident that befalls an object and causes its state, or condition, to become altered. (TA.)

And hence, (TA,) A disease, sickness, or malady; (S, O, K, TA;) because, by its befalling, the state becomes altered from strength to weakness; so says El-Munáwee in the “ Tow- keef: ” (TA:) or a disease that diverts [from the ordinary occupations; apparently regarded as being from what next follows]: plural عِلَلٌ (Msb) [and عِلَّاتٌ].

Also An accident, or event, that diverts the person to whom it occurs from his course, (S, O, K,) or from the object of his want: (M:) as though it became a second occupation hindering him from his former occupation. (S, O.)

And [hence,] an excuse; an apology; a plea whereby one excuses himself. (TA.) Hence, (K, * TA,) لَاتَعْدَمُ خَرْقَاءُ عِلَّةً [explained in article خرق]. (K, TA.) [See also another example in article سأل, conj. 3.]

And A cause: [and particularly an efficient cause:] (M, K:) one says, هٰذَا عِلَّةٌ لِهٰذَا This is a cause of this: (M:) and هٰذِهِ عِلَّتُهُ This is its cause: (K:) [and ↓ عِلَّةٌ وَمَعْلُولٌ Cause and effect; a phrase of frequent occurrence in theological and other works:] and [sometimes عِلَّةٌ signifies a pretext, or pretence:] it is said in a tradition of 'Áïsheh, فَكَانَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمٰنِ يَضْرِبُ رِجْلِى بِعِلَّةِ الرَّاحِلَةِ, meaning And 'Abd-Er-Rahmán was beating my leg with the pretence, or pretext, of his beating the side of the camel with his leg. (TA.)

The phrase عَلَى عِلَّاتِهِ means In every case. (S, O, K.) Zubeyr says,

إِنَّ البَخِيلَ مَلُومٌ حَيْثُ كَانَ وَاٰ

كِنَّ الجَوَادَ عَلَى عِلَّاتِهِ هَرِمُ

[Verily the niggard is blamed wherever he be; but the liberal in all his circumstances is Herim]: (S, O:) meaning his companion Herim Ibn-Sinán El-Murree. (S in article هرم.)