فَاعِلٌ

[act. particle n. of 1, Doing: and, used as a subst., a doer: and hence] a carpenter is thus called; according to IAar: but it is now peculiarly applied to such as works with clay, [and builds, and plasters,] and digs foundations: (TA:) and [the plural] فَعَلَةٌ, (Mgh, K, TA,) as an epithet in which the quality of a subst. predominates, is applied to workers in clay and digging and the like; (K, TA;) or such as work with their hands in clay or building or digging; like عَمَلَةٌ [plural of عَامِلٌ]. (Mgh.)

وَكُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ, in the Qur'an, 21:79, means And we were able to do what we willed. (O, TA.) And وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكٰوةِ فَاعِلُونَ, in the same [xxiii. 4], means And who give the ذكوة [or poor-rate]: (Zj, O, TA:) or, as some say, who do that which is good, or righteous. (O, TA.)