ظَهَرَ قَبْلَنَا نَاسٌ يَتَفَقَّرُونَ العِلْمَ

, occurring in a tradition, as some relate it, means [There appeared before us men] eliciting what was recondite, or obscure, of knowledge, and opening what was closed thereof; from فَقَرْتُ البِيءْرَ meaning “ I dug the well to draw forth the water: ” but the reading commonly known is [يَتَقَفَّرُونَ, q. v.,] with the ق before the ف. (IAth, TA.)

See also 2.