single person of whom is termed ↓ مَسْلَحِىٌّ; (A, * L;) and مَسْلَحَةٌ [also] is thus applied to a single person in a saying of 'Omar: (Mgh:) they are thus called because of their having weapons, or because of their occupying the place called مَسْلَحَةٌ: (Nh:) or the مسلحة of the army are a party of capturers that go before the army, exploring for them the way, and searching as spies to learn news of the enemy, lest the enemy should make a sudden assault upon them; not suffering any one of the enemy