Quran Vocabulary

آدم

Adam

Adam, father of humanity. It is said he was named thus because his body came from the surface (adîm) of the earth, or due to his brownish complexion. ...

25 verses

آل

Family / Clan

Âl: an inverted form of 'ahl' (family/people). It is used exclusively in annexation with proper nouns of rational beings, not with indefinites, times,...

21 verses

أب

Father

Allah says: 'And fruits and herbage (abb)' (Abasa: 31). Al-abb refers to pasture prepared for grazing and cutting, from 'abba li-kadhâ' (to prepare fo...

30 verses

أبا

To turn away

Al-ab (the father): the progenitor. Anything that causes the existence, rectitude, or appearance of something is called 'father'. Hence the Prophet ﷺ ...

30 verses

أبد

Eternity

Allah says: 'They will dwell therein forever (abadan)' (An-Nisâ': 122). Al-abad denotes the extended duration of time that cannot be divided like ordi...

28 verses

أبق

Flight (slave)

Allah says: 'When he fled (abaqa) to the laden ship' (As-Sâffât: 140). One says 'abaqa al-'abd' (the slave fled) when he runs away. A fugitive slave i...

1 verse

أبى

To refuse

Al-ibâ': intense refusal. Every ibâ' is a refusal, but not every refusal is ibâ'. Allah says: 'Allah refuses all except to perfect His light' (At-Tawb...

12 verses

أتى

To come / To arrive

Al-ityân: coming with ease. Hence a flowing torrent is called 'atiyy'. Ityân is used for coming in person, by command or by providence, for good and e...

30 verses

أث

Dense / Bushy

Al-athâth: the abundant household goods. Its root comes from 'aththa' (to be plentiful and thick). All abundant wealth is called 'athâth'. It has no s...

2 verses

أثر

Trace / Vestige

Athar (trace): what indicates the existence of something. One says 'athar' and 'aththara', plural 'âthâr'. Allah says: 'Then We sent Our messengers in...

21 verses

أثل

Tamarisk

Allah says: 'With bitter fruit, tamarisks (athl), and a few sparse lote-trees' (Saba': 16). Al-athl: a tree with firm roots. A 'muta'aththil' tree is ...

1 verse

أج

Bitter / Hot

Allah says: 'This is fresh and sweet, and this is salty and bitter (ujâj)' (Al-Furqân: 53). Ujâj: very salty and hot, from 'ajîj an-nâr' (the cracklin...

3 verses

أجر

Reward / Wage

Al-ajr and al-ujra: the reward for work, whether in this world or the Hereafter. Allah says: 'My reward is only from Allah' (Yûnus: 72), 'We gave him ...

30 verses

أجل

Delay / Term

Al-ajal: the term fixed for something. Allah says: 'That you may reach an appointed term' (Ghâfir: 67), 'Whichever term I fulfill' (Al-Qasas: 28). A d...

30 verses

أحد

One / Unique

Ahad is used in two ways: first, only in negation; second, in affirmation. In negation, it encompasses the genus of rational beings, including few and...

30 verses

أخ

Brother

Akh (brother): originally 'akhw'. One who shares with another birth from both parents or one, or nursing. It is used metaphorically for any associate ...

30 verses

أخذ

To take / To seize

Al-akhdh (taking): seizing something and possessing it. Allah says: 'Take what We have given you' (Al-Baqara: 63). Akhdh is used for taking something ...

30 verses

أخر

Other / Last

Al-âkhir (the last): what follows the first, opposite of 'al-awwal'. Al-âkhira (the Hereafter) is the abode that follows this one. Allah says: 'He is ...

30 verses

أد

Monstrous thing

Allah says: 'You have committed a monstrous thing (iddan)' (Maryam: 89), meaning a reprehensible thing that causes tumult. This comes from 'addat an-n...

1 verse

أدى

To fulfill / To deliver

Al-adâ' (fulfillment): delivering something to its recipient. Allah says: 'Allah commands you to render trusts to their owners' (An-Nisâ': 58), 'While...

5 verses

أذن

Ear / Permission

Al-udhn (the ear): the organ of hearing. Allah says: 'In their ears is deafness' (Fussilat: 44). Al-idhâ'a: making public what one has heard. Al-adhân...

30 verses

أذي

To harm / To injure

Al-adhâ (harm): what reaches a living being as damage, whether to one's person, body, or consequences, worldly or religious, in deeds or words. Allah ...

22 verses

أرب

Desire / Need

Al-arab and al-irba refer to need. Someone who is 'ârib' is one in need. 'Ulû al-irba' are those who need women. Allah says: 'Or male servants who hav...

2 verses

أرض

Earth / Ground

Al-ard (the earth): the planet we inhabit. It is called 'ardiyya' because it is low (like a house's floor). Allah says: 'He who made the earth a bed f...

30 verses

أرم

Sharp tooth

Al-iram: a monument built of stones, plural 'ârâm'. Stones are called 'urram'. Allah says: 'Iram of the pillars' (Al-Fajr: 7), referring to raised dec...

1 verse

أريك

Throne / Couch

Al-arîka: the bride's bed in the bridal chamber, plural 'arâ'ik'. Allah says: 'On couches, observing' (Al-Mutaffifîn: 23). The couches (arâ'ik) are co...

5 verses

أزر

Support / Help

Al-izâr: the waist-wrap. Azara means to wear an izâr. Â'zarahu means to strengthen and support him. Allah says: 'And strengthen my back through him' (...

2 verses

أزف

Near / Imminent

Al-azf: rapid approach. Allah says: 'The Approaching has approached (azifat)' (An-Najm: 57), meaning the Hour has drawn near. Allah says: 'Warn them o...

2 verses

أسر

Prisoner / Captive

Al-asr: binding, then used for imprisonment. Allah says: 'And We strengthened their constitution' (Al-Insân: 28). Al-asîr: the captive. Plural 'usarâ'...

6 verses

أشر

Pride / Arrogance

Al-ashar (excessive arrogance): the excess of pride. Ashira ya'sharu asharan: to be excessively arrogant. Allah says: 'They will know tomorrow who is ...

2 verses

أصبع

Finger

Al-isba' (the finger): a name that refers to the phalanges, nail, fingertip, and joints together. It is used metaphorically for positive influence: 'Y...

2 verses

أصر

Bond / Constraint

Al-asr: binding something and holding it by force. Ma'sûr: one who is bound. Allah says: 'And He removes their burden (israhum)' (Al-A'râf: 157), mean...

3 verses

أصل

Origin / Root

Al-asl (the root): what something is built upon. Plural 'usûl'. Allah says: 'A good word is like a good tree whose root is firm' (Ibrâhîm: 24). Aslahu...

10 verses

أفق

Horizon

Al-ufuq (the horizon): the limit of what sight can perceive of sky and earth. Plural 'âfâq'. Allah says: 'And he is at the highest horizon' (An-Najm: ...

3 verses

أفك

Lie / Slander

Al-ifk (falsehood): diverting something from its direction. Afaka: he diverted it. Allah says: 'How are you averted (tu'fakûn)?' (Al-An'âm: 95). Al-if...

29 verses

أفل

To set (celestial body)

Al-uful (setting): the disappearance of celestial bodies behind the horizon. Allah says: 'When he saw it setting (âfilan)' (Al-An'âm: 76). Everything ...

3 verses

أكل

To eat / Food

Al-akl (eating): ingesting food. Allah says: 'Eat of what Allah has provided for you' (Al-Mâ'ida: 88). Akl is used for everything consumed, like: 'Tho...

30 verses

ألف

Thousand / Familiarity

Al-alf (thousand): a number. Plural 'âlâf'. Allah says: 'Better than a thousand months' (Al-Qadr: 3), 'In a day whose measure is a thousand years' (As...

19 verses

ألك

Messenger / Emissary

Al-malâ'ika (the angels): its singular is 'malak', originally 'ma'lak', or said to be inverted from 'mal'ak'. Al-ma'laka and al-alûk: the message. 'Al...

1 verse

ألم

Pain / Suffering

Al-alam (pain): what affects the soul or body with suffering. Plural 'âlâm'. Alîm means painful. Allah says: 'For them is a painful (alîm) punishment'...

30 verses

أله

Deity / Object of worship

Ilâh (deity): what is worshipped. It comes from 'aliha' (to be worshipped) or 'walaha' (to be perplexed), as creatures are perplexed in their knowledg...

30 verses

أمد

Term / Duration

Al-amad and al-abad are close, but abad refers to a duration with no defined limit and cannot be restricted. Amad is a duration with an unknown limit ...

4 verses

أمر

Order / Command

Al-amr (the command): a general term applied to command, affair, and thing. Allah says: 'And to Allah return all matters (al-umûr)' (Al-Baqara: 210). ...

30 verses

أمن

Security / Faith

Al-amn (security): the tranquility of the soul and absence of fear. Its opposite is fear (khawf). Amina: he is secure. Âmana: he gave security. Al-îmâ...

30 verses

أنا

Me / I

Anâ: first person pronoun speaking of oneself. Its final alif may be dropped in liaison according to some readings. Allah says: 'But He is Allah, my L...

29 verses

أنث

Feminine

Al-unthâ (the female): the opposite of male (dhakar). Plural 'inâth'. Allah says: 'Of everything We created pairs' (Adh-Dhâriyât: 49). At-ta'nîth: fem...

26 verses

أنف

Nose

Al-anf (the nose): the organ of smell. It represents pride because the proud person raises their nose. Anifa min kadhâ: he disdained something. Allah ...

2 verses

أنمل

Fingertips

Al-anâmil (fingertips): plural of 'unmula', the upper segment of fingers where the nail is. Allah says: 'They bite their fingers in rage at you' (Âl '...

1 verse

أنى

Maturity / Moment

Annâ: an interrogative term combining the meaning of 'how' (kayfa) and 'from where' (min ayna). Allah says: 'O Maryam, from where (annâ) does this com...

8 verses

أهل

Family / People

Ahl (people of): those united by kinship, religion, or what resembles them. Ahl ar-rajul: his close family. Ahl al-bayt: the Prophet's ﷺ family. Allah...

30 verses