Quran Vocabulary

بدع

Innovation

Al-ibdâ' (invention): producing something without prior model. Allah says: 'Originator (Badî') of the heavens and earth' (Al-Baqara: 117). Al-bid'a: w...

4 verses

برأ

Innocence / Health

Al-barâ'a (innocence): being free from something. Bari'a minhu: he is innocent of it. Allah says: 'Disavowal (barâ'a) from Allah' (At-Tawba: 1). Al-Bâ...

28 verses

برزخ

Isthmus / Barrier

Al-barzakh: the barrier and limit between two things. Some say its origin is 'barzah' then Arabized. Allah says: 'Between them is a barrier (barzakh) ...

3 verses

تترى

In succession / Successively

Tatrâ: of the form 'fa'lâ', from 'muwâtara' (succession). Meaning to follow one after another. Allah says: 'Then We sent Our messengers successively (...

1 verse

ترث

Inheritance / Succession

Allah says: 'And you consume the inheritance (al-turâth)' (Al-Fajr: 19). Its origin is 'wirâth', from the verb 'waritha' (to inherit). The tâ' replace...

1 verse

جبت

Idol / Fetish

Allah says: 'They believe in jibt and tâghût' (An-Nisâ': 51). Al-jibt and al-jabs: the worthless man. Al-jibt refers to everything worshipped besides ...

1 verse

جزع

Impatience / Agitation

Allah says: 'Whether we are impatient (jazi'nâ) or patient' (Ibrâhîm: 21). Al-jaza' is more intense than al-huzn (sadness), because sadness can be con...

2 verses

جنف

Injustice / Partiality

The origin of al-janaf: inclination in judgment, injustice. Allah says: 'One who fears from the testator an unjust inclination (janaf)' (Al-Baqara: 18...

2 verses

جهل

Ignorance / Unawareness

Al-jahl has three aspects: 1) Absence of knowledge in the soul, the original meaning. 2) Falsely believing the opposite of reality. 3) Doing the oppos...

24 verses

حبر

Ink / Scholar

Al-hibr: the beautiful trace, the pleasant effect. Hence the hadith: 'A man will emerge from the Fire having lost his hibr and sabr' (his beauty and r...

6 verses

حبس

To imprison / To detain

Al-habs: preventing from moving. Allah says: 'You will detain them (tahbisûnahumâ) after the prayer' (Al-Mâ'ida: 106). This verse deals with testimony...

2 verses

حتم

Inevitable / Decided

Al-hatm: the irrevocable decree. Al-hâtim: the crow that, according to Arabs, decrees separation. Allah says: 'And there is none of you except he will...

1 verse

حرض

To incite / To arouse

Al-harad: what has no value and is of no use. What is on the verge of destruction is called 'harad'. Allah says: 'Until you become consumed (harad)' (...

3 verses

حوايا

Intestines / Entrails

Al-hawâyâ: plural of 'hawiyya', the intestines. The cloth wrapped around the camel's hump is also called 'hawiyya'. Allah says: 'Or the entrails (al-h...

1 verse

حيف

Injustice / Iniquity

Al-hayf: inclination in judgment and leaning toward one side. Allah says: 'Do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will be unjust (yahîfa) to them?'...

1 verse

ربو

Interest / Usury

Rabwa, ribwa, rubwa, ribâwa, rubâwa: height, elevation of land. Allah says: 'On an elevation (rabwa) with stability and flowing water' (Al-Mu'minûn: 5...

15 verses

رجس

Impure / Repugnant

Al-rijs: the impure thing. One says 'rajul rijs' (impure man). Allah says: 'It is but defilement (rijs) from Satan' (Al-Mâ'ida: 90). Wine, gambling, i...

9 verses

سقم

Illness / Suffering

As-saqam and as-suqm: illness specific to the body, while al-marad can be for body and soul. The Almighty says: 'I am ill' (As-Saffat 89) words of Ibr...

2 verses

سكر

Intoxication / Fermentation

As-sukr: a state that interposes between a person and their reason. It is mostly used for the effect of alcohol. The Almighty says: 'Do not approach p...

6 verses

شفع

Intercession

Ash-shaf': joining something to its like. What is joined is also called shaf' (the even), opposite to witr (the odd). The Almighty says: 'By the even ...

26 verses

صنم

Idol / Statue

As-sanam: a statue made of silver, copper or wood that the ancients worshipped. The Almighty says: 'You leave idols that you worship' (Ash-Shu'ara 71)...

5 verses

ظلم

Injustice / Darkness

Az-zulma: the absence of light, plural zulumat. The Almighty says: 'Or like darkness' (Al-Baqara 17). Az-zulm: putting something in a place other than...

30 verses

عجز

Incapacity / Weakness

'Ajuz al-insan: his posterior. One compares others' posterior to it. Al-'ajz: incapacity. 'Am I unable to be like this crow?' (Al-Ma'ida 31). Incapaci...

25 verses

عمد

Intentional / Pillar

Al-'amd: aiming at something and leaning on it. Al-'imad: what one leans on. The Almighty says: 'without pillars that you see' (Ar-Ra'd 2). 'Extended ...

7 verses

عيس

'Isa / Jesus

'Isa: a proper name (Jesus). If considered Arabic, it may come from their expression: an 'aysa' camel (white with tinge). The Almighty says: 'The Mess...

25 verses

فسق

Impiety / Depravity

Al-Fisq originally refers to the date coming out of its skin. Then it was used for leaving obedience to Allah. The Almighty says: 'And he was of the j...

30 verses

قصد

Intention / Moderation

Al-Qaṣd refers to righteous intention and the middle path. The Almighty says: 'And upon Allah is the direction of the way' (An-Nahl 9). Qaṣada ilayhi ...

6 verses

قلد

To imitate / Necklace

Al-Qilādah refers to the necklace. The Almighty says: 'Nor the garlanded animals' (Al-Ma'idah 97), meaning animals wearing a collar for sacrifice. Qal...

4 verses

كفر

Ingratitude / Disbelief

Al-Kufr originally refers to covering. Then it was used for rejecting faith. The Almighty says: 'Those who disbelieve' (Al-Baqarah 6). Al-kāfir is one...

30 verses

لغا

Idle talk

Al-Laghw refers to vain and useless speech. The Almighty says: 'And who turn away from ill speech' (Al-Mu'minun 3). Laghā means to say worthless words...

9 verses

لو

If / Although

Law is an unreal conditional particle. The Almighty says: 'And if you could see when they are made to stand before the Fire' (Al-An'am 27). Law expres...

30 verses

ليت

If only

Layta is a particle of wish for the impossible or difficult. The Almighty says: 'Would that I had not taken anyone as a friend!' (Al-Furqan 28). Layta...

1 verse

مرد

Illness / Rebellious

Al-Marīd refers to the rebel obstinate in disobedience. The Almighty says: 'Satan the rebellious' (An-Nisa 117). Marada means to be obstinate in rebel...

5 verses

مرض

Illness / Suffering

Al-Maraḍ refers to illness. The Almighty says: 'In their hearts is a disease' (Al-Baqarah 10). The maraḍ can be physical or spiritual. Al-marīḍ is the...

23 verses

ميل

Inclination / Leaning

Al-Mayl refers to inclination toward something. The Almighty says: 'They wish that you should deviate' (An-Nisa 27). Māla means to incline. Al-mā'il i...

3 verses

نجس

Impure / Defiled

An-Najas refers to impurity. The Almighty says: 'The polytheists are impure' (At-Tawbah 28). Najisa means to become impure. An-najāsah is ritual impur...

1 verse

ندد

Idol / Rival

An-Nidd refers to the equal and similar. The Almighty says: 'Do not set up rivals to Him' (Al-Baqarah 22). Al-andād are equals associated with Allah. ...

6 verses

وثن

Idol

Al-Wathan refers to the idol. The Almighty says: 'Avoid the abomination of idols' (Al-Hajj 30). Al-awthān are idols. The worship of awthān is shirk. A...

3 verses

ورث

Inheritance / To inherit

Al-Irth refers to inheritance. The Almighty says: 'And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth' (Al-'Imran 180). Waritha means t...

30 verses

وسل

Intercession / Means

Al-Wasīlah refers to the means of drawing near. The Almighty says: 'And seek the means of approach to Him' (Al-Ma'idah 35). Tawassala means to use an ...

2 verses

إي

Iy

“Iy”: a particle of affirmation meaning “yes, indeed”, used only together with an oath. Allah says: “Say: Yes, by my Lord! It is certainly the truth” ...

1 verse