Quran Vocabulary

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

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

النَّبَأُ

The News / The Tiding

Al-naba': news of great importance that provides knowledge or strong presumption. Not just any information is called 'naba''. Allah says: 'About what ...

30 verses

تسعة

Nine

Al-tis'a (nine): a known number, as well as 'tis'ûn' (ninety). Allah says: 'Nine (tis'a) clear signs' (Al-Isrâ': 101), referring to Moses' miracles. A...

2 verses

جار

Neighbor / Neighborhood

Al-jâr (the neighbor): one whose dwelling is close to yours. It is a relational noun: the neighbor is only a neighbor if the other is his neighbor too...

2 verses

حبط

To nullify / Vain

Allah says: 'Their deeds have become worthless (habitat)' (Al-Mâ'ida: 53). And: 'If they had associated, their deeds would have been nullified (la-hab...

16 verses

خبر

News / Information

Al-khubr: knowledge of things obtained through information. One says 'khabartuhu' (I informed him). Allah says: 'And Allah is fully Aware (khabîr) of ...

30 verses

سرى

The night

As-sura: night travel. One says: sara and asra. The Almighty says: 'Take My servant for a journey by night' (Al-Isra 1) concerning the Prophet's night...

8 verses

سها

To neglect / To distract

As-sahw: error due to negligence. It is of two types: one involuntary, which happens to anyone and is not blameworthy, and the other due to excessive ...

2 verses

ضبح

Neighing

The Almighty says: 'By the panting coursers' (Al-Adiyat 1). It is said: ad-dabh is the breathing of horses while running, the sound they emit from eff...

1 verse

ضنك

Narrowness / Misery

The Almighty says: 'Whoever turns away from My remembrance will have a life of hardship' (Ta-Ha 124). Ad-dank: narrowness in life. One who distances f...

1 verse

ضير

Nuisance / Harm

Ad-dayr: the harm. One says: he harmed him. The Almighty says: 'No harm will touch you' (Al 'Imran 111). 'This does not harm them at all' (Al 'Imran 1...

1 verse

ضيق

Narrow / Difficult

Ad-diq: the opposite of width. One also says ad-dayq and ad-dayqa. The Almighty says: 'Do not be in distress' (An-Nahl 127). 'And my chest tightens' (...

12 verses

طوق

Necklace / Capacity

Originally, at-tawq: what is put around the neck, by nature like the pigeon's collar, or by manufacture. The Almighty says: 'What they withheld will b...

4 verses

ظفر

Nail / Victory

Az-zufr: the nail, said for humans and others. The Almighty says: 'We forbade them every animal with claws' (Al-An'am 146). Az-zafar: victory. 'If All...

2 verses

عرى

Naked / Stripped

One says: 'ariya min thawbihi ya'ra, he is 'arin and 'uryan (naked). The Almighty says: 'You will not be hungry nor naked' (Ta-Ha 118). 'The firmest h...

3 verses

عشا

Night blindness

Al-'ashiyy: from the sun's decline until morning. The Almighty says: 'except during the evening' (Maryam 11) concerning Zechariah. 'Morning and evenin...

14 verses

عصب

Nerve / Band

Al-'asab: the tendons of joints. Lahm 'asib: meat with many tendons. Al-'usba and al-'isaba: the group bound by a cause. The Almighty says: 'We are a ...

5 verses

عند

Near / With

'Inda: a term set for proximity. Sometimes used for place, sometimes for belief. The Almighty says: 'what is with Allah' (An-Nahl 96). 'With Him are t...

30 verses

عنق

Neck / To strangle

Al-'unuq: the neck, plural a'naq. The Almighty says: 'We have attached every person's fate to his neck' (Al-Isra 13). 'We will put shackles on their n...

9 verses

غفل

Negligence / Inattention

Al-ghafla: negligence that befalls man from lack of vigilance. One says: he was negligent. The Almighty says: 'We were unaware of this' (Al-A'raf 172)...

30 verses

قرب

Near / To approach

Al-Qurb refers to proximity, opposite of bu'd (distance). The Almighty says: 'And We are closer to him than his jugular vein' (Qaf 16). Al-qurbān is w...

30 verses

قط

Never / Nothing

Qaṭṭ is used for negation of the past. One says: mā fa'altuhu qaṭṭ (I have never done it). Al-qaṭṭ also means cutting....

1 verse

قفا

Nape / To follow

Al-Qafā refers to the nape, the back of the head. The Almighty says: 'And on their napes' (Muhammad 27). Taqaffā means to follow from behind. The Almi...

4 verses

لا

No / Not

Lā is the particle of negation. It is used to negate past, present, or future. The Almighty says: 'There is no compulsion in religion' (Al-Baqarah 256...

30 verses

لدن

Near / From

Ladun refers to immediate proximity. The Almighty says: 'From Us' (Hud 1). Min ladunhu means directly from Him. Ladunī means what emanates directly fr...

17 verses

لزم

Necessary / To be incumbent

Al-Luzūm refers to permanent attachment and obligation. The Almighty says: 'And We have attached to his neck' (Al-Isra 13). Lazima ash-shay' means to ...

5 verses

لقب

Nickname / Title

Al-Laqab refers to the nickname, good or bad. The Almighty says: 'And do not insult one another by nicknames' (Al-Hujurat 11). Mocking nicknames are f...

1 verse

ليل

Night

Al-Layl refers to the night. The Almighty says: 'By the night when it covers' (Al-Layl 1). Night is opposed to day. The Almighty says: 'And We have ma...

30 verses

ملا

Notable / Elite

Al-Milal refers to religions. Al-millah is the religion followed. The Almighty says: 'The religion of Abraham' (Al-Baqarah 130). Millat Ibrāhīm is the...

30 verses

نعس

Nap / Drowsiness

An-Nu'ās refers to light drowsiness. The Almighty says: 'When He covered you with drowsiness' (Al-Anfal 11). Na'asa means to drowse. An-nā'is is the d...

2 verses

نوح

Nuh / Noah

Nūḥ is the prophet Noah. The Almighty says: 'And We had certainly sent Noah to his people' (Al-A'raf 59). Nūḥ lived 950 years among his people. Surah ...

30 verses

هجد

Night vigil (Tahajjud)

At-Tahajjud refers to night prayer. The Almighty says: 'And from the night, pray with it as additional worship' (Al-Isra 79). Tahajjada means to pray ...

1 verse

وطر

Need / Desire

Al-Waṭar refers to need and desire. The Almighty says: 'When Zayd had satisfied his need of her' (Al-Ahzab 37). Qaḍā waṭarahu means to satisfy his nee...

1 verse