Quran Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

بصل

Onion

Al-basal (onion): known in Allah's words: 'And its lentils and its onions (basalihâ)' (Al-Baqara: 61). The Children of Israel asked for these earthly ...

1 verse

حصل

To obtain / Result

Al-tahsîl: extracting the kernel from the husk, like extracting gold from ore stone, or grain from chaff. Allah says: 'And what is within the breasts ...

1 verse

حلف

Oath / To swear

Al-hilf: the pact between people. Al-muhâlafa: concluding a pact. This refers to alliance and lasting attachment. Allah says: 'And those with whom you...

12 verses

دهن

Oil / Fat

Allah says: 'It produces oil (al-duhn)' (Al-Mu'minûn: 20). The verse describes the olive tree producing oil and seasoning. Olive oil is blessed and me...

4 verses

ركس

To overturn / To turn over

Al-raks: turning something on its head, returning its beginning to its end. Allah says: 'And Allah has reversed them (arkasahum) because of what they ...

2 verses

رهق

Oppression / Burden

Rahiqahu al-amr: the matter overwhelmed him by force. Allah says: 'Humiliation will cover them (yarhaqu)' (Yûnus: 27). Humiliation will overwhelm sinn...

10 verses

زخرف

Ornament / Gold

Al-zukhruf: decorated ornament. Hence: gold. Allah says: 'Ornament (zukhruf) of speech' (Al-An'âm: 112). Prophets' enemies inspire each other with dec...

4 verses

زيت

Olive / Olive oil

Az-zaytun and az-zaytuna, like tree and single tree. The Almighty says: 'an olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west' (An-Nur 35), describing a...

6 verses

زين

Ornament / Beauty

Az-zina al-haqiqiyya: true adornment is what does not disgrace a person in any situation, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter. Nothing is such ...

30 verses

سبق

To outstrip / To precede

As-sabq originally is precedence in walking. 'Those who race ahead' (An-Nazi'at 4) refers to angels or souls that precede. 'They cannot precede Him in...

30 verses

شغل

Occupation / Activity

Ash-shughl and ash-shugl: the occupation that distracts man. The Almighty says: 'Indeed, the companions of Paradise will be occupied in enjoyment that...

2 verses

صرع

To overturn / To bring down

As-sar': throwing to the ground. One says: I threw him down. As-sar'a: one time. The Almighty says: 'As if they were trunks of fallen palm trees' (Al-...

1 verse

طوع

To obey willingly

At-taw': obedience. Its opposite is coercion (al-kurh). The Almighty says: 'Come willingly or unwillingly' (Fussilat 11). 'If you obey Allah and His M...

30 verses

عن

Of / About

'An: implies going beyond what it is added to. One says: I spoke to you about someone, I fed you from my money. The Almighty says: 'And they ask you a...

30 verses

عوق

Obstacle / Hindrance

Al-'a'iq: what diverts from intended good. From this comes 'awa'iq ad-dahr: time's impediments. The Almighty says: 'Those among you who held back' (Al...

1 verse

غير

Other / Jealousy

Ghayr is used in several ways: First, for simple negation without affirming another meaning, like: marartu bi-ghayrika (I passed by other than you). S...

30 verses

فتح

To open / Victory

Al-Fatḥ refers to the removal of closure and ambiguity. This is of two types: one perceived by sight, like opening a door, eyes, etc. The other percei...

30 verses

فحش

Obscenity / Shame

Al-Fuḥsh, al-faḥshā' and al-fāḥishah refer to what is extremely ugly in words and deeds. The Almighty says: 'Satan threatens you with poverty and orde...

23 verses

فرض

Obligation / To impose

Al-Farḍ refers to cutting a hard thing and leaving a mark on it, like cutting iron, the notch of a bow. Al-farīḍah refers to what Allah has made oblig...

14 verses

فلك

Orbit / Firmament

Al-Fulk refers to the ship, used for both singular and plural. The Almighty says: 'The Ark sailed with them' (Hud 42), and: 'And the ships which sail ...

25 verses

ميد

To oscillate / To bow

Al-Mayd refers to oscillation and swaying. The Almighty says: 'Lest it should shake with you' (An-Nahl 15), speaking of mountains stabilizing the eart...

5 verses

نسل

Offspring / Progeny

An-Nasl refers to offspring and progeny. The Almighty says: 'And from his descendants, David and Solomon' (Al-An'am 84). Nasala means to beget. The Al...

4 verses

نكس

To overturn / To turn over

An-Naks refers to reversal. The Almighty says: 'Then they were reversed upon their heads' (Al-Anbiya 65). Nakasa means to reverse. An-nakīs is the rev...

3 verses

وتر

Odd / Rope

Al-Witr refers to the odd. The Almighty says: 'By the even and odd' (Al-Fajr 3). Al-watr is also revenge. The Almighty says: 'He will not deprive you ...

3 verses

وجب

Obligatory / To fall

Al-Wujūb refers to obligation. The Almighty says: 'When their sides fall' (Al-Hajj 36). Wajaba means to be obligatory. Al-wājib is the obligatory. Waj...

1 verse

يا

O (vocative)

Ya is a vocative particle (nida) used to call someone. The Almighty says: 'O you who believe' (Al-Baqara 104). It is one of the most used vocative par...

1 verse

يتم

Orphan

Al-Yutm refers to the state of being an orphan, one who lost their father before puberty. The Almighty says: 'Did He not find you an orphan and give y...

22 verses