Quran Vocabulary

أخر

Akhr

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

الباء

Al-Bāʾ

Al-bâ': this particle attaches either to an apparent verb with it, or to an implied verb. Attached to an apparent verb, it indicates several meanings:...

6 verses

التاءات

Al-TāʾĀt

Al-tâ'ât: the tâ' at the beginning of a word is for oath as in 'By Allah, I will surely plot against your idols' (Al-Anbiyâ': 57). It is specific to A...

برص

Brṣ

Al-baras: a known disease (leprosy, vitiligo). The moon is called 'abras' because of the spot it bears. The 'sâm abras' lizard is named thus for the s...

2 verses

برق

Brq

Al-barq (lightning): the light appearing from clouds. Allah says: 'The lightning (al-barq) almost takes away their sight' (Al-Baqara: 20). Bariqa basa...

7 verses

ترف

Trf

Al-turfa: abundance in blessings. One says 'utrifa fulân' (so-and-so was showered with luxury), he is 'mutraf'. Allah says: 'And We gave them ease (at...

8 verses

ترك

Trk

At-tark (leaving): abandoning something. Taraka: he left. Allah says: 'Do you think you will be left (tutrakû)?' (At-Tawba: 16). At-tarika: what is le...

30 verses

ثبط

Thbṭ

Allah says: 'He made them lag behind (fa-thabbatahum) and it was said: Stay with those who stay' (At-Tawba: 46). Al-tathbît: to discourage someone, sl...

1 verse

جثم

Jthm

'They became fallen (jâthimîn) in their homes' (Al-A'râf: 78): metaphor for those who remain motionless, from 'jathama al-tâ'ir' (the bird crouched) w...

5 verses

جرد

Jrd

Al-jarâd (locusts): well-known. Allah says: 'We sent upon them the flood, locusts (al-jarâd), lice' (Al-A'râf: 133). Locusts were one of the plagues s...

2 verses

خبت

Khbt

Al-khabt: low flat land. Akhbata al-rajul: the man headed toward the khabt, or humbled himself like one descending to the khabt. Allah says: 'And they...

3 verses

خشب

Khshb

Allah says: 'As if they were propped up logs (khushub)' (Al-Munâfiqûn: 4). Khushub: plural of 'khashaba' (piece of wood). Hypocrites are compared to l...

1 verse

خط

Khṭ

Al-khatt (line): like the trace, said of what has length. Lines are of several types according to geometers. Allah says: 'You did not trace it (takhut...

1 verse

خف

Khf

Al-khafîf: the opposite of heavy. Said sometimes by comparison, sometimes by nature. Allah says: 'Go forth light (khifâfan) and heavy' (At-Tawba: 41)....

8 verses

خفض

Khfḍ

Al-khafd: the opposite of raising. Al-khafd also means rest and gentle walking. Allah says: 'And lower (ikhfid) to them the wing of humility' (Al-Isrâ...

4 verses

رق

Rq

Al-riqqa: like thinness. But thinness is for what is thin by nature, and riqqa for what is refined. Al-riqq: slavery. Al-raqîq: the slave. Al-mirqâq: ...

1 verse

زبر

Zbr

Al-zubra: a large piece of iron. Plural: zubar. Allah says: 'Bring me blocks (zubar) of iron' (Al-Kahf: 96). Dhû al-Qarnayn used iron blocks to build ...

11 verses

سجد

Sjd

As-sujud originally means lowering and humility. It became the expression for prayer and worship of God. The Almighty says: 'Prostrate before Adam' (A...

30 verses

سجل

Sjl

As-sajl: the large bucket. Sajalta al-ma': I poured the water which flowed. The Almighty says: 'We sent upon them stones of layered clay' (Al-Hijr 74)...

4 verses

سخر

Skhr

At-taskhir: leading toward a specific goal by constraint. The Almighty says: 'And He has subjected to you what is in the heavens and on earth' (Al-Jat...

30 verses

سرج

Srj

As-siraj: what shines with a wick and oil. It is used for anything that illuminates. The Almighty says: 'and placed a burning lamp' (An-Naba 13) for t...

4 verses

سطر

Sṭr

As-satr and as-satar: the line of writing, and the row of planted trees or men. The Almighty says: 'By the pen and what they write' (Al-Qalam 1). 'The...

16 verses

سفل

Sfl

As-sufl: the opposite of height. Safula: he became low. The Almighty says: 'We reduced him to the lowest' (At-Tin 5). 'the lowest part of the land' (A...

9 verses

سفه

Sfh

As-safah: lightness of the body. One says: a bridle that moves a lot. This is used for lightness of the soul due to lack of wisdom. The Almighty says:...

10 verses

سور

Swr

As-sawr: leaping with height. It is used for anger and drink. One says: the wine went to his head. As-sur: the wall, because it rises. The Almighty sa...

16 verses

شحن

Shḥn

The Almighty says: 'in the laden ship' (Ash-Shu'ara 119), meaning the filled ship. Ash-shahn: the filling. 'We carried him in a laden vessel' (Al-Qama...

3 verses

شمخ

Shmkh

The Almighty says: 'lofty mountains' (Al-Mursalat 27), meaning high and elevated. Ash-shumukh: height and elevation. Shamikhat mountains are those ris...

1 verse

شمل

Shml

Ash-shimal: the opposite of right (al-yamin). The Almighty says: 'to the right and to the left' (Al-Kahf 17). Ash-shamal: the north wind. Ash-shimla: ...

11 verses

صلد

Ṣld

The Almighty says: 'leaving bare rock' (Al-Baqara 264), meaning hard stone on which nothing grows. As-sald: sterile hardness. Bare rock represents the...

1 verse

صمد

Ṣmd

As-samad: the Lord to whom one turns in affairs. One says: he sought and turned toward him. The Almighty says: 'Allah, the Eternal Refuge' (Al-Ikhlas ...

1 verse

صمم

Ṣmm

As-samam: loss of hearing. It is used for one who does not listen to truth. The Almighty says: 'deaf, dumb and blind' (Al-Baqara 18). Spiritual deafne...

14 verses

طحا

Ṭḥā

At-tahw: like ad-dahw, it is spreading something and moving away from it. The Almighty says: 'And the earth, He spread it' (An-Nazi'at 30). God spread...

1 verse

طلق

Ṭlq

Originally, at-talaq: liberation from bonds. One says: I freed the camel from its hobble. The Almighty says: 'Divorce is twice' (Al-Baqara 229). At-ta...

21 verses

طود

Ṭwd

The Almighty says: 'like a great mountain' (Ash-Shu'ara 63). At-tawd: the high mountain. When the sea split for Moses, the waters rose like mountains ...

1 verse

عيش

ʿYsh

Al-'aysh: life specific to animals. It is more specific than life (al-hayat) as life also applies to plants. The Almighty says: 'A satisfied life' (Al...

8 verses

غرف

Ghrf

Al-gharf: lifting something and taking it. One says: I scooped water and broth. Al-ghurfa: the upper room, plural ghuraf. The Almighty says: 'Rooms ab...

5 verses

غض

Ghḍ

Al-ghadd: the lowering of gaze and voice. The Almighty says: 'Tell the believers to lower their gazes' (An-Nur 30). 'Lower your voice' (Luqman 19). Lo...

4 verses

غمض

Ghmḍ

Al-ghamd: light sleep. One says: I did not taste sleep. The Almighty says: 'and you would not close your eyes on it' (Al-Baqara 267), meaning you woul...

1 verse

فقد

Fqd

Al-Faqd refers to the loss of something, the deprivation of what existed. The Almighty says: 'What is it you are missing?' (Yusuf 71), and: 'And knows...

3 verses

قفل

Qfl

Al-Qufl refers to the lock, the bolt. The Almighty says: 'Or are there locks upon their hearts?' (Muhammad 24). Al-aqfāl is the plural of qufl. Aqfala...

1 verse

قمل

Qml

Al-Qummal refers to lice or weevils. The Almighty says: 'So We sent upon them the flood, locusts, lice' (Al-A'raf 133). It is one of the punishments s...

1 verse

كاف

Kāf

Al-Kāf is the letter that begins the word 'kāfirūn'. The Almighty says: 'Kāf-Hā-Yā-'Ayn-Ṣād' (Maryam 1). These are separate letters at the beginning o...

1 verse

كبد

Kbd

Al-Kabd refers to the liver. The Almighty says: 'We have certainly created man into hardship' (Al-Balad 4). Al-mukābadah is difficult effort. Al-kabd ...

1 verse

كذب

Kdhb

Al-Kadhib is the opposite of ṣidq (truthfulness). The Almighty says: 'And those who lie against Allah' (Az-Zumar 60). Kadhdhaba means to call a liar. ...

30 verses

كسل

Ksl

Al-Kasal refers to laziness and lack of energy to perform actions. The Almighty says: 'And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily' (An-Nisa 142...

2 verses

لام

Lām

Al-Lām is a letter with multiple uses. It expresses possession (li-llāh), purpose (li-ya'budū), cause (li-īlāfihim), and others. The Almighty says: 'T...

12 verses

نظر

Nẓr

An-Naẓr refers to looking and reflection. The Almighty says: 'Do they not look at the camels?' (Al-Ghashiyah 17). Naẓara means to look. An-nāẓir is th...

30 verses

نعس

NʿS

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

نفث

Nfth

An-Nafth refers to light blowing with saliva. The Almighty says: 'And from the evil of the blowers in knots' (Al-Falaq 4). Nafatha means to blow light...

1 verse

نفح

Nfḥ

An-Nafḥ refers to the light blowing of wind. The Almighty says: 'And if a breath of your Lord's punishment touched them' (Al-Anbiya 46). Nafaḥa means ...

1 verse