Quran Vocabulary

أرب

Arb

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

أنف

Anf

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

تسعة

TsʿA

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

Jār

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

خمس

Khms

The origin of al-khams is the number five. Allah says: 'They say: five (khamsa), the sixth being their dog' (Al-Kahf: 22). The verse speaks of the Peo...

8 verses

رضع

Rḍʿ

One says 'rada'a al-mawlûd yarda'u' (the newborn suckled) and 'radi'a yarda'u'. Al-radâ'a and al-ridâ': breastfeeding. Allah says: 'Mothers shall brea...

6 verses

سبع

Sbʿ

As-sab' originally is the number seven. The Almighty says: 'seven heavens' (Al-Baqara 29), 'seven strong heavens' (An-Naba 12), 'seven paths' (Al-Mu'm...

24 verses

سرى

Srā

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

سول

Swl

As-su'l: the need that the soul ardently desires. The Almighty says: 'You have been granted your request, O Moses' (Ta-Ha 36). At-taswil: embellishing...

4 verses

ضيق

Ḍyq

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

ظفر

Ẓfr

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

ظن

Ẓn

Az-zann: name for what results from an indication. When it strengthens, it leads to knowledge. When it weakens, it becomes conjecture. The Almighty sa...

30 verses

عرى

ʿRā

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

عسعس

ʿSʿS

The Almighty says: 'By the night when it covers' (At-Takwir 17), meaning when it arrives and settles. 'As'asa: arriving or departing. Context determin...

1 verse

عنق

ʿNq

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

Ghfl

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

فقر

Fqr

Al-Faqr refers to need. Al-faqīr originally is one whose spine is broken, then it was used for one in need. The Almighty says: 'O mankind! You are tho...

14 verses

قط

Qṭ

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

Qfā

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

قلد

Qld

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

لات

Lāt

Lāta is composed of lā and tā. The Almighty says: 'And it was not a time of escape' (Sad 3), meaning it was no longer time for flight. Lāta ḥīna manās...

1 verse

لقب

Lqb

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

Lyl

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

مائة

MāʾA

Mi'ah refers to the number one hundred. The Almighty says: 'They remained in their cave three hundred years' (Al-Kahf 25). Al-mi'ah also expresses gre...

7 verses

ملأ

Mla

Al-Mala' refers to the notables and chiefs of a people. The Almighty says: 'The eminent among his people' (Al-A'raf 60). Al-mala' are dignitaries. Mal...

30 verses

نخر

Nkhr

An-Nakhīr refers to nasal sound, like a horse's snort. The Almighty says: 'When we are decomposed bones' (An-Nazi'at 11). Nakhira al-'aẓm means the bo...

1 verse

هجد

Hjd

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

هجع

Hjʿ

Al-Haj' refers to night sleep. The Almighty says: 'They used to sleep but little of the night' (Adh-Dhariyat 17). Haja'a means to sleep at night. Al-h...

1 verse

وطر

Wṭr

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