Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-Nine: Amusement and Diversion

Amusement and Diversion In Surah al-An’aam, verse 32,

 Allah states,

 وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ 

And the worldly life is nothing but amusement and diversion. 

The words لَعِبٌۭ (here translated as amusement) and لَهْوٌ (translated here as diversion) have various translations, so what do they truly signify? 

In the Quran, اللعب (al-laʿb) and اللهو (al-lahw) are two separate Arabic words with distinct meanings. 

اللعب (al-laʿb) typically refers to play, amusement, or diversion engaged in for the purpose of passing time or entertainment, without any underlying aim, wisdom, or benefit. It stands in contrast to جدّ, which means seriousness or earnestness. In this verse, Allah cautions people against following their desires and getting sidetracked by play and amusement (اللعب), which could lead them away from their true purpose in life. 

On the other hand, اللهو (al-lahw) refers to any transient matter that distracts one’s focus or to anything that liberates one’s mind from being preoccupied with issues that do not require wisdom. This could encompass carelessness or trivial endeavors. 

Thus, although both اللعب (al-laʿb) and اللهو (al-lahw) can be associated with leisure activities, they differ in their modes of expression. اللعب (al-laʿb) refers to an action that is physically performed, representing an external expression of the idea. In contrast, اللهو (al-lahw) alludes to diversion and preoccupation of any kind, not necessarily limited to physical actions, and thus represents the internal aspect of the concept. 

So in Surah An’am, Allah has highlighted the fleeting nature of worldly life, using the terms اللعب (al-laʿb) and اللهو (al-lahw) to emphasise that it is comprised of internal and external forms of amusement and diversion. 

These distractions can lead people away from their true purpose in life, which is to worship Allah and strive for spiritual growth. By understanding the nuanced meanings of اللعب (al-laʿb) and اللهو (al-lahw), believers are better equipped to recognize and avoid these distractions, focusing instead on their ultimate goal: achieving success in the Hereafter. 

And Allah knows best.