The words دَعَا “da’aa” and نَادَىٰ “naadaa” are both used in the Qur’an to convey the act of calling or supplicating to Allah, but they have different connotations and implications. Allah says in Surah Aal-Imran, verse 38, هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ At …
The Qur’an is full of beautiful and subtle linguistic nuances that add depth and meaning to the text. The placement of words, prepositions, and pronouns in the Qur’an is not arbitrary, but rather carefully chosen to convey specific meanings and to emphasize certain ideas. In speaking of His Mercy, Allah says in Surah Hud …
Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Eight: Allah’s Mercy Read More »
Quranic Reflection: Allah says in Surah Muhammad, verse 24 أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān, or are there locks upon [their] hearts? He also says in Surah al-Mu’minoon, verse 68 أَفَلَمْ يَدَّبَّرُوا۟ ٱلْقَوْلَ أَمْ جَآءَهُم مَّا لَمْ يَأْتِ ءَابَآءَهُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ Then have they not reflected over the …
Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Seven: Qur’anic Reflection Read More »
Allah’s Love: The word ‘love’ appeared as a noun in the Qur’an ten times – of those ten, nine were using the word hubb حبّ, as in Surah Baqarah, verse 165 وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ أَندَاداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللّهِ And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as …
Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Six: Allah’s Love Read More »
Tawakkul: Allah speaks about the concept of reliance and trust in around 70 verses of the Qur’an, each using a verb or noun from the root و ك ل, which connotes entrusting your affairs to someone else – the same root as the word tawakkul. Allah says, for example, in Surah Aal-’Imraan, verse 159, فَإِذَا …
Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Five: Tawakkul Read More »
Allah’s blessings: Allah says in Surah al-Nahl, verse 18, وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ And if you should count the blessings of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Most English translations of this verse show the word نِعْمَةَ translated in the plural – favours/blessings/bounties. Yet in the Arabic, Allah has used …
Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Four: Allah’s Blessings Read More »
Good company: Allah says in Surah al-Nisaa’, verse 69 وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًۭا Whoever obeys God and the Messenger will be among those He has blessed: the messengers, the truthful, those who bear witness to the truth, and …
Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Three: Good Company Read More »
Day 2: Taqwa Allah says in Surah Nisa, verse 9 وَلْيَخْشَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ ضِعَـٰفًا خَافُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًۭا سَدِيدًا Let those who would fear for the future of their own helpless children, if they were to die, show the same concern [for orphans]; let them fear Allah and speak …
Surah al-Asr emphasises, above all else, the importance of utilising time wisely. The word ‘asr comes from the root ع ص ر ‘ayn Saad raa’, the main signification of which is pressing or squeezing out, (and hence the word عصير ‘aseer, meaning juice). So what is the relationship between time, and juice? Some linguists have …
