Linguistic Gems Series

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 …

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

In Surah Yusuf, verse 86, the Qur’an recounts the emotional response of Ya’qub, Yusuf’s father, upon hearing the news that his son was allegedly devoured by a wolf: إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ “I only complain of my anguish and my grief to Allah.” The terms ‘anguish’ and ‘grief’ have been translated in various …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-Eight: Grief Read More »

In Islamic teachings, the role of mothers is held in high esteem, demonstrated by the numerous references to mothers in the Qur’an. Surah Maryam verse 32 and Surah Luqman verse 14 both emphasise the significance of honouring one’s mother. However, the terminology used to describe mothers in these verses differs, providing insights into the diverse …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-Seven: Motherhood Read More »

In Surah Qadr, verse 1, Allah proclaims, إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ Verily, We revealed it during the Night of Decree. Many of us are familiar with the term Laylatul-Qadr, often translated as the Night of Decree or the Night of Power. However, understanding the true meaning of the word Qadr ٱلْقَدْرِ requires further exploration. …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-Six: The Night of Decree Read More »

In the Qur’an, the Arabic language’s richness and depth are evident in the various words used to convey different meanings and nuances. Allah says in Surah Taghabun, verse 14,   يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدِكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا لَّكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَعْفُوا۟ وَتَصْفَحُوا۟ وَتَغْفِرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ O you who have believed, indeed, among …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-Five: Forgiveness Read More »

In Surah al-Baqarah, verse 168, Allah commands, يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good In Islam, the consumption of food is governed by guidelines that emphasise the importance of eating food that is both حَلالٌ halal (lawful) and طَيِّب tayyib (good). …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-Four: Healthy Eating Read More »

The Qur’an offers profound insights into the nature of temptation and its impact on our lives. Allah says in Surah al-A’raf, verse 27,   يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُO children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you   The word يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ is derived from the root ف ت ن, which is associated with the primary …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-Two: Temptation Read More »

The Qur’an is known for its linguistic beauty and eloquence, and one of the striking features of its verses is the use of adjective pairs at the end of verses.   These pairs often describe Attributes of Allah or His creation, adding depth and meaning to the text. These pairs typically share a similar pattern …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty-One: Patience Read More »

In the Qur’an, Allah introduces us to various names for Paradise, each reflecting different facets of its grandeur and majesty. These names offer a glimpse into the splendour, peace, honour, and contentment that await believers in the Hereafter. One such name is الجَنَّة al-Jannah, which appears in singular, dual, and plural forms throughout the Qur’an …

Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Twenty: Afterlife Read More »