Word Analysis of Quran Lesson 5 Baqarah 17-20

Study notes for Word Analysis of Quran Lesson 5, Surah Baqarah Ayahs 17-20.  I hope you find them beneficial to your studies.

These Ayahs cover the examples of the hypocrite’s deeds 

مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَ تَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ

17.  Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
مَثَلُهُمْ	م ث ل	mathaluhum	their example	to resemble something

مَثَلُ mathal – example; هُمْ hum – their. An example is to explain a concept that is abstract through something concrete, and the example is usually similar in nature.

كَمَثَلِ – kamathali – like example. The ka = like

الَّذِي – Allathi – the one who

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
اسْتَوْقَدَ	و ق د	Istowqada	he kindled	to light fire, to kindle a fire

Also understood as telling someone else to light the fire.

نَارًا – a fire

فَلَمَّا – falamma – then when. fa = then. The ‘fa’ is used to give the order of events. lamma = when.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
أَضَاءَتْ	ض و ء	‘Adhaat	it illuminated	to shine, to glow, radiate

From the same root word that is used for light. A light that radiates heat. Such a light that is pale with three characteristics of:-

• Light
• Heat
• Reddish or pale

مَا – what

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
حَوْلَهُ	ح و ل	howlahu	his surroundings	surround, to be changed

Howl – Used for the year because each year goes around; also means to change. Every year things are always changing. ‘hu’ (him) refers to the person who lit the fire or asked for the fire to be lit. He asked for the light to be turned on, so he could see things clearly. 

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
ذَهَبَ	ذ ه ب	dhahaba	He went	to go away, Gold

Is also used for Gold. Gold and going away; People mostly have a fear of gold going away. If they travel somewhere, they want to ensure their Gold is in a safe place. Gold also has to go away in Zakat.

اللَّهُ – Allah

بِنُورِهِمْ – went with their light. Allah took the light away. بِنُورِهِمْ, ‘bi‘ at the beginning gives the meaning of ‘took away’. Allah took away their light. Nurihim, ‘him‘ refers to the one who asked the light to be lit. Nur refers to the light with no heat in it.  The light was taken away but the heat remained. This light is understood as an internal light. 

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
تَرَكَهُمْ	ت ر ك	tarakahum	He left them	to leave something or someone

Allah left these people, فِي – in

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
ظُلُمَاتٍ	ظ ل م	dhulumatin	darknesses	injustice

Injustices will be darkness on the Last Day.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
يُبْصِرُونَ	ب ص ر	yub’siroon	they see	to see, understand, comprehend

They don’t see at all and they are in complete confusion.

صُمٌّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡىٌ فَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ۙ

18. They are deaf, they are dumb, they are blind, they will never return to the Right Way

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
صُمٌّۢ	س م م	summun	ones who are deaf	to be deaf, cork

صُمٌّۢ is used for a cork, it covers, plugs and blocks. It gives the meaning to be blocked. You cannot put something in or take anything out.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
بُكۡمٌ	ب ك م	bukmun	ones who are dumb	unable to speak

This word is used for someone who has never spoken a word since birth. They are also unable to understand or reply.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
عُمۡىٌ	ع م ى	umyun	ones who are blind	blind, dark, conceal

A person who is physically blind. It is also used for someone who is confused.

These people are deaf, dumb, and blind to the truth. They don’t hear the truth, don’t speak the truth, and they can’t see the truth. This is their spiritual state, not a physical state. فَهُمۡ لَ – so they not

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
يَرۡجِعُوۡنَ	ر ج ع	yarji’oon	(they) return	to return, to go back

They will not return to the light. They will not return to guidance.

أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ وَاللَّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ

19. Or it is like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allah is encompassing of the disbelievers.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
كَصَيِّبٍ	ص و ب	ka sayyibin	heavy rain	to reach again and again to hit the mark

Heavy rain falls, again and again, it goes on for a long time. Sayyibin is a rainstorm with thunder and lightning it reaches and hits the ground and comes with a lot of force

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
السَّمَاءِ	س م و	as samaa’	the sky	gives the meaning of height a roof, a ceiling, clouds up high

As Samaa’ is not just used for the sky but also for height, a roof, a ceiling or clouds up high.

فِيهِ – in ظُلُمَاتٌ – :Darkness(es).  Many layers of darkness referring to the darkness of the heavy clouds. The darkness of the rain itself and the darkness of the night. They can’t see clearly.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
رَعْدٌ	ر ع د	ra’ad	thunder	thunder, tremble,

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
بَرْقٌ	ب ر ق	barq	lightning	shining, gleaming, menacing

يَجْعَلُونَ – they put

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
أَصَابِعَهُمْ	ص ع ب	asaubi’ahum	their fingertips	to point out with finger, to indicate

أَصَابِعَهُمْ is understood as in, (a) the whole finger or (b) the fingertip.

فِي – in آذَانِهِم – their ears مِّنَ – because of

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
الصَّوَاعِقِ	ص ع ق	asawaiqi	the thunderbolts	to smite or strike, thunderclap

Thunderclap – thunder and lightening together

حَذَرَ – due to fear الْمَوْتِ – death – this ayah is saying, they put their fingers in their ears because of the thunderbolts due to fear of death. They are scared of the loud sound, they will die if they don’t put their fingers in their ears. وَاللهُ – and Allah

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
مُحِيطٌ	ح و ط	muhitun	one who always encompasses	to encompass, to encircle

Allah encircles them through His Knowledge and His Power. They cannot escape Him.

بِالْكَافِرِينَ – with the disbelievers.

يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـرَهُمْ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَـرِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
يَكَادُ	ك و د	yakadu	it is near	almost, it is about to happen

الْبَرْقُ – the lightning

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
يَخْطَفُ	خ ط ف	yakhtafu	It takes away	to snatch something away quickly

أَبْصَـرَهُمْ – their sights كُلَّمَآ – whenever, giving the meaning, each and every time. أَضَآءَ – it illuminated. Each time the lightning illuminated the surrounding لَهُم – for them مَّشَوْاْ – they walked فِيهِ – in it (the light) وَإِذَآ – and when أَظْلَمَ – it darkened عَلَيْهِمْ – upon them

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
قَامُواْ	ق و م	qamu	they stood	stand still or firm

They just stood still. They walk only for some time, but for most of the time they are standing, they hardly move.

وَ لَوْ – and if شَآءَ – He willed اللهُ – Allah لَذَهَبَ – Surely, He went. (If Allah willed, He could have just taken away their hearing)

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
بِسَمْعِهِمْ	س م ع	bisam’ihim	with their hearing	the ear, the ability to hear

Allah could have taken their ability to hear completely.

وَ أَبْصَـرِهِمْ – and their sights إِنَّ – indeed اللهَ – Allah عَلَى – upon كُلِّ – every شَىْءٍ – thing

Arabic	Root	Transliteration	English	Meaning
قَدِيرٌ	ق د ر	qadeerun	Always All Able	ability, power, one who has the ability or power to do something, to plan something

He is able to do whatever He wants. It’s not difficult for Him and no one can stop Him. Allah does whatever He wants to do with planning and hikmah (wisdom).