Tarawih Top Five, Ramadan 2026🌙

Juz 16 (Al-Kahf Verse 75 Through Ta Ha Verse 135)

Here are 5 fruits 🍐 from the language of Quran:

1.) The root (ش - ق - ي) refers to the state of being wretched (the opposite of happiness, which is السَعَادَة).  From this root, we obtain the verb شَقِيَ - يَشْقَى, which means “to be wretched/miserable” and can also mean “to cause distress.” Also from this root, we obtain the word الشَّقَاء and الشَّقَاوَة, which linguistically means “wretchedness, misery,” but in the world of theology, this word has come to mean “damnation to Hellfire 🔥.” Therefore, الشَّقِيّ linguistically means “the wretched/miserable one”, but this refers to the one who is damned to Hell (Allah protect us all = والعياذ بالله). The converse of this is السَّعَادَة, which linguistically means “happiness,” but in the world of theology, it refers to “salvation,” i.e., entering Paradise (الجَنَّة).  Therefore, السَّعِيد means “the happy one,” but which refers to “the felicitous,” i.e., the one who enters Paradise (جَنَّة). We see the verbal version of this word (تَشْقَى) in verse 20:2 of Surah TaHa: مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ *لِتَشْقَىٰٓ*  (“We have not revealed the Quran to you ˹O Prophet ﷺ˺ *_to cause you distress_*”). 

2.) The root (خ - ش - ي) refers to fear and fright. From this root, we obtain the verb خَشِيَ - يَخْشَى, which means “to be afraid” linguistically, but in this context, it refers to fear mixed with respect and veneration. Hence, its masdar (verbal noun) of خَشْيَة can be translated as “reverential awe.”  We can also describe a person as خَشْيَان, referring to “plentiful of fear.” We see this verb used in verse 20:3 of Surah TaHa: إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةًۭ لِّمَن *يَخْشَىٰ* (“but as a reminder to those *_in awe_* ˹of Allah˺”). 

3.) The root (ق - ب - س) refers to a quality or trait relating to or involving fire. From this root, we obtain the word قَبَسٌ, which refers to an ember that emanates from fire 🔥. The form VIII derived verb (اِقْتَبَسَ) has a more figurative meaning, and that is “to borrow or to cite a source” or “to take knowledge from.” We see this word قَبَس used in verse 20:10 of Surah TaHa: إِذْ رَءَا نَارًۭا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًۭا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا *بِقَبَسٍ* أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًۭى (“When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Wait here, ˹for˺ I have spotted a fire. Perhaps I can bring you *_a torch_* from it, or find some guidance at the fire”).

4.) The root (ء - ن - س) has two primary root meanings: the first is the emergence, emanation, or manifestation of something, and the second is the docility of something, that is to say, the converse of wildness. From this root, we obtain the word الإِنْس, which refers to human beings (as opposed to Jinn = الجِنّ). Human beings are called الإنس because they are apparent, as we see human beings around us, thus relating to its first root meaning. Also from this root, we obtain the word أُنْسٌ, which means “friendless, amicability.” Also from this root, we obtain the Form I verb آنَسَ - يُؤْنِسُ - إينَاس, which means “to see,” but it is more than simply seeing with one’s eyes. This augmented verb means to see something and to find friendliness and comfort in what is found. We see this Form IV verb used in verse 20:10 of Surah TaHa: إِذْ رَءَا نَارًۭا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ *ءَانَسْتُ* نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًۭى (“When he saw a fire, he said to his family, “Wait here, ˹for˺ *_I have spotted a fire_*. Perhaps I can bring you a torch from it, or find some guidance at the fire”).  According to scholars, this verb آنستُ is used instead of the more “typical” verb رَأَيْتُ, because آنستُ gives the indicate of seeing something in order to find solace and comfort, as the fire was a source of hope and solace for Prophet Musa عليه الصلاة والسلام, as it was a sign of civilization and life. 

5.) The root (خ - ل - ع) refers to the removal of something.  From this root, we obtain the Form I verb خَلَعَ - يَخْلَعُ, which means “to remove.” For example: خَلَعْتُ ثَوْبِي (“I removed my garment”). Also from this root, we obtain the Form III verb خَالَعَ, which means “to annul a marriage,” so called because an annulment leads to the “removal” of a spousal relationship. Also from this root, we obtain the word خَلِيع, which refers to someone who has been ostracized from his family, so called because he/she has been “removed” from them. We see this verb used in its command form (فَاخْلَعْ = “remove!”) in ayah 20:12 of Surah TaHa: إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكَ *فَٱخْلَعْ* نَعْلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ بِٱلْوَادِ ٱلْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى (“It is truly I. I am your Lord! So *_take off (remove)_* your sandals, for you are in the sacred valley of Ṭuwa”).