Tarawih Top Five, Ramadan 2026🌙

Juz 19 (Al-Furqan Verse 21 Through An-Naml Verse 55)

Here are 5 fruits 🍐 from the language of Quran:

1.) The root (ش - ه - ب) has one primary root meaning, which is the “whiteness” of something that is contrasted with its “blackness.”  From this root, we obtain the word شُهْبَة, which refers to white hair that has a tinge of black hair mixed with it. We also obtain the word شِهَابٌ, which refers to an bright ember from a flame 🔥, perhaps called as such because a flame has redness mixed in with whiteness. We see this word used in verse 27:7 of Surah An-Naml: إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًۭا سَـَٔاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُم *بِشِهَابٍ* قَبَسٍۢ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ (“˹Remember˺ when Moses said to his family, “I have spotted a fire. I will either bring you some directions from there, or a *_burning torch_* so you may warm yourselves”).

2.) The root (ص - ل - ي) has two root meanings: the first involves the general concept of fire (نَارٌ) 🔥, and the second involves the general concept of worship (عِبَادَةٌ). From the first root, we obtain the Form I verb صَلَى - يَصْلِي, which means “to burn/roast.” The Form V verb (اِصْطَلَى), which means “to be burnt.”  And from the second root meaning, we obtain the Form II verb صَلَّى - يُصَلِّي , which means “to pray” (among other meanings). The word صَلَاة also comes from this root, and means “prayer,” so called because prayer burns away sins, just like fire burns away things.  We see the Form VIII verb used in verse 27:7 of Surah An-Naml: إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًۭا سَـَٔاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍۢ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ (“˹Remember˺ when Moses said to his family, “I have spotted a fire. I will either bring you some directions from there, or a burning torch so *_you may warm yourselves_*”).

3.) The root (ن - د - ي) refers to the central concept of aggregation and conglomeration. From this root, we obtain the word النَّادِي, which can refer to the one calling out to someone, or can refer to an assembly of gathering. Also from this root, we obtain the word النِدَاء, which means “calling out,” so called because the processing of calling out to leads to an aggregation of people. Also from this root, we obtain the verb نَادَى (“to call out”), and the passive version is نُودِيَ (“to be called out to”). We see this passive version used in ayah 27:8 of Surah An-Naml: فَلَمَّا جَآءَهَا *نُودِيَ* أَنۢ بُورِكَ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ (“But when he came to it, *he was called* ˹by Allah˺, “Blessed is the one at the fire, and whoever is around it! Glory be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds”).

4.) The root (ه - ز - ز) refers to the movement of something. From this root, we obtain the Form I verb هَزَّ - يَهُزُّ, which means “to move” and can have the meaning of moving with force and ferocity.  Also from this root, we obtain the Form VIII verb اِهْتَزَّ “to shake/tremble,” such as what occurs via an earthquake. We see this Form VIII verb used in its present tense form in verse 27:10 of Surah An-Naml: وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا *تَهْتَزُّ* كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًۭا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّى لَا يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ (“Now, throw down your staff!” But when he saw it slithering *_[shaking/quavering]_* like a snake, he ran away without looking back. ˹Allah reassured him,˺ “O Moses! Do not be afraid! Messengers should have no fear in My presence”).

5.) The root (ج - ح - د) refers to the paucity or dearth of goodness in something. From this root, we obtain the word جَحِد, which refers to little rain. This word جَحِد can also be used to describe a poor person in that he/she has little wealth. The word جَحْد itself refers to the small amount of anything. Also from this root, we obtain the verb جَحَدَ (“to deny”) and its masdar/verbal noun of جُحُود (“denial”), maybe called as such because the denial of something is seen by the denier as a reduction of goodness. We see this verb used in verse 27:14 of Surah An-Naml: وَجَحَدُوا۟* بِهَا وَٱسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًۭا وَعُلُوًّۭا ۚ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ* (“And, although their hearts were convinced the signs were true, *_they denied_* them wrongfully and arrogantly. See then what was the end of the corruptors!”).