Taraweeh Top 🔟

Juz 26 (Surah Al-Ahqaf to Surah Adh-Dhariyat)

Here are some beneficial fruits 🍐 from the Quran:

1.) The root (ح - ش - ر) refers to the idea of gathering. From this obtain the verb حَشَرَ, which means “to gather,” as is seen in its passive form (حُشِرَ) in verse 46:6, in which the Day of Judgment is described as one in which the people will be gathered.  We also see this verb frequently in the Quran as referring to the gathering of people on the Day of Judgment. 

2.) The root (س - ب - ق) refers to something preceding something else. This precedent can occur in a chronological sense or in a metaphorical sense. From this, we obtain the verb سَبَقَ, which means “to precede.”  This verb is seen frequently in the Quran, including in verse 20:99, in which it is stated, “This is how We relate to you some of the stories that have preceded.” This root is also used in the metaphorical sense to indicate those who precede others in good deeds, as is seen in verse 56:10 (وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ = and the foremost [in faith] will be the foremost [in Paradise]”). Here, the receiving pattern (اِسْمُ الفَاعل) is seen.

3.) The root (م - ت - ع) gives the meaning of benefit and the extension of a period of time in goodness itself. From this, we obtain the word مَتَاع, which refers to a beneficial thing itself. We also obtain the Form V verb تَمَتَّعَ, as well as the Form X verb اِسْتَمْتَعَ, both of which mean “to enjoy,” called as such because that which is enjoyable can be beneficial. The Form X verb اِسْتَمْتَعَ is seen in verse 46:20, in which the disbelievers are rebuked for their disbelief in this world, and that they already fully enjoyed the pleasures of the worldly life. 

4.) The root (ه - و - ن) has two root meanings: 1.) stillness 🔕, and 2.) abasement. From the former, we obtain the word هَون, which means stillness and honor. This word is seen in verse 25:63, in which it is stated, “The servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly”. Here, the word هَون refers to the state of walking with humility.  A similarly-sounding word is هُون, which means “humiliation, abasement,” and which relates to the second root meaning. This word is seen in verse 46:20, in which the disbelievers are warned ⚠️that they will receive a punishment of humiliation in the next life. 

5.) The root (خ - ل - و) refers to the removal of something from something else. From this root, we obtain the verb (خلا - يخلو), which means “to be isolated or empty of”, called as such because the process of isolation and emptying entails the removal of something from something else. This verb can also means “to pass, expire, elapse,” in that when something elapses in duration, it is “removed” from the passage of time ⌛. This is how this verb is seen in verse 46:21, in which the verse states that there were warners who had come before and after the Inhabitants of the Sand Hills (الأَحْقَاف)

6.) The root (د - م - ر) refers to entering into a place of residence 🏠.  In the Islamic/shari’i meaning, it tends to indicate unwelcome entry, but linguistically, it can refer to either welcome or unwelcome entry.  A derived word from this root is الدِّمَار, which refers to destruction, as if one is entering a place of residence for the purpose of destroying it. The Form II verb دَمَّرَ - يُدَمِّرُ (“to destroy”) is seen in verse 46:25, referring to how a strong wind destroyed the people of Hud.

7.) The root (ن - ص - ت) indicates the meaning of silence 🔇 and stillness. From this root, we obtain the From IV verb أَنْصَتَ, which means “to listen to attentively 👂,” in that an attentive listener needs to be silent in order to listen attentively. This verb is seen in the command form in verse 46:29 (أَنْصِتُوا), in which the jinn said to one another “listen quietly!” when they were listening to the Quran as recited by the Prophet  ﷺ 

8.) The root (ع - ز - م) refers to being resolute and determined to complete a task. From this root, we obtain the verb عَزَمَ - يَعْزِمُ, which means “to be resolute in.” In fact, when this verb is used (such as in the sentence يَعْزِمُ الرَّجُلُ الطَّرِيقَ), it means “the man walked upon the path and did not waver at all from its course.”  The verbal noun (مصدر) form appears in verse 46:35, in which the Messengers are referred to as those with Firm Resolve (أُولُو العَزْمِ). This root also can give the meaning of severing ties, which also relates to this meaning here in that the Messengers of Firm Resolve (أُولُو العَزْمِ) had severed their ties with those who did not believe in the Message that they brought from God.  A similar word is عِزِيمَةٌ, which also means “firm resolve.” 

9.) The root (ص - د - د) refers to avoiding and shunning something. From this root, we obtain the verb صَدَّ - يَصُدّ, which means to turn away from something (it can also mean to hold back or prevent something), such as in verse 47:1, in which the disbelievers and wrongdoers are described as turning away from the Path of God. In Modern Arabic, the word صَدّ refers to a dam 🦫, so called because it obstructs the flow of water. A related word is صَدِيد, as seen in verse 14:16, which classical sources describe as a mixture of blood 🩸 and pus (in fact, in medical terms, the word for “pus” is either صَدِيد or قَيح) that the inhabitants of the Fire 🔥 will be forced to consume. 

10.) The root (ب - و - ل) has two root meanings: 1.) the flow of water 🌊, and 2.) the conscience 🧠. As for the first root meaning, we obtain the derived (Modern) word of البَولُ, which refers to urine. As for the second root meaning of “conscience 🧠,” this is where the discussion goes deeper. From this second root meaning, we obtain the word بَال, which has many meanings depending on context. Interestingly, in Urdu, this word بَالٌ means “hair,” but in Classical/Quranic Arabic, the word بَال means “conscience, state of mind,” and can also refer to the soul (نَفْسٌ) as well. In fact, a common classical Arabic expression is خَطَرَ بِبَالِي (“it passed my mind”), which usually refers to thoughts as they pass through the mind, but can also refer to the whisperings of the Shaytan 👿 passing through one’s mind. Interestingly, this word بَالٌ can also refer to affluence and luxury 💰. For example, we would say that someone in affluence has نَاعِمُ البَال, meaning that he is in an affluent state.