Taraweeh Top 🔟

Juz 12 (Surah Hud and Surah Yusuf).

Here are 10 fruits 🍐 from the language of the Quran:

1.) The word سِحْرٌ means “magic 🪄,” and occurs in verse 11:7. The root (س - ح - ر) has three distinct meanings: 1.) the lungs 🫁, 2.) treachery, deceit, and doubt, and 3.) time 🕣. As for the first meaning, the word سَحْرٌ (not the fathah on the س) is one way of saying “lungs.” As for the second meaning, this is where the word سِحْرٌ (“magic”, with kasrah under the س) comes in, in that magic is considered as the exposition of falsehood in the guise of truth, which is a form of deception. And as for the third meaning, we derive the word سَحَرٌ, which refers to the last part of the night immediately before the start of the Fajr prayer.

2.) The verb يَسْتَهْزِئُ means to mock or ridicule. This verb comes frequently in the Quran, either in the form of the disbelievers ridiculing the Truth (as appears in verse 11:8), or the Quran mentioning the mockery of those who do not believe. The root is (ه - ز - أ), which means to ridicule or scorn.

3.) The word ضَائِقٌ means “constricted, restricted.” It can be used to describe a constricted chest, as occurs in verse 11:12 (ضَآئِقٌ بِهِ صَدْرُكَ), which indicates a meaning of distress in a person. In this verse, God is consoling the Prophet ﷺ by assuring him that he does not have to be distressed by the words of the disbelievers. The root is (ض - ي - ق), which indicates a meaning of restriction. In addition, God mentions in verse 6:125 that whomsoever He wills to guide, He opens their heart to Islam, and whomsoever He wills to leave astray, He makes their chest tight and constricted (ضَيِّقًا) , as if they climbing up into the sky. Therefore, this verse connects this root meaning with ascension into the sky.

4.) The word كَنْزٌ means “treasure 💎.” Its root is (ك - ن - ز), which means to gather and accumulate,” as treasure is accumulated wealth. This word is mentioned in verse 11:12, in which the disbelievers mock the Prophet ﷺ by wondering why he did not come with treasure, claiming they would have believed in his message if he had come down with treasure.

5.) The word الدُنْيَا (as appears in verse 11:15) is often translated as “this worldly life,” but linguistically, الدُنْيَا actually means “nearer/nearest,” as it is the feminine version of أَدْنَى (which is used for comparison), and as such, this root is often seen with the word الحَيَاة, ie الحَيَاة الدُّنْيَا, “the nearest life,” called as such because this world is nearer to us now than the Hereafter, for the time being. Its root is (د - ن - و), which means “to be near.” From this root, we also get the common male name الدَّانِي, meaning “the one who is near.” This root also gives the idea that things will be easily accessible and close by in Jannah, as God states in verse 69:23: قُطُوفُها دَانِيَةٌ (its fruits will be near by")

6.) The word حَبِطَ means “to be nullified.” It appears with this meaning in verse 11:16, and its root is (ح - ب - ط), with the meaning of nullification and pain. Its Form II verb is أَحْبَطَ, which means “to nullify something”. In verse 11:16, the Quran mentions that the actions of the disbelievers will be nullified and fruitless on account of their disbelief.

7.) The word لَعْنَةٌ means “curse,” as appears in verse 11:18. Its root is (ل - ع - ن), which means distancing or expelling. The word لَعْنَةٌ relates to this root meaning in that when the disbelievers are cursed, they are distanced from God’s Blessings.

8.) The word أَعْمَى means “the blind one.” Its root is (ع - م - ي) indicates the meaning of covering and hiding, which is apt for this word, as the أَعْمَى is someone who is covered with regards to the sense of eyesight. This word is seen a few times in the Quran, such as in verse 11:24, and can be used to describe someone who is physically blind as well as spiritually blind from the Truth. The feminine version of this word is عَمْيَاءُ, and its plural is عُمْيٌ, such as occurs in 2:18.

9.) The word نَذِيرٌ means “warner,” and the prophets are often referred to as warners, such as in verse 11:25, in which Prophet Noah (نُوحٌ عليه السلام) is referred to as a warner of his people. Its root is (ن - ذ - ر) gives the meaning of intimidating and fear, which is apt for this word. Another word that is nearly synonymous with نَذِير is مُنْذِرٌ, such as what appears in verse 13:7.

10.) The word طَمَعٌ generally means “hope/aspiration.” Its root is (ط - م - ع), which indicates the meaning of strong hope in one’s heart for something. This is how this word appears in verse 13:12. This word can also have a negative meaning of “greed” in some contexts, such as in Imam Ghazali’s famous work إحياء علوم الدين, “Revival of the Sciences of the Faith”), in which Imam Ghazali explains the dangers of gluttony and greed.