Root words in the Qur'an

to read, recite, gather words together in utterance

to know; to teach, to mark out clearly

to trim, to cut to a point — hence the reed pen

to create, to shape according to a measure

to cling, to hang onto

to be generous, noble, honourable

to be free of need, to be rich

to prostrate, to lower oneself in submission

to seize and drag by, to scorch and blacken

the forelock — the hair at the front of the head, the part a captive is held by

to lie, to call something a lie

to miss the mark, to err, to sin deliberately

to gather, to meet — hence a council or assembly

to call, to summon, to supplicate

to stop, to forbid, to come to an end

to shove, to thrust away

to cut, trim — hence the pen, cut and shaped to write

to cover, conceal — hence madness as a veiling of the mind, and the jinn as unseen

to fashion, shape — hence khuluq, an ingrained inner shape of character

to obey, submit willingly

to lie, to deny as false

to glorify, to declare far removed from imperfection

to hold firm, restrain oneself — hence patience

to remember, mention — hence dhikr, a reminder

a wage, a reward

to be great, immense

to test, put through a trial

to swear an oath

to be lowly, contemptible

wealth, property

sons, offspring (also: to build)

a fish, a whale

to hold back distress, to be choked with grief

to slip, make someone's foot slide

to wrap, to bear a burden wrapped up

to stand, to rise, to establish

to arrange in order, to recite slowly and distinctly

to be heavy, weighty

to cut off, to devote oneself wholly

to separate, to leave, to migrate

to lie, to deny

to be easy, to become manageable

to warn of a coming danger

to be pure, clean

to be patient, to hold oneself firm

to measure, to calculate, to determine

human being, mankind

a name for the Hellfire, from scorching heat

to earn, to acquire through one's own effort

to pray, to connect [to Allah in worship]

to cover, wrap oneself in a garment

to stand, rise up

to magnify, declare great

filth, wickedness, idol worship

to abandon, leave behind

to grant a favour while expecting more back

to think, ponder, reflect

to kill, be struck down (used here as a curse)

to leave alone, let be

the self, the soul

to pledge, hold as collateral

to praise, to commend

to nurture, sustain, and have lordship over

to know; a mark or sign by which something is known

mercy, compassion, tenderness of the womb

to own, to have dominion or kingship

to worship, to serve, to submit in humility

to guide, to lead aright

to go astray, to lose the way

to perish, be ruined, cut off from all good

flame, blazing fire

to earn, acquire through effort

to carry, bear a load

firewood, kindling

twisted fibre, a strong cord of palm-fibre

to wrap, coil, or fold something over on itself

to spread out, unfold, publish

to bury alive, to suppress

to remember, mention, remind

to will, wish, want

to be secure, trustworthy, safe

soul, self, breath

to say, speak, utter

to set alight, to make something blaze or overflow

to slip back, to hide away after appearing

to glorify, to declare utterly free of imperfection

to be high, exalted, above

to create, to bring into being from nothing

to determine, measure out, decree with precision

to guide gently toward a goal

to remember, mention, remind

to purify, grow in goodness

to be easy, to make something easy

night, darkness that covers

to strive, exert effort, walk purposefully toward a goal

to give, hand over

ease, facility

to purify, grow, increase in goodness

truthfulness, to affirm as true

to be free of need, self-sufficient, wealthy

to guard, protect oneself — the root of taqwā

to split or burst open, hence the dawn that splits the darkness

to be single, odd, or unpaired

to overflow, exceed all limits, transgress

to be alone, left without a father

to love, to hold dear

the self, soul, or breath

to settle, be at rest, feel secure

to nurture, raise, own and sustain something to completion

to feed, to give food

punishment, torment

to nurture, raise, own and sustain something to completion

to find, to come upon

to be alone, left without a father

to guide gently toward a goal

to be free of need, self-sufficient

softness, ease — hence a blessing that makes life soft

to expand, open, lay open

burden, weight, that which is carried

to raise, lift up, elevate

hardship, difficulty

ease, facility

to set up, exert effort, toil

to desire, hope, incline towards

to press, squeeze; also the passing age or era

to be familiar, sociable — the root behind 'human being'

to lose, to suffer diminishment or ruin

to be secure, to trust — hence to believe

to be sound, upright, in good order

to counsel, enjoin, bequeath — to urge someone toward something

to hold firm, to restrain oneself — patience and endurance

to run, race, charge; also to transgress or be hostile

to be ungrateful, to deny favours received

to witness, to be present and testify

to love, to hold dear

good, that which is beneficial — here specifically wealth

to scatter, overturn, turn out the contents of

to obtain, extract, bring to a clear result

to know by experience, to be well-informed of the inner reality of a thing

abundance, plenty, multitude

to give, to hand over

to pray, to connect (root sense: to follow closely, to bend/link toward)

to slaughter/sacrifice, also the upper chest (where the knife is placed)

to nurture, raise, own and sustain something to completion

to hate intensely, to feel enmity toward

to cut off completely, to sever, to leave without continuation

to be diverted, distracted, or occupied with amusement away from what matters

to be many, numerous, to increase in quantity

to visit, to come to a place or person

to bury, the grave

to know, knowledge

certainty, sureness free of doubt

to see, to perceive with the eye or with insight

softness, ease — hence a blessing that makes life comfortable

to lie, to deny, to call false

repayment, judgement, indebtedness, religion

to be alone, left without a father

to urge, incite, spur someone toward an act

to pray, to connect (with Allah in worship)

to be heedless, inattentive, forgetful

to see; (form III) to make oneself seen by another

to prevent, withhold, refuse to give

to cover, conceal — hence to reject or deny (the truth), as one who covers over what is plain

to worship, to serve in total submission

to say, to speak

religion, a way of life owed obedience; also repayment/judgement

to see, to perceive, to consider

to nurture, raise, own and sustain something to completion

to accompany, keep company with

to plot, scheme, devise a stratagem

to go astray, lose the way

to fly; a bird

to throw, cast, hurl

to eat, consume

to seek refuge, to take shelter with someone from harm

to split, cleave open

to create, bring into being with due measure

the darkness and intensity of night

to enter, sink into, penetrate

to blow or spit gently, as in incantation

to tie, bind, knot

to envy, to wish a blessing removed from another

to seek refuge, to take shelter with someone from harm

to nurture, sustain, and own something to its completion

to own, possess, and hold sovereignty

to be worshipped, to be an object of devotion

to whisper repeatedly, to insert a faint, insistent suggestion

to withdraw, retreat, or slink back out of sight

the chest; the front or source from which something issues

to be hidden, concealed from sight

oneness, uniqueness — a total, indivisible one that admits no partner

to be worshipped, to be a deity worthy of worship

to aim for, to turn to for a need; a master relied upon by all

to give birth, to beget, to bring forth offspring

to be equal, matched, or comparable to something

to be, to exist, to come into being

to say, to speak, to state

to reveal, to inspire swiftly and privately

to see, to perceive

to strive, to exert effort toward a goal

to bear a heavy load, sin as a burden

to create, to bring into being with due measure

to prostrate, to place the forehead down in submission

to serve, to worship in humility

to fall, to descend; also whim or desire

to stray, to lose the way

to err, to be led into ruin by following desire

to be level, even, settled into complete form

to come near, draw close

the bow, a curved measuring span

the heart, the seat of inner perception

to come down, descend

to overstep bounds, to transgress

the female

to touch briefly, a minor lapse that does not become habit

to live, to give life

a pair, a mate joined with its match

to draw very near, to be imminent

to purify, grow, increase in goodness

to remember, mention, be reminded

to be free of need, self-sufficient

nobility, honour, generosity

to create, bring into being with due measure

to make easy, facilitate

to uncover, shine forth; also to travel, transcribe

to cover over, conceal the truth, disbelieve

to frown, to scowl

blindness

food, taste

to sprout, to grow

pages, scrolls

grave, to bury

to measure, decree, or determine with precision and power

to descend, come down

night, the period of darkness

goodness, that which is preferable or superior

spirit, breath of life

command, matter, affair

safety, soundness, peace

to split open, burst forth — hence dawn's first light breaking through darkness

self, soul, breath

to make level, even, or proportioned

to grow, purify, become wholesome

to conceal or bury, as one buries something shameful

to overflow the proper bound, transgress

she-camel (a specific term for a mature female camel)

to hamstring, disable at the root; to slaughter an animal by cutting its legs

to crush, level utterly, bring down destruction upon

to be elevated, conspicuous — hence a tower or constellation

to witness, to be present and testify

to cut a groove or trench in the ground