One of the beauty of the Arabic language is that words are not arbitrary. They have deep meaning and philosophical explanation as to how a word is formed, leading to some linguist to believe that the Arabic language is revelation in itself.
Take for instance the word 'tree'. Why is it called tree in the English language? There is no real explanation to it other than humans have generally agreed that the object that we see which grows from the ground and has roots, trunk and leaves is called a tree.
Tree in Arabic is 'shajarah' شجرة. Why is it called shajarah? The letter ش is known has harf tafashi تفشي or the letter that spreads. You need to spread your tongue in order to pronounce it properly. Words that begins with ش generally radiates or spreads something out to the word. The sun is شمس because it spreads light. Hair is شعر because it just spreads out from our head. Shajarah spreads out, from the trunk to branches to leaves. Even the roots spreads underground.
The second letter is ج which is a strong letter. Even when you pronounce it, you make a bouncing sound to it called the qalqalah. Words beginning with ج usually carry a strong meaning, like جدال which means debate, or جدار which means wall.ج being in the middle of the word shajarah signifies the strength of the trunk of the tree.
Finally the letter ر which is known as harf al-istikrar. The repeating letter which makes the sound of rrrrrrrrrrrr. Why? Because a tree would continue to grow and replicate itself. Cut down a branch, and another would grow. Pluck a leaf, and few more would sprout.
Such deep philosophical meaning in letters and words exist in all classical Arabic words. When you understand this, you appreciate the depth of meaning in the Quran and why it is the language chosen by God to reveal His Final Testament.
- Notes from Sh Hamza Yusuf's lecture on the book Refinement of the Hearts.
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