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Jiim-ha-Lam
To be ignorant, not know of a thing, to be silly or foolish, boil vehemently, pretend ignorance, feign ignorance, reckon or esteem someone, cause commotion or unsteadiness, display wrong conduct, to be void of knowledge, believe a thing to be different from what it is in reality, do a thing in a manner different from that in which it ought to be done, proceed without knowledge, to ignore a thing, to be pagan.
jahila
vb. (1) impf. act.
6:111
وَلَوْ أَنَّنَا نَزَّلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ الْمَوْتَى وَحَشَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ كُلَّ شَيْء ٍ قُبُلا ً مَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ
Wa Law 'Annanā Nazzalnā 'Ilayhimu Al-Malā'ikata Wa Kallamahumu Al-Mawtá Wa Ĥasharnā `Alayhim Kulla Shay'in Qubulāan Mā Kānū Liyu'uminū 'Illā 'An Yashā'a Allāhu Wa Lakinna 'Aktharahum Yajhalūna
And if We had sent down to them the angels, and the dead spoke to them, and We had gathered before them everything, they still would not believe except if God wills. Alas, most of them are ignorant.
7:138
وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا عَلَى قَوْم ٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَى أَصْنَام ٍ لَهُمْ قَالُوا يَامُوسَى اجْعَل لَنَا إِلَها ً كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَة ٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْم ٌ تَجْهَلُونَ
Wa Jāwaznā Bibanī 'Isrā'īla Al-Baĥra Fa'ataw `Alá Qawmin Ya`kufūna `Alá 'Aşnāmin Lahum Qālū Yā Mūsá Aj`al Lanā 'Ilahāan Kamā Lahum 'Ālihatun Qāla 'Innakum Qawmun Tajhalūna
And We let the Children of Israel cross the sea, then they came upon a people who were devoted to statues made for them; they said: "O Moses, make for us a god like they have gods?" He said: "You are an ignorant people!"
11:29
وَيَاقَوْمِ لاَ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مَالا ً إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا بِطَارِدِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّهُمْ مُلاَقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْما ً تَجْهَلُونَ
Wa Yāqawmi Lā 'As'alukum `Alayhi Mālāan 'In 'Ajriya 'Illā `Alá Allāhi Wa Mā 'Anā Biţāridi Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū 'Innahum Mulāqū Rabbihim Wa Lakinnī 'Arākum Qawmāan Tajhalūna
"And my people, I do not ask you for money, my wage is from God. Nor will I turn away those who believe, for they will meet their Lord. But I see that you are a people who are ignorant."
27:55
أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَة ً مِنْ دُونِ النِسَاء بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْم ٌ تَجْهَلُونَ
'A'innakum Lata'tūna Ar-Rijāla Shahwatan Min Dūni An-Nisā' Bal 'Antum Qawmun Tajhalūna
"You are approaching the men out of desire instead of the women! Indeed, you are an ignorant people."
46:23
قَالَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِه ِِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ قَوْما ً تَجْهَلُونَ
Qāla 'Innamā Al-`Ilmu `Inda Allāhi Wa 'Uballighukum Mā 'Ursiltu Bihi Wa Lakinnī 'Arākum Qawmāan Tajhalūna
He said: The knowledge is only with God; and I convey to you what I was sent with. However, I see that you are a people who are ignorant.
pcple. act.
2:67
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ~ِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْبَحُوا بَقَرَة ً قَالُوا أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوا ً قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِين
Wa 'Idh Qāla Mūsá Liqawmihi 'Inna Allāha Ya'murukum 'An Tadhbaĥū Baqaratan Qālū 'Atattakhidhunā Huzūan Qāla 'A`ūdhu Billāhi 'An 'Akūna Mina Al-Jāhilīn
And Moses said to his people: "God orders you to slaughter a heifer." They said: "Do you mock us?" He said: "I seek refuge with God that I not be of the ignorant ones."
2:273
لِلفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبا ً فِي الأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُمْ بِسِيمَاهُمْ لاَ يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافا ً وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْر ٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِه ِِ عَلِيم ٌ
Lilfuqarā'i Al-Ladhīna 'Uĥşirū Fī Sabīli Allāhi Lā Yastaţī`ūna Đarbāan Fī Al-'ArĐi Yaĥsabuhumu Al-Jāhilu 'Aghniyā'a Mina At-Ta`affufi Ta`rifuhum Bisīmāhum Lā Yas'alūna An-Nāsa 'Ilĥāfāan Wa Mā Tunfiqū Min Khayrin Fa'inna Allāha Bihi `Alīmun
For the poor who face hardship in the cause of God, they cannot go forth in the land; the ignorant ones think they are rich from their modesty; you know them by their features, they do not ask the people repeatedly. And what you spend out of goodness, God is fully aware of it.
6:35
وَإِنْ كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَبْتَغِيَ نَفَقا ً فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّما ً فِي السَّمَاءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُمْ بِآيَة ٍ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى الْهُدَى فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
Wa 'In Kāna Kabura `Alayka 'I`rāĐuhum Fa'ini Astaţa`ta 'An Tabtaghiya Nafaqāan Fī Al-'ArĐi 'Aw Sullamāan Fī As-Samā'i Fata'tiyahum Bi'āyatin Wa Law Shā'a Allāhu Lajama`ahum `Alá Al-Hudá Falā Takūnanna Mina Al-Jāhilīna
And if their aversion has become too much for you, then perhaps you could make a tunnel in the earth, or a ladder to the heavens, and bring them a sign. Had God willed, He would have gathered them to the guidance; so do not be of the ignorant ones.
7:199
خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ
Khudhi Al-`Afwa Wa 'Mur Bil-`Urfi Wa 'A`riĐ `Ani Al-Jāhilīna
Take to pardoning, and order what is good, and turn away from the ignorant ones.
11:46
قَالَ يَانُوحُ إِنَّه ُُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ إِنَّه ُُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَالِح ٍ فَلاَ تَسْأَلْنِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِه ِِ عِلْم ٌ إِنِّي أَعِظُكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
Qāla Yā Nūĥu 'Innahu Laysa Min 'Ahlika 'Innahu `Amalun Ghayru Şāliĥin Falā Tas'alni Mā Laysa Laka Bihi `Ilmun 'Innī 'A`ižuka 'An Takūna Mina Al-Jāhilīna
He said: "O Noah, he is not from your family, he was of an unrighteous deed, so do not ask what you have no knowledge of. I advise you not to be of the ignorant."
12:33
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ وَإِلاَّ تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُنْ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
Qāla Rabbi As-Sijnu 'Aĥabbu 'Ilayya Mimmā Yad`ūnanī 'Ilayhi Wa 'Illā Taşrif `Annī Kaydahunna 'Aşbu 'Ilayhinna Wa 'Akun Mina Al-Jāhilīna
He said: "My Lord, prison is better to me than what they are inviting me to do. And if You do not turn their plans away from me, I will fall for them and be of the ignorant."
12:89
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ~ِ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ
Qāla Hal `Alimtum Mā Fa`altum Biyūsufa Wa 'Akhīhi 'Idh 'Antum Jāhilūna
He said: "Do you know what you have done with Joseph and his brother, while you were ignorant?"
25:63
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ هَوْنا ً وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلاَما ً
Wa `Ibādu Ar-Raĥmāni Al-Ladhīna Yamshūna `Alá Al-'ArĐi Hawnāan Wa 'Idhā Khāţabahumu Al-Jāhilūna Qālū Salāmāan
And the servants of the Almighty who walk on the earth in humility and if the ignorant speak to them, they say: "Peace."
28:55
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لاَ نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ
Wa 'Idhā Sami`ū Al-Laghwa 'A`raĐū `Anhu Wa Qālū Lanā 'A`mālunā Wa Lakum 'A`mālukum Salāmun `Alaykum Lā Nabtaghī Al-Jāhilīna
And if they come across vain talk, they disregard it and say: "To us are our deeds, and to you are your deeds. Peace be upon you. We do not seek the ignorant."
39:64
قُلْ أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَأْمُرُونِّي أَعْبُدُ أَيُّهَا الْجَاهِلُونَ
Qul 'Afaghayra Allāhi Ta'murūnnī 'A`budu 'Ayyuhā Al-Jāhilūna
Say: Do you order me to serve other than God, O you ignorant ones?
jahalah
n.f.
4:17
إِنَّمَا التَّوبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَة ٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِنْ قَرِيب ٍ فَأُوْلَائِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيما ً
'Innamā At-Tawbatu `Alá Allāhi Lilladhīna Ya`malūna As-Sū'a Bijahālatin Thumma Yatūbūna Min Qarībin Fa'ūlā'ika Yatūbu Allāhu `Alayhim Wa Kāna Allāhu `Alīmāan Ĥakīmāan
Repentance is only for those who commit a sin out of ignorance and then repent soon after; these will be forgiven by God, for God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
6:54
وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّه ُُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ سُوءا ً بِجَهَالَة ٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِه ِِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّه ُُ غَفُور ٌ رَحِيم ٌ
Wa 'Idhā Jā'aka Al-Ladhīna Yu'uminūna Bi'āyātinā Faqul Salāmun `Alaykum Kataba Rabbukum `Alá Nafsihi Ar-Raĥmata 'Annahu Man `Amila Minkum Sū'āan Bijahālatin Thumma Tāba Min Ba`dihi Wa 'Aşlaĥa Fa'annahu Ghafūrun Raĥīmun
And if those who believe in Our revelations come to you, then say: "Peace be upon you, our Lord has decreed mercy upon Himself, that any of you who commits sin out of ignorance and then repents afterwards and amends, then He is Forgiving, Merciful."
16:119
ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَة ٍ ثُمَّ تَابُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُور ٌ رَحِيم ٌ
Thumma 'Inna Rabbaka Lilladhīna `Amilū As-Sū'a Bijahālatin Thumma Tābū Min Ba`di Dhālika Wa 'Aşlaĥū 'Inna Rabbaka Min Ba`dihā Laghafūrun Raĥīmun
Then your Lord to those who do evil out of ignorance, then they repent after that and they make good, your Lord after that is Forgiver, Merciful.
49:6
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِق ٌ بِنَبَإ ٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَنْ تُصِيبُوا قَوْما ً بِجَهَالَة ٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ
Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū 'In Jā'akum Fāsiqun Binaba'iin Fatabayyanū 'An Tuşībū Qawmāan Bijahālatin Fatuşbiĥū `Alá Mā Fa`altum Nādimīna
O you who believe, if a wicked person comes to you with any news, then you shall investigate it. Lest you harm a people out of ignorance, then you will become regretful over what you have done.
jahiliyah
n.f.
3:154
ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْغَمِّ أَمَنَة ً نُعَاسا ً يَغْشَى طَائِفَة ً مِنْكُمْ وَطَائِفَة ٌ قَدْ أَهَمَّتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَقُولُونَ هَلْ لَنَا مِنَ الأَمْرِ مِنْ شَيْء ٍ قُلْ إِنَّ الأَمْرَ كُلَّه ُُ لِلَّهِ يُخْفُونَ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ مَا لاَ يُبْدُونَ لَكَ يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَيْء ٌ مَا قُتِلْنَا هَاهُنَا قُلْ لَوْ كُنْتُمْ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ لَبَرَزَ الَّذِينَ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَى مَضَاجِعِهِمْ وَلِيَبْتَلِيَ اللَّهُ مَا فِي صُدُورِكُمْ وَلِيُمَحِّصَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيم ٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
Thumma 'Anzala `Alaykum Min Ba`di Al-Ghammi 'Amanatan Nu`āsāan Yaghshá Ţā'ifatan Minkum Wa Ţā'ifatun Qad 'Ahammat/hum 'Anfusuhum Yažunnūna Billāhi Ghayra Al-Ĥaqqi žanna Al-Jāhilīyati Yaqūlūna Hal Lanā Mina Al-'Amri Min Shay'in Qul 'Inna Al-'Amra Kullahu Lillāhi Yukhfūna Fī 'Anfusihim Mā Lā Yubdūna Laka Yaqūlūna Law Kāna Lanā Mina Al-'Amri Shay'un Mā Qutilnā Hāhunā Qul Law Kuntum Fī Buyūtikum Labaraza Al-Ladhīna Kutiba `Alayhimu Al-Qatlu 'Ilá MaĐāji`ihim Wa Liyabtaliya Allāhu Mā Fī Şudūrikum Wa Liyumaĥĥişa Mā Fī Qulūbikum Wa Allāhu `Alīmun Bidhāti Aş-Şudūri
Then He sent down to you after the worry a tranquility in sleepiness, it overtook a group of you; and another group was worried about themselves, they were thinking about God other than the truth, the thoughts of the days of ignorance. They say: "Why are we involved in this affair?" Say: "The entire affair is for God." They hide in their souls what they do not show to you, they say: "If we had a say in this affair then none of us would have been killed here." Say: "If you were inside your own homes, then the ones who had been marked for death would have come out to their resting place." God will test what is in your chests and bring out what is in your hearts. God is Knowledgeable as to what is in the chests.
5:50
أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حُكْما ً لِقَوْم ٍ يُوقِنُونَ
'Afaĥukma Al-Jāhilīyati Yabghūna Wa Man 'Aĥsanu Mina Allāhi Ĥukmāan Liqawmin Yūqinūna
Is it the judgment of the days of ignorance that they seek? Who is better than God as a judge for a people who comprehend?
33:33
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلاَ تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الأُولَى وَأَقِمْنَ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتِينَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِعْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ~ُ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرا ً
Wa Qarna Fī Buyūtikunna Wa Lā Tabarrajna Tabarruja Al-Jāhilīyati Al-'Ūlá Wa 'Aqimna Aş-Şalāata Wa 'Ātīna Az-Zakāata Wa 'Aţi`na Allāha Wa Rasūlahu 'Innamā Yurīdu Allāhu Liyudh/hiba `Ankumu Ar-Rijsa 'Ahla Al-Bayti Wa Yuţahhirakum Taţhīrāan
You shall be content in your homes, and do not show off like in the old days of ignorance. You shall hold the contact prayer, and contribute towards purification, and obey God and His messenger. Godwishes to remove any affliction from you, O people of the Sanctuary, and to purify you completely.
48:26
إِذْ جَعَلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَه ُُ عَلَى رَسُولِه ِِ وَعَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ التَّقْوَى وَكَانُوا أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهْلَهَا وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيما ً
'Idh Ja`ala Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Fī Qulūbihimu Al-Ĥamīyata Ĥamīyata Al-Jāhilīyati Fa'anzala Allāhu Sakīnatahu `Alá Rasūlihi Wa `Alá Al-Mu'uminīna Wa 'Alzamahum Kalimata At-Taqwá Wa Kānū 'Aĥaqqa Bihā Wa 'Ahlahā Wa Kāna Allāhu Bikulli Shay'in `Alīmāan
Those who rejected had put in their hearts the rage of the days of ignorance. Then, God sent down tranquility upon His messenger and the believers, and directed them to uphold the word of righteousness, and they were well entitled to it and worthy of it. And God is fully aware of all things.
jahul
n.m.
33:72
إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الإِنْسَانُ إِنَّه ُُ كَانَ ظَلُوما ً جَهُولا ً
'Innā `AraĐnā Al-'Amānata `Alá As-Samāwāti Wa Al-'ArĐi Wa Al-Jibāli Fa'abayna 'An Yaĥmilnahā Wa 'Ashfaqna Minhā Wa Ĥamalahā Al-'Insānu 'Innahu Kāna žalūmāan Jahūlāan
We have offered the trust to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were fearful of it. But man accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.
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In their formulation we have drawn from the work of ...
Hans Wehr Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar All the believers at www.studyquran.org