Quranic root
عمه
ʿ · m · h
The root centers on confusion, hesitation, and lack of guidance.
The evidence presents a movement from not knowing where to turn and repeatedly wandering to mental or spiritual perplexity; related descriptions extend the lack of guidance to land without way-signs.
- Maqāyīs · row 3316
- Lane · entry 4834
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 7
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
عَمِهَ
ʿamiha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 7 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To be confused or perplexed and wander without knowing or following the right course.
In Quranic usage, the imperfect active form commonly occurs with فِي and a domain of transgression or error. It describes mental or spiritual loss of direction and wandering, not physical blindness.
- Lane · entry 4834
- Mufradāt · row 1011
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:15word 7
“they wander blindly”
Quran 10:11word 18
“wandering blindly”
Quran 27:4word 10
“wander blindly”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:15يَعْمَهُونَthey wander blindly
- 6:110يَعْمَهُونَwandering blindly
- 7:186يَعْمَهُونَwandering blindly
- 10:11يَعْمَهُونَwandering blindly
- 15:72يَعْمَهُونَwandering blindly
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 5 Classical meanings
عَمِهَ
Of land, to be destitute of signs or landmarks of the way.
A tropical expression applied to land that gives no guidance to safety.
- Lane · entry 4834
عَمَّهَ
To wrong someone without sure information.
A transitive Form II construction.
- Lane · entry 4835
عَمِهٌ
Confused or perplexed, unable to see the right course, and going repeatedly to and fro in error.
An adjectival description; it may also describe failure to know the right argument, plea, or allegation.
- Lane · entry 4837
العُمَّهَى
In the expression ذَهَبَتْ إِبِلُهُ العُمَّهَى: his camels went away and no one knew where they had gone.
A fixed idiomatic expression concerning camels.
- Lane · entry 4838
عَمْهَاءُ
Having no signs of the way to guide to safety.
The feminine adjective is applied to land.
- Lane · entry 4841
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The public headword is the normalized perfect citation form عَمِهَ; the supplied Quranic occurrences are active imperfect forms.
The contextual rendering “wandering blindly” should be understood as loss of guidance or discernment rather than physical blindness.