Quranic root
ظنن
ẓ · n · n
The root centers on an inference formed from an indication, ranging from conjecture and doubt to a strongly held belief or certainty.
Its semantic branches extend from thought and inference to suspicion, evil opinion, and states or places whose existence or reliability is only presumed. The contrast between certainty and doubt is fundamental, while related derivatives describe applying conjecture, being suspected, or serving as an indication of something.
- Maqāyīs · row 3109
- Mufradāt · row 931
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 6
- Quran senses
- 69
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
ظَنَّ
ẓanna
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 47 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 think, suppose, opine, or conjecture; to form a belief about something without full certainty.
The verb commonly denotes an inference or preponderant belief between doubt and certainty. With بِـ, it may make a person or thing the object of one's thought, whether favorably or unfavorably.
- Lane · entry 32707
- Mufradāt · row 931
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:78word 11
“guess”
To know or be certain through reflection and inference rather than direct sensory perception.
This is a Quranic use in contexts where consideration has produced conviction; it is distinct from immediate ocular or sensory knowledge.
- Lane · entry 32707
- Mufradāt · row 931
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:46word 2
“believe”
To suspect someone or think ill of someone; to entertain an unfavorable opinion.
The object is treated as the subject of a negative assumption or suspicion. The construction may express an evil opinion of a person or of God.
- Lane · entry 32707
- Mufradāt · row 931
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:154word 16
“thinking”
ظَنّ
ẓann
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 21 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.
An inference, opinion, or supposition formed from an indication; an assumption whose strength may vary.
In Quranic usage, the noun often denotes an unsupported or non-certain assumption, while the broader lexical range allows an inference to be strongly held.
- Lane · entry 32711
- Mufradāt · row 931
Selected Quran examples
Quran 10:36word 5
“assumption”
Suspicion or an unfavorable opinion; a bad assumption about someone or something.
This sense appears in constructions involving evil opinion, excessive suspicion, or an assumption opposed to the truth.
- Lane · entry 32711
- Mufradāt · row 931
Selected Quran examples
Quran 49:12word 10
“assumption”
ظَانّ
ẓānn
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who holds an opinion or assumption; in the Quranic occurrence, one who harbors an evil opinion of God.
The Quranic plural expression refers specifically to people entertaining a bad expectation or assumption about God.
- Mufradāt · row 931
Selected Quran examples
Quran 48:6word 6
“who assume”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:46يَظُنُّونَbelieve
- 2:78يَظُنُّونَguess
- 2:230ظَنَّآthey believe
- 2:249يَظُنُّونَwere certain
- 3:154يَظُنُّونَthinking
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 20 Classical meanings
ظَنّ
Knowledge or certainty reached through consideration and inference rather than direct sensory perception.
A nominal classical use distinguished from immediate or ocular knowledge.
- Lane · entry 32711
أَظْنَنَ
To cause someone to think or suppose something.
Form IV causative usage; the caused thought is expressed as an object or complement.
- Lane · entry 32708
أَظْنَنَ
To cause someone to be suspected or to expose someone to suspicion.
Form IV usage involving the social imputation or production of suspicion.
- Lane · entry 32708
التَّظَنِّي
The exercising or employing of conjecture and supposition.
A Form V verbal noun; historically explained as arising from التَّظَنُّنُ.
- Lane · entry 32709
ظِنَّة
Suspicion, an evil opinion, or a slight suspicion of something.
The noun may denote the person or thing made the object of suspicion, as well as a small or tentative suspicion.
- Lane · entry 32712
ظَنُون
A person who thinks evil of everyone.
An intensive personal description of habitual or pervasive evil opinion.
- Lane · entry 32714
ظَنُون
A person or thing in which little goodness, trust, or confidence is placed; especially a person expected to refuse what is requested.
The description may concern moral reliability, expected generosity, or general trustworthiness.
- Lane · entry 32714
ظَنُون
A resource or obligation whose availability or fulfillment is uncertain, especially a well or water source of unknown supply, or a debt whose repayment is doubtful.
Applied to things whose existence, usefulness, or recovery cannot be relied upon.
- Lane · entry 32714
ظَنُون
A person suspected in intellect, intelligence, lineage, or grounds for a claim to honor.
A personal characterization of doubtful competence or doubtful grounds of social respect.
- Lane · entry 32714
ظَنُون
A noble woman of advanced age taken in marriage in the hope of obtaining offspring.
A specialized classical usage describing the circumstances and purpose of the marriage.
- Lane · entry 32714
ظَنُون
A weak man.
A personal adjective referring to weakness.
- Lane · entry 32714
ظَنُون
A person of little artifice, ingenuity, cunning, or skill.
A personal description of limited practical ability or resourcefulness.
- Lane · entry 32714
ظَنِين
Suspected or regarded as untrustworthy.
Applied especially to a person whose truthfulness, reliability, or disclosed information is questioned.
- Lane · entry 32715
ظَنِين
Weak or lacking strength.
A reported alternative interpretation of the adjective in a Quranic reading; it is kept distinct from the sense of being suspected.
- Lane · entry 32715
ظَنِين
One who treats another with enmity or hostility.
The hostile behavior is explained as associated with evil opinion and being an object of evil opinion.
- Lane · entry 32715
ظَنَّان
One who frequently opines or conjectures, especially in an evil manner.
An intensive personal adjective describing recurrent and unfavorable conjecture.
- Lane · entry 32718
أَظَنّ
The person most likely to be thought capable of doing something.
A superlative construction expressing greatest fitness as the object of an expectation or supposition.
- Lane · entry 32719
مَظِنَّة
A place, circumstance, person, or indication in which something is thought or known to exist; a likely locus or sign of something.
Applied to locations, people, qualities, and circumstances that occasion or support an inference about the existence of something.
- Lane · entry 32721
مَظْنُون
A report or narrative whose real status is doubtful or cannot be reliably ascertained.
Applied to transmitted material whose truth or actual condition is not securely known.
- Lane · entry 32722
مَظْنُون
In lexicology, a word belonging to the class called آحاد.
A technical classification of a lexical or transmitted item.
- Lane · entry 32722
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
ظَنَّ ranges contextually from conjecture and suspicion to certainty reached by inference; these are lexical branches rather than merely translation variants.
The classical adjective ظَنِين in a Quranic citation has competing interpretations, including suspected and weak. It is not one of the supplied QAC form groups.