Quranic root
جنح
j · n · ḥ
The root centers on inclination or turning toward something, with a related notion of deviation or transgression.
From the basic idea of inclination, the lexicon develops the names for wings and lateral parts, sin as deviation from the right path, portions of night, ribs that incline over the heart, and swift or leaning movement.
- Maqāyīs · row 1229
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 6
- Quran senses
- 34
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
جَنَحَ
janaḥa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 2 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 incline toward; in the Quranic usage, to incline toward peace or reconciliation.
Used with لِـ or إِلَى; the Quranic construction concerns responding to an opposing party's inclination toward peace.
- Lane · entry 47498
- Mufradāt · row 268
Selected Quran examples
Quran 8:61word 2
“they incline”
Quran 8:61word 4
“then you (also) incline”
جَنَاح
janāḥ
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
A wing: the limb of a bird or other flying creature corresponding to a human hand or arm.
Used literally of birds and other flying creatures, including their wings in the plural.
- Lane · entry 47506
- Mufradāt · row 268
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:38word 9
“with its wings”
A side, arm, or hand understood as a wing-like lateral limb or counterpart.
The Quran applies this extension to a person's side or arm/hand, including the expressions referring to Moses's wing.
- Lane · entry 47506
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:22word 4
“your side”
Quran 28:32word 12
“your hand”
In the idiom of lowering one's wing, humility, gentleness, and submissiveness toward another.
A figurative Quranic construction with جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ or a similar object; it describes becoming gentle or submissive toward parents, believers, or others.
- Lane · entry 47506
- Mufradāt · row 268
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:24word 3
“(the) wing”
Quran 26:215word 2
“your wing”
جُنَاح
junāḥ
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 25 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.
Sin, wrongdoing, blame, or liability incurred.
Especially frequent in the construction لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ, meaning that no sin, blame, or liability is incurred.
- Lane · entry 47507
- Mufradāt · row 268
Selected Quran examples
A burden, constraint, or harm imposed on someone.
An alternate Quranic interpretation of لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ understands the expression as freedom from straitening or burdensome constraint.
- Lane · entry 47507
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:235word 2
“blame”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 34 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 33 Classical meanings
جَنَحَ
To incline or lean physically to one side or toward a support; of the sun, evening, or darkness, to incline toward setting or come on.
Includes leaning on a bow, resting on the elbows, or a camel lying on one side; these are physical or temporal applications distinct from the Quranic peace construction.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
To set about a thing with the hands while leaning the breast over it.
A physical construction describing active application to a task.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
To follow or submit to a group or faction.
Used with إِلَى or لِـ when a person follows or submits to a sect or company.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
Of a bird, to contract its wings in descending or alighting and approach as though falling toward a place of refuge.
A specialized description of a bird's wing-assisted descent and approach.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
Of camels, to lower the forepart of the neck in running or to move swiftly.
Used of the posture or rapid movement of camels in motion.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
Of a ship, to reach shallow water and run aground, becoming unable to move.
A nautical use describing a vessel sticking to the ground.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
To give with the hand.
A separate verbal use recorded with the infinitive جُنُوحٌ.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
To hit or injure someone's wing, arm, or hand.
Transitive usage with جَنَاح as the injured limb or arm.
- Lane · entry 47498
جُنِحَ
Of a camel, to have the ribs called جَوَانِح broken by the weight of its load.
A passive construction referring especially to the forward ribs near the breast.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَحَ
To regard an act as a crime or sin.
A transitive or complement-taking use expressing moral condemnation of an act.
- Lane · entry 47498
جَنَّحَ
To furnish something with wings.
Form II causative usage; the object is supplied with wings.
- Lane · entry 47499
أَجْنَحَ
To make someone or something incline, lean, or turn toward a direction.
A causative Form IV use of the inclination meaning.
- Lane · entry 47500
اِجْتَنَحَ
To lean toward the ground while supporting oneself, including resting on the palms in prostration with the forearms held apart.
Describes bodily posture in weakness or prayer.
- Lane · entry 47502
اِجْتَنَحَ
Of a she-camel or horse, to move rapidly with a pronounced leaning motion.
Used of swift movement in which the hindquarters or running body leans toward the forepart.
- Lane · entry 47502
اِسْتَجْنَحَ
Of the night, to begin or come on.
A Form X temporal use concerning the onset of night.
- Lane · entry 47503
جُنْحُ اللَّيْلِ
A portion of the night, especially its darkness or a substantial part of it.
The portion may be described as the first part, about half, the greater part, or the confused darkness of night.
- Lane · entry 47504
جِنْحٌ
A side of a road.
A literal spatial use.
- Lane · entry 47505
جِنْحٌ
The vicinity, neighborhood, region, or protective shelter of a people or group.
The use may be figurative, especially when referring to being in someone's shadow, protection, or keeping.
- Lane · entry 47505
جَنَاح
The upper arm from shoulder to elbow, or the armpit.
An anatomical extension of the name of a lateral limb; it is broader than the Quranic side or hand construction.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
In the idiom “one whose wing is clipped,” lacking strength, power, or ability.
A figurative idiom describing impotence or loss of capacity.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
In the expression “to ride the two wings of the bird,” to leave one's home or customary place.
An idiomatic expression for departure or quitting a familiar location.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
A state of disquiet, perplexity, or confusion in which one cannot see the right course.
Used in the expression describing someone as being in the wings of a bird.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
In the idiom “to ride the two wings of the ostrich,” to work vigorously, laboriously, or diligently at an affair.
A figurative idiom emphasizing energetic and capable effort.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
In “on the wing of travel,” to be about to travel or journey.
An idiomatic expression indicating imminent departure.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاحُ الفَرَسِ
A star in Pegasus, identified as one of the bright stars forming the constellation's square.
A proper astronomical designation derived from the image of a wing.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
A wing-like lateral part or projection, such as a fish's fin, the blade of a spearhead or arrowhead, a mill wing, an army flank, or a side of a valley.
The term extends to structures or sides that project laterally or function as wings.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
A side garnish of bones and remaining meat placed with a serving of moistened crumbled bread.
A specialized culinary expression describing the two side portions of the dish.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَنَاح
A part or portion of a thing.
A general nominal extension of the idea of a lateral or divided part.
- Lane · entry 47506
جَانِحٌ
Inclining, leaning, or tending toward something.
Active participle usage; its plural is also recorded.
- Lane · entry 47508
جَانِحَةٌ
A rib of the breast, especially one of the ribs that incline over or lie near the heart and breast.
An anatomical noun whose plural جَوَانِح refers to specified breast or back ribs in people and animals.
- Lane · entry 47509
مَجْنَحَةٌ
A piece of leather on the front of a camel's saddle on which the rider leans with the hands.
A saddle fitting named for its function as a support for leaning.
- Lane · entry 47510
مُجَنَّحٌ
Furnished with wings or wing-like features.
A passive-participial adjective used literally and in extended descriptions of winged form.
- Lane · entry 47511
مُجَنَّحَةُ الجَبِينِ
Of a she-camel, broad in the forehead.
A specialized descriptive expression using a wing-like breadth metaphor.
- Lane · entry 47511
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
جُنَاح in the Quran is commonly translated as sin or blame; the lexical evidence also records an alternate interpretation in some لا جُنَاح constructions as freedom from constraint or straitening.
جَنَاح has literal wing and several Quranic extensions to side, arm, hand, and submissive conduct; these are construction- and context-sensitive rather than interchangeable in every occurrence.