Quranic root
نجم
n · j · m
The root centers on rising, emerging, and becoming visible.
The primary image is the rising or appearance of a star; this extends to things that sprout or emerge, such as plants, teeth, horns, and thoughts. The sense of scheduled installments is associated with payments recurring at successive star-risings.
- Maqāyīs · row 4561
- Mufradāt · row 1415
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 13
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَجْمٌ
najmun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 13 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 star; collectively, stars.
Used for visible celestial bodies, including stars used for guidance and orientation. In فِي النُّجُومِ, the expression may refer to observing or having knowledge of the stars. In 53:1, an interpretation identifies the star specifically with the Pleiades; the astronomical reading of 56:75 concerns the positions of the stars.
- Lane · entry 32095
- Mufradāt · row 1415
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:16word 2
“And by the stars”
Quran 37:88word 4
“the stars”
Quran 53:1word 1
“By the star”
Quran 56:75word 4
“(of) the stars”
A stemless plant or herb.
In 55:6, the word is understood as vegetation without a stalk or trunk, in contrast with الشجر.
- Mufradāt · row 1415
Selected Quran examples
Quran 55:6word 1
“And the stars”
In an interpretive Quranic reading, the Qur’an revealed or sent down in successive portions.
This alternative reading applies to النجم in 53:1 and to مواقع النجوم in 56:75; هَوَى is then understood as the Qur’an’s descent rather than the falling of a star.
- Mufradāt · row 1415
Selected Quran examples
Quran 53:1word 1
“By the star”
Quran 56:75word 4
“(of) the stars”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 6:97ٱلنُّجُومَthe stars
- 7:54وَٱلنُّجُومَand the stars
- 16:12وَٱلنُّجُومُand the stars
- 16:16وَبِٱلنَّجْمِAnd by the stars
- 22:18وَٱلنُّجُومُand the stars
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 9 Classical meanings
نَجَمَ
To rise, emerge, appear, or become manifest.
Used of a star, tooth, horn, plant, or an idea that comes forth or becomes apparent.
- Mufradāt · row 1415
نُجُومٌ
Rising, emergence, or appearance as a verbal-noun use.
The form نُجُومٌ can denote the act of rising or appearing as well as functioning as the plural of نَجْمٌ.
- Mufradāt · row 1415
نَجَمَ عَلَى
To rise up in disobedience or rebellion against a ruler.
A conventional construction with عَلَى referring to becoming insubordinate to authority.
- Mufradāt · row 1415
نَجْمٌ
Root-sprouting shoots or certain stemless grasses and plants, especially couch grass.
A specialized Classical botanical use, including shoots emerging from a plant’s roots and the plant identified as Triticum repens or dogs’ grass.
- Lane · entry 32095
نَجْمٌ
An appointed payment term; hence, an installment or scheduled payment.
The installment sense is associated with payments recurring at successive star-risings and may also refer to payments scheduled by another reckoning.
- Lane · entry 32095
- Mufradāt · row 1415
نَجَّمَ
To distribute or assess a payment in installments.
The verb describes assigning successive portions for payment, later extending to arranging payment according to any specified schedule.
- Mufradāt · row 1415
التَّنَجُّمُ
Astrology or judgment based on the stars.
A derived noun for interpreting or making judgments by stellar observations.
- Mufradāt · row 1415
أَنْجَمَ
To cease or let up, especially of rain.
Used of rain and similar phenomena coming to an end.
- Lane · entry 32094
مِنْجَمٌ
The transverse iron beam of a balance that holds the tongue.
A technical term for the crosspiece in a weighing balance.
- Lane · entry 32096
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form has two materially distinct attested readings in 55:6: a celestial star reading and a stemless-plant reading.
In 53:1 and 56:75, the celestial interpretation competes with an interpretation referring to the Qur’an’s gradual revelation; the supplied contextual glosses reflect the celestial reading only.