Quranic root
نجس
n · j · s
The root denotes departure from purity: uncleanness, dirt, or impurity, whether perceived by the senses or apprehended inwardly.
Its semantic range develops from physical filth and impurity to moral or spiritual uncleanness, with related formations naming defilement, release from impurity, incurable disease, and apotropaic amulets.
- Maqāyīs · row 4556
- Mufradāt · row 1414
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَجَسٌ
najasun
- Part of speech
- Noun · predicative epithet
- 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.
Spiritually or morally unclean; inwardly impure.
In the sole Quranic occurrence, this predicates uncleanness of those who associate partners with God. The usage concerns impurity apprehended by the mind rather than sensory dirt or physical contamination.
- Lane · entry 43322
- Lane · entry 43330
- Mufradāt · row 1414
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:28word 6
“(are) unclean”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 9:28نَجَسٌۭ(are) unclean
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
نَجِسَ؛ نَجِسٌ؛ نَجَسٌ؛ نَجَاسَةٌ
To be or become physically unclean, dirty, filthy, or impure; physical uncleanness or impurity.
The sensory branch of the root, including verbal, nominal, and adjectival formations; it may be applied to a person or thing, including a garment.
- Lane · entry 43322
- Lane · entry 43330
- Lane · entry 43334
- Lane · entry 43336
نَجَّسَ؛ أَنْجَسَ
To render a person or thing unclean, dirty, filthy, or impure; to defile.
A causative construction, including physical defilement and attested figurative or moral defilement. Form IV is cross-referenced with the Form II usage.
- Lane · entry 43323
- Lane · entry 43324
نَجَّسَ
To remove someone's uncleanness or impurity.
A reported secondary usage of the same Form II verb, expressing the opposite result from the more usual causative sense.
- Mufradāt · row 1414
تَنَجَّسَ
To perform an act by which one becomes free from uncleanness, dirt, or impurity; to free oneself from sin or crime.
A reflexive or middle construction describing an act that brings about freedom from impurity or wrongdoing.
- Lane · entry 43325
نَجَاسَةٌ
A specific ritual or legal impurity that invalidates prayer, such as urine, blood, or wine.
A conventional technical meaning in the language of religious law.
- Lane · entry 43334
نَاجِسٌ؛ نَجِيسٌ؛ نَجِسٌ
An incurable or treatment-defying disease; a malignant disease for which there is no remedy.
Used in expressions describing a disease or a person afflicted with such a disease.
- Lane · entry 43330
- Lane · entry 43335
نَجْسٌ؛ نَجَّسَ؛ تَنْجِيسٌ
An amulet, or the practice of hanging an unclean object, bones of the dead, or a menstruous rag on a person to ward off jinn or the evil eye.
An apotropaic practice; the term may designate the hanging of the object, the object itself, or the related charming practice.
- Lane · entry 43322
- Lane · entry 43323
- Lane · entry 43337
مُنَجِّسٌ؛ مُنَجِّسَةٌ
A person who hangs such objects or fortifies someone by charms or amulets.
An agent noun for the apotropaic practice associated with تنجيس.
- Lane · entry 43338
مُنَجِّسٌ
A small piece of skin placed on the notch or seat of a bow-string.
A specialized material meaning distinct from the agent noun denoting an amulet practitioner.
- Lane · entry 43338
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The single QAC occurrence is the nominal form نَجَسٌ at 9:28:6. Lane records variant readings or forms around the Quranic expression, but those variants are not additional QAC form groups in this artifact.