Quranic root
نوم
n · w · m
The root centers on stillness and cessation of movement, especially as realized in sleep.
From physical stillness and sleep, usage extends to settled reassurance, dormancy or stagnation, worn condition, and objects associated with sleeping. These extensions are not all Quranic word senses.
- Maqāyīs · row 4797
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 9
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
مَنَام
manām
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
Sleep; the state of sleeping.
In 39:42, the word occurs in the account of souls being taken during sleep; the supplied lexical discussion characterizes sleep in this setting as a temporary or light death, without making it actual death. In 8:43 and 37:102, contextual translations render the word as “dream,” referring to an experience associated with sleep.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
Selected Quran examples
Quran 8:43word 5
“your dream”
Quran 30:23word 3
“(is) your sleep”
Quran 37:102word 10
“the dream”
Quran 39:42word 10
“their sleep”
نَائِم
nāʾim
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
Sleeping; being asleep.
The Quranic form is plural; the public headword is normalized to the singular active-participle citation form.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:97word 9
“(were) asleep”
Quran 68:19word 7
“were asleep”
نَوْم
nawm
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 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.
Sleep; bodily rest marked by suspension or stilling of ordinary activity.
The supplied Quran-focused discussion presents sleep as a light or lesser death in contrast with death as a heavy sleep; this is an explanatory characterization of the sleep state rather than a separate lexical sense.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:255نَوْمٌۭ ۚsleep
- 7:97نَآئِمُونَ(were) asleep
- 8:43مَنَامِكَyour dream
- 25:47وَٱلنَّوْمَand the sleep
- 30:23مَنَامُكُم(is) your sleep
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 6 Classical meanings
نَؤُوم، نُوَمَة
A person who sleeps much; a habitual heavy sleeper.
A derived personal description, not a separate Quranic form in the supplied QAC groups.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
- Maqāyīs · row 4797
نُوَمَة
An inconspicuous or little-regarded person, one whose mention is obscure.
A figurative personal use distinct from the sense “one who sleeps much.”
- Mufradāt · row 1500
- Maqāyīs · row 4797
اسْتَنَامَ
To become reassured, feel secure, or place confidence in someone or something.
Used with the person or thing toward which one becomes at ease or trusting.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
- Maqāyīs · row 4797
مَنَامَة
A garment, cover, or quilt used for sleeping.
The object is named in relation to sleeping in or under it.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
- Maqāyīs · row 4797
نَامَتِ السُّوقُ
The market became stagnant or inactive.
A figurative extension of stillness applied to a market that has ceased to move or trade normally.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
- Maqāyīs · row 4797
نَامَ الثَّوْبُ
The cloth became worn, threadbare, or old.
A figurative use of the root for a garment whose condition has deteriorated through wear.
- Mufradāt · row 1500
- Maqāyīs · row 4797
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
No Lane primary evidence was supplied; the broader Classical Arabic branches are retained only where explicitly attested in the supplied Mufradat and Maqayis entries.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
The Quran Foundation glosses مَنَام in 8:43 and 37:102 as “dream,” but the supplied lexical discussion explicitly equates مَنَام with sleep and does not independently establish a separate lexical sense “dream.” These occurrences are therefore shown under the sleep sense with their contextual glosses.