'-j-m

Description

The Arabic root ع-ج-م (ʿ-j-m) fundamentally refers to non-Arabic speech, foreignness, or unintelligibility in language, originally denoting something unclear or difficult to understand. In the Quranic context, this root appears in passages defending the Arabic nature of the revelation, addressing objections from critics who questioned why certain foreign words appeared in an Arabic Quran or why the Quran was revealed in Arabic rather than a foreign language. The root's usage emphasizes the clarity and accessibility of the Quranic message to its Arab audience while simultaneously addressing the perceived tension between the Arabic Quran and the universal nature of its message.