'-m-m

Description

The Arabic root ع-م-م ('ayn-mīm-mīm) conveys the core meaning of paternal relations, specifically referring to one's father's siblings and their descendants. In the Quran, it appears primarily in Surah An-Nisa (4:23) within the context of prohibited degrees of marriage (mahram relationships), establishing who is unlawful to marry based on paternal family ties. This root is significant in Islamic law as it helps define family boundaries and social regulations, distinguishing paternal relatives (ʿamm/ʿammah) from maternal ones (khāl/khālah) in matters of inheritance, marriage prohibition, and family obligations.