a-k-l

Description

The Arabic root أكل (a-k-l) fundamentally means to eat, consume, or devour, and appears throughout the Quran in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Literally, it refers to physical eating of food and fruit, while metaphorically it describes the consumption or devouring of wealth (especially that of orphans), usury, and unlawful gains, emphasizing moral and ethical boundaries around sustenance and acquisition. This root's frequent Quranic usage underscores the spiritual significance of both lawful provision as divine blessing and unlawful consumption as a serious transgression that "devours" one's soul and community.