b-r-j

Description

The Arabic root برج (b-r-j) carries the core meaning of something that is manifest, elevated, or made clearly visible, originally referring to towers or lofty structures. In the Quran, it appears primarily in two main contexts: astronomical constellations (burooj) as elevated celestial signs visible in the sky, and the displaying or making manifest of women's beauty and adornment (tabarruj). The semantic connection between these uses lies in the concept of elevation and conspicuous visibility, whether referring to the prominent stars arranged in the heavens or to the overt exhibition of one's appearance that makes it prominently noticeable to others.