Malak, angel, Jahannam, Quran,, Hur, Sijjil, Munafiq, Zakah exixted in pre islamic arabic language or not

 Malak, angel, Jahannam, Quran,, Hur, Sijjil, Munafiq, Zakah exixted in pre islamic arabic language or not

Great question! Let’s examine whether these Quranic terms existed in pre-Islamic Arabic or were introduced/modified by Islam.

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1. مَلَك (Malak) – "Angel"

• Pre-Islamic Existence? Yes, but rare and likely borrowed.

  • The root *m-l-k* (م-ل-ك) existed in Arabic with meanings like "possession" or "control."

  • The specific term "malak" (angel) was likely borrowed from Aramaic (mal’akha) or Hebrew (mal’akh).

  • Pre-Islamic Arabs believed in spiritual beings (jinn), but "malak" as a divine messenger was not prominent before Islam.

Verdict: Borrowed and Islamized.

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2. جَهَنَّم (Jahannam) – "Hell"

• Pre-Islamic Existence? No, it’s a loanword.

  • Derived from Hebrew Gehinnom (גֵּיהִנּוֹם), a valley near Jerusalem associated with punishment.

  • Pre-Islamic Arabs had words for the afterlife (Nār, "fire"), but "Jahannam" as a theological concept was introduced by the Quran.

Verdict: Foreign origin, Quranic adoption.

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3. قُرْآن (Qur’ān) – "Recitation"

• Pre-Islamic Existence? Debated, possibly influenced by Syriac.

  • The root *q-r-’* (ق-ر-أ) meant "to recite" in Arabic.

  • However, the noun "Qur’an" (as a scripture) may have been influenced by Syriac qeryānā (ܩܪܝܢܐ, "scriptural reading").

  • No evidence that pre-Islamic Arabs used it for a holy book.

Verdict: Arabic root, but Quran gave it a new meaning.

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4. حُور (Hūr) – "Fair Maidens (of Paradise)"

• Pre-Islamic Existence? Yes, but with a different meaning.

  • In pre-Islamic poetry, ḥūr (حور) meant "white-eyed" (a beauty trait).

  • The Quran repurposed it for the ḥūr al-ʿayn (حور العين) of Paradise.

Verdict: Pre-Islamic word, Quranic redefinition.

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5. سِجِّيل (Sijjīl) – "Petrified Clay (of divine punishment)"

• Pre-Islamic Existence? No, likely a foreign loan.

  • Possibly from Persian sang-gil (سنگ+گل, "stone-clay") or Aramaic sagila.

  • Not found in pre-Islamic Arabic poetry.

Verdict: Foreign origin, Quranic introduction.

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6. مُنَافِق (Munāfiq) – "Hypocrite"

• Pre-Islamic Existence? No, Quranic coinage.

  • Derived from *n-f-q* (ن-ف-ق, "to tunnel/hide"), but the term as a theological label for hypocrites was introduced by the Quran.

  • Pre-Islamic Arabs had words for deceit (ghishsh), but not munāfiq in this sense.

Verdict: New Islamic term.

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7. زَكَاة (Zakāh) – "Obligatory Alms"

• Pre-Islamic Existence? Yes, but different meaning.

  • The root *z-k-w* (ز-ك-و) meant "purification" or "growth."

  • Pre-Islamic Arabs practiced charity (sadaqa), but "zakāh" as a mandatory tax was institutionalized by Islam.

Verdict: Pre-Islamic root, Islamic redefinition.

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Summary Table

Word	Pre-Islamic Existence?	Quranic Contribution
Malak (Angel)	Rare, likely borrowed	Formalized theological meaning
Jahannam (Hell)	No, foreign (Hebrew)	Introduced as Islamic concept
Qur’ān (Recitation)	Root existed, but noun likely influenced by Syriac	Defined as divine scripture
Hūr (Maidens of Paradise)	Yes (meant "white-eyed")	Repurposed for Paradise
Sijjīl (Petrified clay)	No, likely Persian/Aramaic	Introduced in Quran
Munāfiq (Hypocrite)	No	Quranic coinage
Zakāh (Alms)	Root existed (purification)	Institutionalized as Islamic tax

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Conclusion

• Some words existed but were repurposed (Hūr, Zakāh).

• Others were borrowed (Malak, Jahannam, Sijjīl).

• A few were newly coined (Munāfiq).

This shows the Quran both preserved and transformed Arabic, introducing new theological vocabulary while adapting existing terms.