'-d-w

Description

The Arabic root ع-د-و (ʿ-d-w) in the Quran primarily conveys the concept of hostility, enmity, and transgression of boundaries. At its core, it describes the relationship of opposition and antagonism, whether between humans and their enemies, between believers and disbelievers, or between humans and Satan who is repeatedly identified as mankind's clear enemy. The root's semantic range extends from personal adversaries to the broader concept of transgressing limits set by God, as an enemy inherently crosses the boundaries of friendship and alliance, making it a significant term in defining spiritual and moral boundaries in Quranic ethics.