b-d-'

Description

The Arabic root بضع (b-ḍ-ʿ) carries two primary semantic meanings in the Quran: one relating to trade and commodities (merchandise, goods), and another indicating a small, indefinite number (a few, several, typically between 3-9). In Quranic usage, the commercial sense appears in the story of Prophet Yusuf where he was sold as merchandise, highlighting themes of human valuation and divine providence, while the numerical sense describes limited quantities of time or things, emphasizing the temporal nature of worldly affairs. The root's dual meaning connects material transactions with the concept of scarcity or limitation, reinforcing Quranic teachings about the fleeting nature of worldly possessions.