dh-w-d

Description

The Arabic root ذود (dh-w-d) carries the core meaning of defending, repelling, or driving away something or someone, often in the context of protection or keeping at bay. In the Quranic context, it appears in Surah Al-Qasas (28:23) where Moses finds two women holding back their flocks from the watering place, waiting for the male shepherds to finish so they can water their animals. This usage highlights themes of restraint, protection of one's charges, and the social dynamics that Moses encounters, demonstrating both the women's vulnerability and their responsibility in caring for their father's livestock.