h-d-d

Description

The Arabic root ح-د-د (h-d-d) fundamentally conveys the concept of delimiting, defining boundaries, or establishing sharp distinctions. In the Quran, it most frequently appears in the phrase "hudud Allah" (limits of God), referring to the divine boundaries and legal limits that must not be transgressed, encompassing moral, ritual, and social regulations. The root's semantic range from physical sharpness (as in iron or weapons) to abstract boundaries reflects the Quranic emphasis on clear demarcations between permissible and forbidden, believers and disbelievers, and obedience versus rebellion.