h-w-y

Description

The Arabic root هوي (h-w-y) carries the core meaning of falling, descending, or inclining downward, both physically and metaphorically. In the Quran, it primarily refers to the dangerous descent of one's soul toward base desires and passionate whims (hawa) that lead people away from truth and reason, as well as literal falling into the abyss or pit (hawiya) as a consequence of following such desires. This root emphasizes the spiritual gravity that pulls humans downward when they abandon divine guidance in favor of their unchecked inclinations, making it a central concept in Quranic warnings about moral corruption.