j-h-l

Description

The Arabic root ج-ه-ل (j-h-l) in the Quran conveys the core meaning of ignorance not merely as lack of knowledge, but as a state of heedlessness, foolishness, or acting without proper understanding of divine guidance. It frequently refers to the pre-Islamic period (jahiliyyah) characterized by moral ignorance and deviation from monotheistic truth, as well as describing those who reject revelation or act impulsively without wisdom. The term emphasizes a spiritual and moral dimension of ignorance rather than simple intellectual deficit, contrasting the state of those who lack divine guidance with those who possess knowledge ('ilm) and faith.