l-gh-w

Description

The Arabic root لغو (l-gh-w) carries the core semantic meaning of speech or action that is vain, futile, idle, or lacking in serious purpose or beneficial value. In the Quranic context, it refers to worthless talk, meaningless noise, frivolous activities, or unintentional statements that carry no moral or legal weight, contrasting sharply with the Quran's emphasis on purposeful speech and meaningful action. The root appears in contexts both condemning deliberate engagement in vain pursuits and excusing unintentional utterances in matters like oaths, distinguishing between accountable and non-accountable speech.