n-'-q

Description

The Arabic root نعق (n-'-q) fundamentally refers to loud, harsh cries or calls, particularly those made by animals like crows or shepherds calling their flocks. In its Quranic usage (appearing in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:171), it describes the unintelligent calling out or shouting at something that cannot comprehend, like calling to deaf animals who hear only sounds without understanding meaning. This root is used metaphorically to illustrate the futility of calling those who lack intellectual comprehension or refuse to use reason, comparing disbelievers who reject divine guidance to livestock that respond only to vocal sounds without grasping their significance.