n-f-r

Description

The Arabic root نفر (n-f-r) carries the core meaning of moving away or dispersing, often with connotations of sudden movement, aversion, or going forth in groups. In the Quran, it encompasses both negative senses like fleeing in aversion or being repelled from truth, and positive senses like mobilizing or going forth in bands for religious purposes such as seeking knowledge or jihad. This semantic range makes it significant for describing both the psychological state of rejection and the physical act of collective mobilization, reflecting key themes of human response to divine guidance and communal religious duty.