r-k-z

Description

The Arabic root ركز (r-k-z) in the Quran conveys the core meaning of something fixed, planted, or driven into the ground, which extends metaphorically to a low, muffled sound that seems to emanate from deep within. In its Quranic usage, it refers to an indistinct murmuring or whispering sound, particularly associated with the hushed voices or subdued communication that will occur on the Day of Judgment when people are humbled before divine authority. This root captures both the physical sense of something being deeply embedded and the auditory sense of a sound that is suppressed or barely perceptible, emphasizing the state of awe and fear in the eschatological context.