sh-a-m

Description

The Arabic root ش-أ-م (sh-a-m) fundamentally refers to the left side or left hand, often carrying connotations of misfortune or inauspiciousness in classical Arabic usage. In the Quranic context, this root appears most notably in descriptions of the people or companions of the left hand (أصحاب الشمال), who represent those destined for misfortune in the afterlife, contrasted with the companions of the right hand who receive their records in their right hands as a sign of blessing. This directional symbolism reinforces the Quranic theme of divine judgment, where spatial orientation (left versus right) serves as a metaphor for spiritual destiny and moral standing.