sh-h-r

Description

The Arabic root شهر (sh-h-r) carries the core meaning of appearing, being well-known, or making manifest, which extends to the concept of a month as a visible, clearly defined period of time marked by the phases of the moon. In the Quran, this root appears primarily in contexts related to lunar months, particularly emphasizing the sacred months, months of Hajj pilgrimage, prescribed waiting periods, and the month of Ramadan. The connection between visibility and time measurement reflects the Islamic lunar calendar's basis in observable celestial phenomena, making months both a practical marker for religious obligations and a symbol of divine order in creation.