sh-m-l

Description

The Arabic root ش-م-ل (sh-m-l) carries the core semantic meaning of encompassing, gathering together, or pertaining to the left side. In the Quran, it appears primarily in two contexts: directional references to the left (often contrasted with the right in descriptions of resurrection or judgment), and the concept of comprehensive inclusion or containment. The left-side references carry theological significance, as the right is typically associated with blessing and favor, while the left often represents those who are distant from divine grace, though the root's broader sense of encompassing also reflects divine knowledge that contains all things.