sh-y-'

Description

The Arabic root ش-ي-ع (sh-y-ʿ) carries the core meaning of following, spreading, or forming groups that share common beliefs or practices. In the Quran, it predominantly refers to sects, factions, or parties of people who divide themselves based on differing ideologies or follow particular leaders, often with a negative connotation of causing disunity among believers. The root also encompasses the concept of publicizing or spreading information, as well as identifying with or supporting a particular group or ideology, exemplified in phrases describing followers or partisans of prophets and their opponents.