Arabic vocabulary
جَهْلٌignorance in Arabic
جَهْلٌ is how you say “ignorance” in Arabic. Hear it pronounced and see it used in real example sentences from classical texts below.
Root ج ه ل (j-h-l)noun (verbal noun / maṣdar)Pronounced jahl
Meaning of ignorance in Arabic
- ignorance; lack of knowledge — The direct opposite of عِلْم (ʿilm, 'knowledge'). Classed as either simple (no knowledge of a thing) or compound (a false belief held as certain).
- foolish, silly, or wrongful conduct — Extended from the verb جَهِلَ used of acting rashly, foolishly, or wrongly toward someone, not just of lacking information.
جَهْل is the standard opposite of عِلْم ('knowledge'): it covers both a plain lack of knowledge and a false belief held with confidence. Classical usage widens it to foolish, reckless, or wrongful behavior, as in جَهِلَ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ, 'he acted foolishly/wrongly toward another.' Its adjective feeds الجَاهِلِيَّةُ, the term for the pre-Islamic 'Age of Ignorance.'
Words from the same root
- جَهِلَto be ignorant; not to know (form I verb)
- جَاهِلٌan ignorant person; one who acts foolishly or wrongly
- الجَاهِلِيَّةُthe Age of Ignorance, the pre-Islamic era
- جَاهِلِىٌّpagan; a pre-Islamic (pagan) poet
- تجاهلto feign ignorance (form VI)
- جهّلto call someone ignorant; to attribute ignorance to him (form II)
- مَجْهَلَةٌa thing that incites one to foolish or ignorant conduct
- مَجْهَلٌa trackless desert; land with no waymarks
Common questions
- How do you say "ignorance" in Arabic?
- جَهْلٌ (jahl).
- What does الجَاهِلِيَّةُ mean?
- It is 'the Age of Ignorance' — the term for the pre-Islamic era, built from the same root as جَهْل ('ignorance').
Definitions synthesised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).
Example sentences
فَأقر لَهُ بِالْجَهْلِ فِي علمه، والآفات فِي عمله، والعيوب فِي نَفسه، والتفريط فِي حَقه، وَالظُّلم فِي مُعَامَلَته
So he acknowledges his ignorance in his knowledge, the flaws in his actions, the defects in his self, his negligence in his duty, and the injustice in his dealings.
بِالْجَهْلِ — with the ignorance. bi- = 'with' (marks what is admitted); al- = 'the'; jahl means 'ignorance' — 'acknowledged… his ignorance'.
From: Returning to God →وإن غرست شَجَرَة الجهل والهوى كان الثمر مرًّا
If the tree of ignorance and desire is planted, the fruit will be bitter.
الجَهْلِ — of ignorance. al- = 'the'; jahl means 'ignorance' — the 'of…' word: 'of ignorance'.
From: Knowledge, Reverence, Obedience →
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