The triliteral root "Ayn Shiin Ra" (ع ش ر)

[Orange]

Peace be on you dear Joseph,

The subject root of the word "Ashara" has been translated as

2:34 "ten"
2:60 "twelve"
9:36 "twelve"
12:4 "eleven"
74:30 "nineteen"

And when looked up in the Lane's lexicon [1]:

Ayn-Shiin-Ra = to take away a tenth part, make ten by adding one to nine, be the tenth. ashrun/asharun (f.), asharatun/ashratun (m.): ten, decade, period from three to ten. After twenty there is no difference between feminine and masculine. ashara - to consort, live with, cultivate one's society, become familiar. ashirun - companion, ashiratun - kindred, ma'sharun - company, race, multitude, who live in close communion with (pl. ashair).

ashir n.m. 22:13

ashirah n.f. 9:24, 26:214, 58:22

ashr n.m. (num. f. asharah) 2:196, 2:234, 5:89, 6:160, 7:142, 11:13, 20:103, 28:27, 89:2

ishar n.f. (pl. of ushra) 81:4

ishrun n.m. num. 8:65

ma'shar n.m. 6:128, 6:130, 55:33

mi'shar n.m. num. 34:45

ashara vb. (3) impv. 4:19


In your opinion, is it appropriate to use "Ayn Shiin Ra: ten" as "eleven", "twelve", "nineteen" as translated in various translations [2]?


[1] Lane's Lexicon, Volume 5, pages: 335, 336, 337, 338
[2] http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.ahmedali/2:60

[Joseph Islam]

Dear Orange,

May peace be with you.

The noun 'ashr' / 'ashara' in Arabic simply means ten.

If for example, I want to say twelve in Arabic, I will say 'Ithna-Ashar(a)' together where 'ithna' denotes (2) i.e. 2+10. If I want to say 19 in Arabic, I would say 'Tis'ata-Ashar(a)' together where 'tis'ata denotes 9 or on its own 9=Tis'ah. i.e. 9+10.

You will see this in any introduction to Arabic numbers.

So when you say in verse 2:60 ashara (10) is translated as 12, this is incorrect. The word used is 'ithnata-ashar(a)' together which means 2+10=12. Similarly, verse 74:30 says 'tis'ata-ashar(a)' (9+10) together denoting 19 and not 'ashara' on its own.

Here is a count of 1-20 where you can see how singular numbers are added to '10' to make double digits in Arabic.

• Wahed
• Ithnan
• Talata
• Arba'a
• Khamsa
• Sitta
• Sab'a
• Tamanya
• Tis'ah
• Ashara
• Ahad-Ashar(a)
• Ithna-Ashar(a)
• Talathata-Ashar(a)
• Arbata-Ashar(a)
• Khamasta-Ashar(a)
• Sittata-Ashar(a)
• Sabata-Ashar(a)
• Tamanyata-Ashar(a)
• Tis'ata-Ashar(a)
• Asharun

To help you with the pronunciation, please see video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJWAQDdEPpo

I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.

[Wakas]

salaam Ornage,

Just a clarification to say you did not quote Lane's Lexicon, you actually quoted 'project root list' (PRL).

PRL is not equivalent to lane's lexicon, please see it's homepage: http://www.studyquran.co.uk/PRLonline.htm

[Orange]

May peace be on you dear Waqas,

On the link you have provided there is an:
 
Offline version of Project Root List: concordance, grammar, dictionary in one (simple program, small ZIP file)
http://ompldr.org/vODZzdA

The above program file contains the reference with each root from Lane's Lexicon. I have mentioned the same here .

Regards



Dear brother Joseph,

Thank you for clarification.

Peace.
 


 

[Wakas]

From PRL homepage:

Aim: To list ALL the roots used in Al Quran, including possible meanings (from SEVERAL Classical Arabic dictionaries/lexicons)....

Classical Arabic dictionaries used: Al-Mufradaat fi Ghariib al-Qur'aan, Lisaan al-Arab, Taaj al-Aruus min Jawaahir al-Qaamuus, The Arabic English Lexicon by E.W Lane.

UPDATE BY QM FORUM MODERATOR

13th March 2013

This thread is now closed and a direct link to this post is now available at the dedicated Q&A page.

http://quransmessage.com/articles/q&as%20FM3.htm

Thanks.