Examining the Points of Similarity and Difference Between the Words Hawā and Lammah in the Holy Qur’an

Abstract

In this article, the points of similarity and difference between the two significant Qur’anic terms hawā and lammah are examined and clarified. The aim of the research is to uncover the semantic depth and functional roles of these two terms within the Qur’anic value-ethical and pedagogical system. The study employs a descriptive-analytical method, drawing on lexical sources, authoritative Qur’anic commentaries, and the extraction of relevant verses. First, the terms hawā and lammah are analyzed from both lexical and technical perspectives, after which their usages or implied references in the Qur’an are investigated. The findings indicate that hawā, in Qur’anic verses, generally refers to the inclinations and desires of the rebellious, non-rational self that lead a person away from the path of truth—such as in the verse: “Have you seen the one who takes his own desire as his god…?” (Al-Jāthiyah 45:23). However, although the word lammah does not explicitly appear in the Qur’an, it is discussed in the narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) as referring to inner promptings and the penetration of satanic or divine suggestions into the human heart; its corresponding conceptual structures can be identified within the Qur’an. The shared aspect of these two terms lies in their reference to the internal and psychological dimensions of the human being, yet their essential difference concerns their origin and function: hawā is rooted in the desires of the lower self and has a destructive and misleading nature, whereas lammah refers to a transient state involving the influence of a form of inspiration or whispering that does not necessarily coincide with carnal desires. Ultimately, analyzing the similarities and differences between these two concepts contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of inner tendencies and psychological motivations in Qur’anic pedagogy and the Islamic ethical system, thereby paving the way for offering more effective strategies for self-control and purification of the soul.