لولو

Core meaning

The pearl: the jewel drawn from the sea, image of what is precious and kept intact.

Uses

1. لُؤْلُؤ (adornment) → "pearls" : adornment joined to gold in the gardens.

   • «مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍۢ وَلُؤْلُؤًۭا» — "with bracelets of gold and pearls" (22:23)

2. ٱللُّؤْلُؤ (origin) → "the pearl" : what the two seas produce.

   • «يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا ٱللُّؤْلُؤُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ» — "From them both are brought forth the pearl and the coral" (55:22)

3. لُؤْلُؤ مَكْنُون (comparison) → "well-sheltered pearl" : the preserved worth of those compared to it.

   • «كَأَنَّهُمْ لُؤْلُؤٌۭ مَّكْنُونٌۭ» — "like well-sheltered pearls" (52:24)
   • «كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ» — "like well-sheltered pearls" (56:23)

Evidence from the text

The pearl is first a fruit of the sea: "From them both are brought forth the pearl and the coral" (55:22). In the gardens, it is adornment with gold (22:23, 35:33). In comparison, it says the worth of what is kept: young boys "like well-sheltered pearls" (52:24), and companions likened to the same (56:23).

See also

كنن (the shelter that keeps the pearl intact) · مرج (the coral and the two seas)