هذا

Core meaning

Proximal demonstrative, masculine singular: it points to what is there, present or just mentioned.

Uses

1. هَٰذَا + noun → "this" : before a definite noun, it marks it as present.

   • «لَن نُّؤْمِنَ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ» — "We will never believe in this Recitation" (34:31)
   • «وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ» — "with whoever denies this discourse" (68:44)

2. وَهَٰذَا, فَهَٰذَا at the head → "here is", "this is" : it presents what is before one's eyes.

   • «وَهَٰذَا كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ مُبَارَكٌۭ» — "And here is a Scripture We have sent down, blessed" (6:92)
   • «فَهَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْبَعْثِ» — "so this is the Day of Raising" (30:56)

3. لِهَٰذَا, بِهَٰذَا → "this" : on its own, it takes up a thing or a word just mentioned.

   • «ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَٰذَا» — "who guided us to this" (7:43)
   • «إِنْ عِندَكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍۭ بِهَٰذَآ» — "You have no authority for this" (10:68)

4. أَهَٰذَا → "this one" : said of a person present, often with contempt.

   • «أَهَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَذْكُرُ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ» — "Is this the one who mentions your deities?" (21:36)

Evidence from the text

In every use, هَٰذَا points to what is within reach: the Recitation being recited (34:31), the Scripture being presented (6:92), the Day one stands in (30:56), the man before one's eyes (21:36). On its own, it takes up what has just been said or shown (7:43, 10:68, 28:36). The translation renders it "this", "here is"; "that" with a recalling value usually belongs to the distal demonstrative.