عصف

Core meaning

To tear away and scatter with force: the wind that carries everything off, and the husk that threshing tears from the grain.

Uses

1. عَاصِف, عَاصِفَة → "violent", "raging", "stormy" : the wind that carries off and scatters.

   • «جَآءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌۭ» — "a violent wind comes upon it" (10:22)
   • «وَلِسُلَيْمَٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةًۭ» — "And to Sulayman, the raging wind" (21:81)
   • «فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍۢ» — "on a stormy day" (14:18)

2. ٱلْعَٰصِفَٰت, عَصْفًا → "those scattering violently" : the gesture itself, in an oath.

   • «فَٱلْعَٰصِفَٰتِ عَصْفًۭا» — "and those scattering violently" (77:2)

3. ٱلْعَصْف → "the husk" : what threshing detaches from the grain and the wind carries off.

   • «وَٱلْحَبُّ ذُو ٱلْعَصْفِ وَٱلرَّيْحَانُ» — "the grain with its husk, and the fragrant plant" (55:12)
   • «فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍۢ مَّأْكُولٍۭ» — "And did He not reduce them to the state of eaten husk" (105:5)

Evidence from the text

The uses are divided between the agent and the result of one gesture. The wind is عَاصِف when it rises upon the vessel (10:22), when it whips the ashes of the works of those who disown, "on a stormy day" (14:18), when it runs by Sulayman's command (21:81). The husk is ٱلْعَصْف: what comes off the grain and flies away (55:12).

In 105:5, the image goes to its end: those who came with their scheme are reduced to eaten husk, what remains when the grain has been taken and the husk is empty.

Distinctions

• روح — the wind (رِيح): moving air, whereas عصف names its tearing force

See also

حبب (the grain)