زجو

Core meaning

To push gently and steadily forward: the vessel on the sea, the clouds in the sky; hence what one moves along only with difficulty, for lack of worth.

Uses

1. يُزْجِى → "to make glide" : the continuous movement God gives to the vessel and to the clouds.

   • «رَّبُّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُزْجِى لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ» — "Your Guardian is the One who makes the vessel glide for you on the sea" (17:66)
   • «أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزْجِى سَحَابًۭا» — "Have you not seen that God makes the clouds glide" (24:43)

2. مُزْجَاة → "of little value" : what has to be pushed to get it through: merchandise worth almost nothing.

   • «وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَٰعَةٍۢ مُّزْجَىٰةٍۢ» — "we have come with merchandise of little value" (12:88)

Evidence from the text

In 17:66 and 24:43, God is the subject and the movement does not stop: the vessel moves on the sea "so that you may seek His favor" (17:66); the clouds glide likewise, and He "then joins them together, then makes them into a mass" (24:43).

In 12:88, the brothers of Youssof, touched by harm, bring merchandise that only gets through by being pushed: it is worth so little that they at once ask "so give us the measure faithfully" (12:88).

Distinctions

• سوق — to drive, to lead: to make move toward a goal, whereas زجو makes glide with a gentle, continuous movement

See also

فلك (the vessel) · سحب (the clouds)