ذنب

Core meaning

What trails behind: the act that stays attached to its author and follows him. Hence the offense, a grievance hanging toward God or toward a third party, and the share of consequence that falls to each.

Uses

1. ذَنۢب, ذُنُوب → "offense", "offenses" : the act committed toward an injured party, which remains until it is forgiven or punished.

   • «وَلَهُمْ عَلَىَّ ذَنۢبٌۭ» — "They hold an offense against me" (26:14)
   • «فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا» — "forgive us, then, our offenses" (3:16)
   • «فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ» — "God then seized them for their offenses" (3:11)

2. ذَنُوب → "share" : the share of consequence that follows deeds, like that of those who went before.

   • «ذَنُوبًۭا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَٰبِهِمْ» — "a share like the share of their companions" (51:59)

Evidence from the text

The offense is always turned toward someone. Moussa says it of a killing committed against Fir'awn's people: "They hold an offense against me, and I fear they will kill me" (26:14). It is a grievance others hold, not an inner stain. Toward God, it is forgiven (3:135, 39:53) or paid for: the peoples before are seized and annihilated for their offenses (3:11, 6:6, 29:40).

The offense follows its author to the Day: it is acknowledged (40:11, 67:11), forgiveness is asked for it (12:97, 47:19), and the girl buried alive will be asked "for what offense she was killed" (81:9), the question accusing the one who buried her. In 51:59, the word names the share that falls to those who did wrong, "a share like the share of their companions" (51:59): what follows deeds, as the tail follows the body.

Distinctions

• اثم — the failing that weighs: the breach of the set frame, whereas the offense is a grievance toward a party
• جرم — rupture: whoever cuts the bond is severed by it, whereas the offense stays attached to the one wronged
• ظلم — wrongdoing: the act that deprives of one's due, whereas the offense is what of it stays attached to the author

See also

غفر (to forgive)