The Polysemy of the Root "NDR" in the Holy Qur'an; a Linguistic Analysis of the Root Convergence between "Nadr" and "Indār"

The root "N D R" has played an effective role in the construction of some key concepts in the Holy Qur'an . For example , "Nadr" , a derivative of the root "N D R" , is considered as a religious concept which refers to a special ritual practice . On the other hand , there is a range of Arabic words such as "Indār" , "Mundir" and "Nadīr" which convey the meaning of fear and horror . The most lexicographers and exegetes of the Holy Qur'an have merely mentioned these seemingly irrelevant meanings of the root "N D R" and have remained silent about the occurrence of polysemy and homonymy . Based on the view that the study of the historical background of vocabularies through etymology is an effective method for distinguishing polysemy from homonymy , this essay etymologizes the root "N D R" and proves the root convergence between "Nadr" and "Indār" . This study illustrates that "Nadr" in the context of the Holy Qur'an refers to a special ritual which is performed in order to protect a person from fears and threats.