Translating "hanif"

The triliteral root "ح-ن-ف" (H-N-F)

The triliteral root of the Arabic word "Hanif" (حنيف) is "H-N-F" (ح-ن-ف). In Arabic, triliteral roots consist of three consonant letters that form the foundation of words and convey a basic meaning from which various derived words are formed.

The root "H-N-F" has a basic meaning of "inclining" or "leaning." From this root, several words are derived, each with its own specific meaning. Here are a few examples:

Hanif (حنيف): This is the noun form derived from the root. It's usually translated as "monotheist".

Ihtinaf (احتناف): This is a derived verb that means "to incline towards" or "to lean towards."

Nahf (نحف): This is a derived noun that means "inclination" or "leaning."

Unhuf (أنحوف): This is another derived noun that means "bent" or "inclined."

Another way of understanding this term

It is clear to me that the term "hanif" has nothing to do with monotheism, rather it refers to someone who follows their natural inclinations.

This resonates me with intuition, intuition is a natural inclination that is not bounded to our appetites. It is intuitive that stealing is bad while our appetites can tell us that it is exciting or that we really wanted that object or money.

Thus, I'll translate the term "hanif" as "intuitive", referring to those who turn into their intuition as their chief source of knowledge and guidance.

This is a powerful message for us to not rely too much on our reason, which is susceptible to the phenomena of rationalisation (in which untrue propositions are forced to make sense because we find ways to justify them), indoctrination and just miscalculations.

Reason and logic are incredibly capable tools of giving us knowledge and solutions but God instruct us to imitate Abraham in his intuitiveness (note that Abraham used reason and logic flawlessly, he still preferred his intuition as a guide).

Mentions of the term in The Recitation

First, I translated all the verses in this entry. Let's check if my idea works... The term "hanifan" is mentioned 12 times in The Recitation:

Abraham was not Jewish nor Christian. Rather, he was an intuitive submitter and he was not from the associators.

- Recitation 3:67

Say: Indeed my Lord has guided me to a streight path, an established judgement; the religion of Abraham, intuitive, and he was not from the polytheists.

 - Recitation 6:161

Then We revealed to you that you follow the religion of Abraham, intuitive, he was not of the associators.

- Recitation 16:123

Being inclined to God, not associating with Him. And whoever associates with God then it is as though he had fallen from the sky and the birds snatched him or the wind blew him to a place far off.

- Recitation 22:32

Note that in the last verse I translated as "inclined" rather than "intuitive" because of the grammatical context. It is representing the same thing, both terms talk about the same thing.

Conclusion

This is the end of my insight on this term, I hope you found it interesting, reflected and increase in wisdom.

Please comment anything so I may grow too.

See you, God willing!