N.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Hughes, Thomas Patrick
NŪN (نون). The letter N ن, which occurs at the commencement of the LXVIIIth Sūrah of the Qurʾān. The meaning of which is acknowledged by all commentators to be a mystery.
Al-Baiẓāwī says it is supposed that nūn either means an inkstand, referring to the pen of the first verse, or a fish, referring to that which swallowed Jonah mentioned in the 48th verse of this Sūrah, but he thinks it is merely an initial letter, the meaning of which is unknown to mortal man.
NUPTIAL FEAST. [WALIMAH, MARRIAGE.]
AN-NUQABĀʾ (النقباء), the pl. of Naqīb. “The Watchmen.” According to the Ṣūfīs, they are three hundred persons who are ever to be found in the world, and who are engaged in its enlightenment. (See Kitābu ʾt-Taʿrīfāt, in loco.) [ABDAL.]
NUQŪʿU ʾZ-ZABĪB (نقوع الزبيب). “Infusion of raisins.” Water in which raisins are steeped until it becomes sweet and is affected in its substance. It is a prohibited liquor. (Hamilton’s Hidāyah, vol. iv. p. 159.)
AN-NŪR (النور). “The Light.” One of the ninety-nine names or attributes of God. It occurs in the Qurʾān, Sūrah xxiv. 35:—
“God is the Light of the Heavens and of the Earth. His Light is like a niche in which is a lamp—the lamp encased in glass—the glass, as it were, a glistening star. From a blessed tree is it lighted, the olive neither of the East nor the West, whose oil would well nigh shine out, even though fire touched it not! It is light upon light. God guideth whom He will to His light, and God setteth forth parables to men, for God Knoweth all things.”
NŪR-I-MUḤAMMADĪ (نور محمدى). Persian for “The Light of Muḥammad.” The original essence of Muḥammad, known in Arabic as the Haqīqatu ʾl-Muḥammadīyah, under which title the subject is discussed in this dictionary. [HAQIQATU ʾL-MUHAMMADIYAH.]
NŪRU ʾL-ANWĀR (نور الانوار). “The Light of Lights.” A title given to the Divine Being. (See ʿAbdu ʾr-Razzāq’s Dict. of Ṣūfī Terms.)
NUZŪL (نزول). “Descent.” (1) The portions of the Qurʾān as they were declared by Muḥammad to have descended from heaven by the hand of Gabriel.
(2) Property which falls to the state from default of heir, or which has been confiscated.