Degrees of Hunger in the Qur’an: Linguistic Precision and Meaning
The Qur’an does not use words randomly. Each term is selected with remarkable precision
to reflect exact physical, psychological, and social meanings. This precision becomes
especially clear in the Qur’anic vocabulary used to describe hunger,
where different words reflect different degrees, contexts, and impacts.
(جوع / Jū‘) 1) Hunger
﴿ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍ ﴾
“Who has fed them against hunger and made them safe from fear.” (Qur’an 106:4)
The word جوع comes from the root ج و ع,
which refers to the basic state of hunger or an empty stomach. In the Qur’an, it often
appears in contexts of divine provision and relief.
This is the most general term for hunger and does not necessarily imply extreme starvation.
It represents the baseline condition of needing food.
(مَخْمَصَة / Makhmaṣah) 2) Severe Hunger and Necessity
﴿ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ ﴾
“But whoever is forced by severe hunger, without inclination to sin…” (Qur’an 5:3)
The word مخمصة comes from the root خ م ص,
meaning the shrinking or hollowing of the stomach due to hunger.
In Qur’anic usage, makhmaṣah refers to a critical level of hunger that reaches
necessity. This is not ordinary hunger, but one that places a person under extreme
pressure and hardship, enough to affect legal and ethical rulings.
(مَسْغَبَة / Masghabah) 3) A Day of Harsh Hunger
﴿ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ ﴾
“Or feeding on a day of severe hunger.” (Qur’an 90:14)
The term مَسْغَبَة derives from the root
س غ ب, which denotes hunger accompanied by exhaustion, hardship,
and physical strain.
The Qur’an’s use of the phrase “a day of masghabah” indicates that hunger here
is not limited to individuals, but affects the wider community. It reflects a time of
widespread hardship, where acts of charity—especially feeding others—carry immense moral
weight.
سَغَب (Saghb) 4) Related Concept
The word سغب is closely related toمسغبة. It describes hunger combined with fatigue\and difficulty.
While saghb may refer to hardship in general, masghabah intensifies the meaning by tying it to a specific time marked by extreme deprivation.
Summary of Qur’anic Terms
| Term | Arabic | Intensity | Context | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunger | جوع | General | Provision | Basic hunger |
| Severe hunger | مخمصة | High | Necessity | Critical hunger forcing hardship |
| Harsh hunger | مسغبة | Very high | Social hardship | Hunger with exhaustion and deprivation |
| Related | سغب | High | Difficulty | Hunger mixed with fatigue |
Conclusion
The Qur’an’s vocabulary demonstrates that hunger is not a single, flat experience.
Through precise word choice, it distinguishes between ordinary hunger, desperate necessity,
and widespread social hardship. This linguistic depth reinforces the Qur’an’s moral message:
compassion, charity, and care for others become even more meaningful in times of severe need.
