I noticed that some of the word meanings changed after the update. For example. The word that previously meant “to fear (Allah)”, now the meaning is “they protected themselves”. When i click on “more information” it shows in the ayah, the old meaning.
I’ve seen this too. I speculate it could be the root word’s meaning of just the general meaning of the word, although it makes it a bit more confusing
Assalaamu Alaikum @Fatimah_Mohamed @Shayaan
Yes, that’s a great observation, and it’s actually a really important point when learning Qur’anic words. The word اتَّقَى doesn’t literally mean “to fear” in the everyday sense. It comes from a root that means to protect or shield oneself. So the real idea behind اتَّقَى is taking careful steps to protect yourself from what harms you—especially from anything that displeases Allah.
So yes, fear is part of it but not the whole picture. It’s really about being aware of Allah, loving Him, fearing to disobey Him, and wanting to stay safe from His displeasure. Think of it like walking carefully on a path full of thorns—you’re being cautious out of love and respect for Allah, and out of fear of doing wrong. That’s taqwa.
So when you see a translation/meaning shift from “they feared Allah” to “they protected themselves,” it’s actually moving closer to the original Arabic meaning. It’s not wrong, just deeper. Both fear and love are wrapped into that sense of protection.
When understanding words in the Qur’an, there are true meanings and interpretive meanings. Interpretive meanings are widely used, but often leave out the full depth of the original word. Both literal and interpretive translations involve major complexities and careful considerations. While not incorrect, something essential is lost. (Nonetheless, may Allah bless and accept from anyone who translated or shared Allah’s Glorious Book.)
That’s where the explanation section really helps and completes your understanding when you notice a difference between a translation and the true meaning (see below).
We’re also working on improving consistency across meanings—so long as the context stays accurate and clear.
Hope this clarifies your concerns.
May Allah increase you in beneficial knowledge and understanding. Eid Mubarak!
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