46 instances of zayyana including its derived forms in the Quran as shown in the table below are reviewed to better understand their meaning in different contexts that upon reviewing the messages in different contexts may help us to find and stay in the path of God disregarding an evil what the Satan has made fair-seeming to us as well as an adornment of the earth for it to test us to find what is best in deed for us to succeed in the Hereafter:
| Form | Instances | Arabic text | Literal meanings | No of occurrences | Grammatical form |
| 1 | zayyana | زَيَّنَ | to make fair-seeming | 26 | Verb form II |
| 2 | izzayyanat | ٱزَّيَّنَتْ | to beautify | 1 | Verb form V |
| 3 | zeenat | زِينَة | adornment | 19 | Noun |
Note: The above table is populated with the data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Instances of zayyana
There are 26 instances of zayyana (زَيَّنَ) in the verb II form in the Quran literally mean “to make fair-seeming” while we know that an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on the contexts, which is a key concept to interpret the message coded in the Arabic text of the Quran. Here are the details of these instances found in 26 verses across 20 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts:
[2:212] There has been beautified (zuyyina) for those who have disbelieved is the life of the world, and they ridicule those who have believed. And those who have feared (God) will be above of them on a Day of the Resurrection. And God provides for whomever He wills, without reckoning.
[3:14] There has been adorned (zuyyina) for mankind is love of the women and the children, and the heaps of the stored of the gold and the silver, the horses of the branded and the cattle, and the cultivated land. That is provision of the life of the world, while God with Him is an excellent place to return.
[6:43] Why not then when our punishment has come to them they have become humbled? But their hearts has come hardened, while the Satan has made fair-seeming (zayyana) to them what they have done to do.
[6:108] And you do not insult those whom they call other than God, lest they may insult God in enmity having no knowledge. Thus that we have adorned for every community of their deed (kadhaalika zayyannaa likulli ummatin `amalahum). Then to their Lord is their return, that He will inform them of what they have done to do.
[6:122] And is one whoever has been dead, then we have given him life, and have made for him light to walk with it among the people, like whoever similar to him is in the darkness has not come out from it? Thus that there has been made fair-seeming (zuyyina) for the disbelievers what they have done to do.
[6:137] Thus that there has made fair-seeming (zayyana) to many of the idol worshipers killing of their children from their partners that they may ruin them and that they may make confused their religion for them. And if God had willed, they would not have done it. So you shall disregard them and what they invent.
[8:48] And when the Satan has made fair-seeming (zayyana) their deeds to them, and he said, “There is no defeat for you from the people today, and indeed me, I am on a side for you.” Then when the two armies had come in sight, he turned back on his heels and he said, “Indeed me, I am free from you. Indeed me, I see what you do not see. Indeed me, I fear God, and God is severe in the punishment.”
[9:37] The postponing (of the sacred months) is only an increase in the disbelief, is led astray those who have disbelieved with it. They make it lawful one year and make it unlawful another year to adjust a number (of months), which God has made unlawful; thus, they make lawful what God has made unlawful. There has been made fair-seeming (zuyyina) an evil of their deeds for them, while God does not guide the disbelieving people.
Note: Here is a reference to the altering of the sacred months is a disbelief, which leads us to astray.
[10:12] And when the adversity had befallen the human being, he has implored us lying on his side, or sitting, or standing up; then when we have relieved his adversity from him, he has passed on as if he does not call us for an adversity had befallen him. Thus that there has been made fair-seeming (zuyyina) to the extravagant what they had done to commit.
[13:33] Is then He Whoever – He is a Maintainer for every soul of what it has earned, While they have made partners for God? Say, “Name them or you may inform Him of what He does not know in the earth or of being apparent from any of the utterances?” Nay, there has been made fair-seeming (zuyyina) of their plotting to those who have disbelieved, and they have been prevented from the path (of God). And whomever God lets go astray, then there is no guide for him.
[15:16] And we have placed constellations in the heaven and we have beautified it (wa-zayyannaahaa) for the observers.
[15:39] He (Satan) said, “My Lord, because of whom You have sent me astray, surely, I will make fair-seeming (la’uzayyinanna) to them in the earth, and surely, I will send them astray all.
[16:63] By God that certainly, we had sent (messengers) to communities from before of you (Muhammad), that the Satan had made fair seeming (zayyana) their deeds to them. So, he is their ally today and for them there is a painful punishment.
[27:24] And I (king Sulaiman) found her (Queen Sheba) and her people to prostrate to the sun other than God, and the Satan has made fair-seeming (zayyana) their deeds to them, thus has diverted them from the path (of God); so they are not guided.
[29:38] And Aad and Thamud, and certainly there has become clear to you from (a destruction of) their dwellings. And the Satan had made fair-seeming (zayyana) their deeds to them, and had diverted them from the path (of God), while they had been sight.
[35:8] Is he then who has been made fair seeming (zuyyina) to him an evil of his deeds, then he sees it good? Then indeed, God lets go astray whomever He wills and guides whomever He wills. So, let not go out your (prophet) soul for them in regrets. Indeed, God is Knower of what they do.
[37:6] Indeed, we have adorned (zayyannaa) the lowest heaven with an adornment of the stars.
[40:37] (Pharaoh said,) “There are ways to the heavens, so I may look at god of Moses, and indeed, I surely think him to be a liar.” And thus that there has been made fair-seeming (zuyyina) an evil of his deed to Pharaoh, and has been diverted from the path (of God). And Pharaoh’s plot was not except in ruin.
[41:12] Then He has completed seven heavens in two days, and has inspired to every heaven its affair. And we have adorned (wa-zayyannaa) the lowest heaven with lamps and guards. That is a decree of the Almighty, the Knower.
[41:25] And we have assigned for them companions that there has made fair seeming for them (fa-zayyanuu lahum) what was before of them and what was behind of them, and has justified the punishment against them in communities certainly has passed away from before of them of the jinns and the humans. Indeed, they had been losers.
[47:14] Is then whoever has been on a clear proof from his Lord like who has been made fair seeming for him (ka’man zuyyina lahu) an evil of his deeds, while they have followed their desires?
[48:12] Nay, you had thought that the messenger and the believers would never return to their families ever, and there has been made fair-seeming that in your hearts (wa-zuyyina dhaalika fee quluubikum). And you had assumed an evil assumption and you had become a ruined people.
[49:7] And you shall know that a messenger of God is among you. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, surely, you would have been in difficulty, but God has endeared the faith to you and has adorned it (wa-zayyanahu) in your hearts, and has made hateful the disbelief to you, and the defiance, and the disobedience. Those – they are the guided ones.
[50:6] Do then they not look at the sky above them, and how we have constructed it and have adorned it (wa-zayyannaahaa), and there are no flaws to it?
[67:5] And that certainly, we have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps (zayyannaa al-samaa-a bi-masaabeehaa), and have placed in it projectiles against the devils; and we have prepared for them a punishment of the Blaze.
Instance of izzayyanat
Here is details of an instance of izzayyanat (ٱزَّيَّنَتْ) in the verb form V in the Quran literally mean “to beautify” to better understand its meaning:
[10:24] Indeed, an analogy of the life of the world is like a water we send down it from the sky, then has absorbed of it plants of the earth from which eat the people and the animals, until when has taken the earth of its beauty and has beautified (wa-izzayyanat), and has thought the people that they are powerful over it; there has come to it our command by night or by day, then we have made it a harvest mown field as if not to flourish yesterday. Thus that we explain the revelations for a people to reflect.
Instances of zeenat
There are 19 instances of zeenat (زِينَة) in the noun form in the Quran literally mean “adornment” while we know that an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on the contexts, which is a key concept to interpret the message coded in the Arabic text of the Quran. Here are the details of 19 instances of zeenat found in 16 verses across 11 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts:
[7:31] O Children of Adam, you shall have your dressing up (zeenatakum) at every masjid, and shall eat and drink but do not be extravagant. Indeed, He does not love the extravagant ones.
[7:32] Say, “Who has forbidden an adornment (zeenat) from God, which He has made for His servants and the good things of the provision?” Say, “They are for those who have believed during the life of the world being exclusive on a day of the Resurrection. Thus that we explain the revelations for a people to know.
[10:88] And Moses said, “Our Lord, You have given Pharaoh and his advisors luxury (zeenatan) and wealth in the life of the world. Our Lord, that they may mislead from Your path. Our Lord, destroy of their wealth, and harden of their hearts that they do not believe until they see the painful punishment.”
[11:15] Whoever has done to desire the life of the world and its adornment (wa-zeenatahaa), we pay to them for their deeds in it, while in it they are not lessened.
[16:8] And (He creates) the horses, and the mules, and the donkeys that you can ride them, and as an adornment (wa-zeenatan) as well as He creates what you do not know.
[18:7] Indeed, we have made what is on the earth as an adornment (zeenatan) for it that we may test them which of them is best in deed.
[18:28] And you (prophet) shall be patient – yourself along with those who call their Lord in the morning and the evening desiring of His blessing. And let not pass beyond of your eyes over them desiring an adornment (zeenata) of the life of the world, nor do you obey whom we have made heedless of his heart from our remembrance and has followed his desire and has done his affair in excess.
[18:46] The wealth and the children are adornment (zeenatu) of the life of the world, while the enduring righteous deeds are better at your Lord for reward and better for hope.
[20:59] He said, “Your appointment is on a day of the festival (al-zeenati), and that the people will be gathered at forenoon.”
[20:87] They said, “We did not break our promise to you (Moses) at our will. But we had been made to carry burdens of ornament (zeenati) of the people, so we threw it. Thus that the Samarian had thrown.”
[24:31] And say (prophet) to the believing women to lower of their gazes, and to guard their chastity, and they are not to display their adornment (zeenatahunna) except what has been apparent of it. And that they cover over their chests with their clothes, and they are not to display their adornment (zeenatahunna) except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or sons of their brothers, or sons of their sisters, or their women, or what has possessed their right hands, or the attendants without having sexual desire among the male, or the children those who do not aware of private aspects of the women. And they do not strike of their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment (zeenatihinna). And you shall turn to God, O you the believers that you may succeed.
Note: Here is a reference for the believing women how much they will cover of their bodies except in the presence of their own family members that they avoid any show offs and mispresentation.
[24:60] The women from the postmenopause who do not desire for marriage, then there has not been any blame upon them that they may put aside of their garments without displaying of an adornment (bi-zeenatin). And that they maintain modesty is better for them. And God is Hearer, Knower.
Note: Here is a reference to the covering of the elderly women who will maintain their modesty.
[28:60] And whatever of a thing you have been given is an enjoyment of the life of the world and its adornment (wa-zeenatuhaa). And what is with God is better and everlasting. Do you not then understand?
[28:79] Then he had gone to his people with his adornment (zeenatihi). Those who desire for the life of the world said, “O there would be for us like what has been given to Qarun. Indeed, he is an owner of a great fortune.”
[33:28] O prophet, say to your wives, “If you have done to desire for the life of the world and its adornment (wa-zeenatahaa), then come, I will provide for you and will release you a good release.
[37:6] Indeed, we have adorned the lowest heaven with an adornment (bi-zeenatin) of the stars.
[57:20] You shall know that the life of the world is a play, and an amusement, and an adornment (wa-zeenatun); and boasting among you and competition in increase of the wealth and the children like an example of a rain, it has pleased the tillers of its growth, then it dries, while you see it turning yellow, then it becomes debris. And in the Hereafter there is a severe punishment and forgiveness from God and pleasure, while the life of the world is not but an enjoyment of the delusion.
Conclusion
This review with the instances of zayyana meaning “to make fair-seeming or to adorn” and its derived forms may help us to understand that the Satan has made fair-seeming an evil deed to us to make us losers that we can avoid it, even it may be difficult for many of us for following the forefathers blindly, while we can avoid an adornment of the earth, which may be a test for us that we may know what is best in deed. God wants the believing men and women to lead their lives giving priority to the Hereafter to be successful therein, while the adornment of the life of the world is nothing but an delusion being it boasting among ourselves and competition in increase of the wealth and the children. He has also cited examples that we can avoid an enjoyment of the life of world and that being patient we call our Lord in the morning and evening desiring of His blessing.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (01/24/2025)