ABSTRACT
The word (I almost wish to say theory) ḥaraam is a powerful Arabic symbol, as is its twinned opposite, ḥlaal. Ḥaraam, whose triliteral root is Ḥ R M, gets this entry in Wehr's dictionary (1961):
ḤaRaaM, ḤuRuM (pl.): forbidden, interdicted, prohibited, unlawful, something forbidden, offense, sin; inviolable, taboo; sacred, sacrosanct, cursed, accursed, ibn ḤaRaaM: illegitimate son, bastard, il-bait il-ḤaRaaM: the sacred house, i.e., The Kaaba. aš-šahr al-ḤaRaam: the holy month, i.e., Muharram. al-masjid al-ḤaRaaM: the holy mosque in Mecca. ḤaRaaM 'alayk: you mustn't do (say) that. bilḤaRaaM: illicitly, illegally, unlawfully.
