Quranic root
شهو
sh · h · w
The root centers on desire: the soul's inclination toward what it wants, with related uses for the desirable quality of a thing and a person characterized by appetite.
The basic notion of desire extends to appetitive faculty, desired objects, intense or repeated longing, and things considered pleasant or appetizing. Derived forms also express causing, granting, or repeatedly demanding what is desired.
- Maqāyīs · row 2718
- Mufradāt · row 791
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 13
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
اِشْتَهَى
āishtahā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- Quran occurrences
- 8 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To desire, long for, wish for, or desire intensely.
A transitive Form VIII verb taking the desired thing as its object; in the Quran it is used for persons or souls desiring things.
- Lane · entry 39487
- Mufradāt · row 791
Selected Quran examples
Quran 21:102word 7
“desire”
Quran 41:31word 11
“desire”
شَهْوَة
shahwah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 5 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Sexual desire or lust.
In the Quranic construction involving approaching sexually, it denotes the lust motivating the act; the two supplied occurrences are 7:81 and 27:55.
- Lane · entry 39488
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:81word 4
“lustfully”
Quran 27:55word 4
“(with) lust”
A desire, passion, or appetitive inclination, especially one that is followed or pursued.
The plural form is used for passions or desires loved or followed; in 19:59 it specifically concerns false or dispensable desires.
- Lane · entry 39488
- Mufradāt · row 791
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:27word 9
“the passions”
Quran 19:59word 8
“the lusts”
Quran 3:14word 4
“(of) the (things they) desire”
A desired thing or object of desire.
In the plural, the term can denote the things desired themselves, particularly in the expressions concerning love of desires and following dispensable objects of desire.
- Lane · entry 39488
- Mufradāt · row 791
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:59word 8
“the lusts”
Quran 3:14word 4
“(of) the (things they) desire”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:14ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ(of) the (things they) desire
- 4:27ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِthe passions
- 7:81شَهْوَةًۭlustfully
- 16:57يَشْتَهُونَthey desire
- 19:59ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ ۖthe lusts
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 21 Classical meanings
شَهَا، شَهِيَ
To be good, sweet, pleasant, or appetizing.
Used especially of food and similar things.
- Lane · entry 39482
شَهَّى
To cause someone or something to be desired; to stimulate appetite or make food pleasant.
Causative usage may describe exciting desire in a person or making a thing, especially food, desirable or agreeable.
- Lane · entry 39483
شَهَّى
To promise someone what they desire or eagerly desire.
An additionally reported application of the causative verb.
- Lane · entry 39483
شَاهَاهُ
To be or become like someone; to resemble him.
- Lane · entry 39484
شَاهَاهُ
To jest or joke with someone.
- Lane · entry 39484
شَاهَاهُ، أَشْهَاهُ
To contend in, or carry out, striking someone with the evil eye.
The former is reported in a possibly reciprocal or competitive use; the latter is also reported simply for striking someone with the evil eye.
- Lane · entry 39484
- Lane · entry 39485
أَشْهَاهُ
To give someone what he desires or eagerly desires.
A Form IV causative use with the desired thing as the object granted.
- Lane · entry 39485
مَا أَشْهَاهَا، مَا أَشْهَانِي
An exclamatory expression of great desirability or strong desire.
مَا أَشْهَىهَا إِلَيَّ expresses how desirable something is to the speaker, while مَا أَشْهَانِي لَهَا expresses how desirous the speaker is of it.
- Lane · entry 39485
تَشَهَّى
To demand something with repeated or eager desire.
Used with عَلَى in the cited construction for repeatedly demanding a thing from someone.
- Lane · entry 39486
شَهْوَة
Desire, longing, or yearning of the soul for a thing; an appetitive faculty or appetite.
It is described as more intense than ordinary willing and may be a necessary bodily appetite, such as hunger, or an unnecessary craving.
- Lane · entry 39488
شَهْوَة
The gratification of carnal or venereal desire.
A specialized application concerning sexual gratification rather than desire in the abstract.
- Lane · entry 39488
الشَّهْوَةُ الخَفِيَّةُ
A latent or inward desire.
In the cited idiomatic usage, it may be an inwardly conceived and resolved disobedient impulse or an imagined desire restrained in outward conduct.
- Lane · entry 39488
شَهْوَةُ الطِّينِ
Craving for clay, used as a term for malacia.
A specialized expression for an abnormal craving.
- Lane · entry 39488
شَهْوَانُ، شَهَّاءُ
A person characterized by strong, frequent, or excessive desire; greedy or voracious.
Predicated of a person with pronounced appetite or longing.
- Lane · entry 39489
- Lane · entry 39492
شَهِيٌّ
Desired, pleasant, delicious, or sweet.
Applied especially to food and water, and thus to what is agreeable or appetizing.
- Lane · entry 39491
أَبُو الشَّهِيِّ
The barbat, or Persian lute.
A reported figurative or specialized application.
- Lane · entry 39491
شَهِيٌّ
Watermelon.
An additionally reported, possibly dialectal or figurative application attributed to a gloss of the lexicon.
- Lane · entry 39491
شَاهٍ
Desiring, longing, or eagerly desiring.
Active-participle usage.
- Lane · entry 39493
شَاهِي البَصَرِ
Sharp of sight.
A specialized expression reported as a transposed form, distinct from the ordinary desire-related active participle.
- Lane · entry 39493
أَشْهَى
More or most desirable, pleasant, delicious, or sweet.
Used comparatively, including with إِلَى to express what is more desirable to someone.
- Lane · entry 39494
مُشْتَهًى
A desired thing or object of desire.
The substantive plural مُشْتَهَيَاتٌ is also reported.
- Lane · entry 39495
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
A historical Quran citation in the lexical evidence is not converted into a modern verse key; modern examples use only independently supplied QAC locations.
Several rare applications are explicitly attributed or marked as specialized; they are retained as Classical meanings rather than treated as ordinary Quranic senses.