Quranic root
أمر
ʾ · m · r
The root centers on directing or determining—an order, command, or matter—while also preserving related branches for growth, markers, and extraordinary or grievous things.
Classical analysis distinguishes several lexical branches: أَمْرٌ as a matter or command, أَمَرَ as directing someone, and related formations for authority, consultation, abundance, signs, and wonder or severity. These branches should not be reduced to one direct meaning of every Quranic form.
- Maqāyīs · row 142
- Mufradāt · row 54
- 6
- Quran-attested forms
- 11
- Quran senses
- 248
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَمَرَ
ʾamara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 77 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 command, order, bid, or enjoin someone to do something.
Used with a direct object and with constructions such as أَمَرَهُ بِهِ, أَمَرَهُ إِيَّاهُ, أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ, or أَمَرَهُ لِيَفْعَلَ. Voice, tense, and imperative forms do not create separate senses.
- Lane · entry 7187
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
In reported variant readings or interpretations of Qur’an 17:16, to cause the inhabitants to multiply or to make them authorities.
This is a reading- and interpretation-specific Quranic branch associated with أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا; the ordinary reading and interpretation mean that the inhabitants were commanded, after which they transgressed.
- Lane · entry 7187
- Lane · entry 7190
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:16word 6
“We order”
ائْتَمَرَ
āʾtamara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- Quran occurrences
- 2 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 consult or confer together, mutually direct one another, and settle on a course of action.
In Quranic constructions with بِ, the participants may be understood as consulting one another, mutually commanding one another, or agreeing on a purpose; the surrounding matter determines the precise English rendering.
- Lane · entry 7193
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 28:20word 11
“are taking counsel”
Quran 65:6word 25
“and consult”
آمِرٌ
ʾāmirun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who commands, orders, or enjoins.
The Quranic form is plural in occurrence and is presented here under the singular active-participle citation form.
- Lane · entry 7214
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:112word 7
“those who enjoin”
إِمْرٌ
ʾimrun
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Grievous, terrible, abominable, or otherwise extraordinary.
In the Quranic expression شَيْئًا إِمْرًا, it characterizes an act or event as exceptionally grave or shocking; the lexicons record several closely related renderings.
- Lane · entry 7196
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:71word 15
“grave”
أَمْرٌ
ʾamrun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 166 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.
A matter, affair, case, state, concern, event, action, or thing at issue.
This broad nominal sense includes a person’s or community’s affairs and an event or state of affairs; the plural is أُمُورٌ.
- Lane · entry 7195
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:123word 7
“the matter”
A command, order, bidding, injunction, decree, ordinance, or prescript.
The noun can denote a directive issued to another, or the directive itself, including a prescribed course of action.
- Lane · entry 7195
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:5word 1
“A command”
God’s command, creative act, governing decree, purpose, or ordained outcome.
In divine contexts this can refer to creation and bringing into being, the execution of God’s decree, His purpose, or an ordained punishment; it is distinct from an ordinary human order.
- Lane · entry 7195
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:1word 2
“(the) command of Allah”
Authority, rule, governance, or jurisdiction; the sphere of command.
In expressions such as أُولِي الْأَمْرِ it refers to those entrusted with command or rule, with the Quranic discussion also extending the expression to qualified religious and learned authorities.
- Lane · entry 7195
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:59word 9
“(having) authority”
One’s own judgment, choice, initiative, or accord.
Especially in the construction عَنْ أَمْرِي, it indicates that an act was not performed on someone else’s command but on one’s own judgment or choice.
- Lane · entry 7195
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:82word 28
“my (own) accord”
أَمَّارَةٌ
ʾammārahun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Habitually commanding or strongly urging; an urging force.
In the Quranic phrase النَّفْسُ الأَمَّارَةُ بِالسُّوءِ, it describes the soul as persistently urging toward evil desires and conduct.
- Lane · entry 7212
- Lane · entry 7213
- Mufradāt · row 54
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:53word 6
“(is) a certain enjoiner”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:27أَمَرَhas ordered
- 2:44۞ أَتَأْمُرُونَDo you order
- 2:67يَأْمُرُكُمْcommands you
- 2:68تُؤْمَرُونَyou are commanded
- 2:93يَأْمُرُكُمorders you (to do) it
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 60 Classical meanings
أَمَرَ
To counsel or advise someone concerning what ought to be done.
A specialized use reflected in the imperative مُرْنِي, “advise me.”
- Lane · entry 7187
أَمَرَ
Of a wild animal, to make an observer desirous of capturing it.
A specialized usage said of the animal and the effect it produces on the beholder.
- Lane · entry 7187
أَمَرَ
To hold command, preside, govern, or become a commander or ruler.
This intransitive branch is used with عَلَى for authority over a people.
- Lane · entry 7187
أَمَرَ
To multiply, become numerous, abundant, or complete.
A distinct vocalized and lexical branch, used of people, property, animals, or progeny.
- Lane · entry 7187
أَمِرَ الأَمْرُ
For an affair or case to become severe, distressful, grievous, or afflictive.
Used of an affair or situation that has become burdensome or distressing.
- Lane · entry 7187
أَمَّرَ
To appoint someone commander, governor, ruler, judge, or umpire.
The causative Form II construction makes the person the holder of authority or an adjudicator.
- Lane · entry 7188
أَمَّرَ
To affix a spearhead to a cane or spear.
A specialized technical use concerning the preparation of a weapon.
- Lane · entry 7188
أَمَّرَ
To make something a sign or mark by which the way is shown.
A specialized causative use of making an object serve as a guide or landmark.
- Lane · entry 7188
آمَرَ
To consult someone concerning his affair or case.
The object of consultation is introduced in the construction فِي أَمْرِهِ; the form is also used in consultation concerning marriage or another decision.
- Lane · entry 7189
آمَرَ
To multiply or make numerous, abundant, or prolific.
A Form IV branch distinct from the ordinary command verb; it is also reported for property, animals, and progeny.
- Lane · entry 7190
تَأَمَّرَ
To become appointed commander or ruler, or to acquire authority and dominion.
Used with عَلَى for authority over a group.
- Lane · entry 7191
ائْتَمَرَ
To obey, comply with, or conform to a command.
The command may be external or figuratively the command of one’s own mind.
- Lane · entry 7193
ائْتَمَرَ
To deliberate within oneself, follow one’s own opinion, or determine on a course of action.
The construction can describe undertaking something without consulting others or forming and settling one’s own judgment.
- Lane · entry 7193
أَمْرٌ
In grammatical terminology, the imperative form of a verb.
A technical grammatical use of the noun, not a separate ordinary Quranic lexical sense.
- Lane · entry 7195
أَمِرٌ
Abundant, multiplied, or prosperous in increase.
Used of crops, property, animals, progeny, or a person blessed with abundant property or offspring.
- Lane · entry 7198
أَمِرٌ
Severe, distressful, or afflictive.
An adjectival branch related to the description of a grievous affair.
- Lane · entry 7198
أَمْرَةٌ
A single command, order, bidding, or injunction.
Used for one directive that the addressee is expected to obey.
- Lane · entry 7199
إِمْرَةٌ
Possession of command; the office or authority of a commander, governor, prince, or king.
Names the state or office of ruling rather than the person who holds it.
- Lane · entry 7200
إِمْرَةٌ
Increase, abundance, prosperity, or manifest goodness in property or circumstances.
A transferred branch used of the increase and prosperous state recognized in property or in an immediately apparent thing.
- Lane · entry 7200
أَمَرَةٌ
A heap of stones, hill, or constructed stone landmark; a sign or waymark.
Includes a marker prepared to guide travelers in a waterless region and larger stone structures used as landmarks.
- Lane · entry 7201
أَمَارٌ
A sign, mark, token, or indication.
Used for something by which another matter or relationship is recognized.
- Lane · entry 7202
أَمَارٌ
A time, or an appointed time or place of meeting.
A specialized use synonymous with an appointed occasion or rendezvous.
- Lane · entry 7202
أَمُورٌ
One who strongly commands or enjoins.
An intensive epithet, especially in the expression of one who strongly enjoins good conduct and forbids evil.
- Lane · entry 7203
أَمِيرٌ
A person who holds command: a commander, governor, lord, prince, or king.
The ordinary personal noun for a holder of authority; its plural is أُمَرَاءُ.
- Lane · entry 7204
أَمِيرٌ
A leader or guide of the blind.
A specialized figurative or contextual use in which the leader guides people unable to see their way.
- Lane · entry 7204
أَمِيرٌ
A woman’s husband.
A specialized lexical use recorded for the masculine form.
- Lane · entry 7204
أَمِيرٌ
A neighbor.
A rare nominal use recorded independently from the authority sense.
- Lane · entry 7204
أَمِيرٌ
A person whose counsel is sought; a consultant or adviser.
Used of one from whom advice is requested, especially in a matter involving fear or uncertainty.
- Lane · entry 7204
إِمَارَةٌ
The holder of an emirate or authority, by extension the commander himself.
A metonymic use of the office-name for its incumbent.
- Lane · entry 7206
إِمَّرٌ
A foolish or weak-judgment person who obeys everyone and cannot settle on an opinion.
Applied to a man or woman; the intensified form may describe someone compliant with whatever others wish.
- Lane · entry 7208
إِمَّرٌ
A young lamb or kid.
The form distinguishes male and female young animals in some reported usages and can also mean anything in an idiomatic expression.
- Lane · entry 7208
آمِرٌ
A traditional name for the sixth day among the أيام العجوز.
A calendrical name preserved alongside مُؤْتَمِرٌ for the following day.
- Lane · entry 7214
تَأْمُورٌ
The soul or self.
Explained as that which is accustomed to command; orthographic variants occur with and without the hamza.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
The intellect or faculty by which one knows and understands.
A specialized figurative use in expressions about knowing something by one’s intellect.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
The heart.
Used literally and in expressions locating an inner conviction or word in the heart.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
The pericardium or covering of the heart.
An anatomical use distinct from the broader heart and life-blood senses.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
The core or inner substance of the heart, its blood, life-blood, or life.
The lexical branch includes the inner clot or vital blood and, by extension, the life of the soul.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
Wine.
A figurative extension associated with the appearance or nature of blood.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
A dye.
A transferred technical or material use.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
Saffron.
A specialized material use recorded as a transferred sense.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
Water, especially water in a well.
A figurative or transferred use found in the expression for a well containing no water.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
The vizier of a king.
Explained through the effectiveness of the vizier’s command.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
Any person, human being, or, in some expressions, anyone or anything.
Often attested in negative phrases, though some authorities allow affirmative use as well.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
A child, young one, or fetus.
A nominal use synonymous with وَلَدٌ.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
A receptacle or container, including the receptacle of a child or fetus.
The ordinary container sense also appears figuratively in references to what one carries or keeps in one’s own mind.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
A ewer or vessel for wine.
A specialized vessel sense, with some authorities specifying a small container in which wine is kept.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
The chamber or cell of a monk.
A specialized architectural use.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
The covert or retreat of a lion.
A figurative use in the expression for a lion in the place or condition of its courage and concealment.
- Lane · entry 7217
تَأْمُورٌ
Play or sport of girls or boys.
A specialized use distinct from the bodily and container senses.
- Lane · entry 7217
تُؤْمُورٌ
A stone sign or waymark set up to show the way in a waterless desert.
The plural is recorded as تَآمِيرُ; the form is related in meaning to the stone-marker branch of أَمَرَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 7218
تَأْمُورَةٌ
The pericardium or integument of the heart.
A feminine nominal variant used in an anatomical sense.
- Lane · entry 7219
مِئْمَرٌ
Counsel or advice.
Used in expressions describing someone as distant from counsel or advice.
- Lane · entry 7221
مُؤَمَّرٌ
Made or appointed commander, governor, ruler, prince, or king; invested with authority.
The passive participle may also describe an object metaphorically endowed with effective authority.
- Lane · entry 7222
مُؤَمَّرٌ
A cane or spear-shaft fitted with a spearhead.
A specialized weapon term derived from the appointing or affixing sense.
- Lane · entry 7222
مُؤَمَّرٌ
A sharpened spearhead.
A specialized weapon sense.
- Lane · entry 7222
مُؤَمَّرٌ
Distinguished or marked by signs, marks, or branding.
The marking may be understood as a sign or, according to one report, a hot-iron mark.
- Lane · entry 7222
مَأْمُورٌ
Made prolific or abundant, especially in offspring.
In the expression for a prolific filly, the meaning is described as a tropical or dialectal extension and is explicitly attributed to variant usage.
- Lane · entry 7223
مُؤْتَمِرٌ
One who acts according to his own opinion, follows only his own judgment, or hastens to speak.
A participial description related to the self-deliberating and self-directed branch of ائْتَمَرَ.
- Lane · entry 7225
مُؤْتَمِرٌ
An old name for the month now commonly called المُحَرَّم.
A historical tribal month-name, with irregular plural forms recorded.
- Lane · entry 7225
يَأْمُورٌ
A wild animal, including a mountain-goat-like animal or a beast with a single branching horn.
The lexicons record several identifications, including a sea animal, a small beast, and an animal resembling the oryx; the identifications are not uniform.
- Lane · entry 7226
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The interpretation of أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا in 17:16 includes reported variant readings or explanations involving multiplication and appointing authorities; the ordinary command interpretation remains separately stated.
Form VIII ائْتَمَرَ ranges between mutual consultation, mutual direction, and settling on a purpose in its two Quranic contexts.
The reported Form VIII sense “to give permission” is explicitly said by the source not to have been heard from an Arab and is therefore left unresolved.
Several rare formations, especially تَأْمُورٌ and related nouns, have dialectal, figurative, or competing lexical identifications.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:Amr:7193:g1:sub6 reports that ائْتَمَرَهُ may mean “he gave him permission,” but immediately states that this usage has not been heard from an Arab; it cannot be assigned confidently as an established Classical meaning.