Quranic root
أسر
ʾ · s · r
The root centers on holding fast, binding, or retaining something.
Physical fastening with a thong or cord extends to taking and holding a captive. Related Classical Arabic branches describe firmly joined bodily structure, supportive kinship, fastening equipment, and urinary retention.
- Maqāyīs · row 88
- Lane · entry 6700
- Lane · entry 6706
- Lane · entry 6709
- Lane · entry 6710
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 6
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَسَرَ
ʾasara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To capture, take prisoner, or imprison.
The Quranic occurrence is an active imperfect form meaning to take captive.
- Lane · entry 6700
- Mufradāt · row 35
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:26word 15
“and you took captive”
أَسِيرٌ
ʾasīrun
- Part of speech
- Noun / adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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 captive or prisoner: one taken and held, whether or not still physically bound.
The Quranic group includes the singular أَسِيرًا and the plurals أَسْرَىٰ and أُسَارَىٰ. When explicitly referring to a woman, the feminine أَسِيرَةٌ may be used.
- Lane · entry 6711
- Mufradāt · row 35
Selected Quran examples
Quran 8:67word 7
“prisoners of war”
Quran 76:8word 7
“and (the) captive”
Quran 2:85word 17
“(as) captives”
أَسْرٌ
ʾasrun
- 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.
Bodily make, constitution, or structural framework.
In شَدَدْنَا أَسْرَهُمْ (76:28), the noun refers to the firmly joined human bodily structure; the passage is interpreted in terms of bodily form, joints, or the constricting outlets for urine and feces.
- Lane · entry 6706
- Mufradāt · row 35
Selected Quran examples
Quran 76:28word 4
“their forms”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:85أُسَـٰرَىٰ(as) captives
- 8:67أَسْرَىٰprisoners of war
- 8:70ٱلْأَسْرَىٰٓthe captives
- 33:26وَتَأْسِرُونَand you took captive
- 76:8وَأَسِيرًاand (the) captive
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 16 Classical meanings
أَسَرَ
To bind, brace, or fasten a person or an object, such as a saddle, with a thong.
The intensive Form II is also used for binding or tying tightly or firmly.
- Lane · entry 6700
- Lane · entry 6701
أَسَرَ
To create or form someone in a goodly manner.
A figurative Classical Arabic use of the Form I verb.
- Lane · entry 6700
أُسِرَ / أَسِرَ
To suffer suppression or obstruction of the urine.
The sources record more than one vocalized verbal pattern for this medical use.
- Lane · entry 6700
تَأَسَّرَ
To excuse oneself to someone while delaying or lingering.
Used with عَلَيْهِ in the recorded construction; the usage is figurative and independently reported as a specialized expression.
- Lane · entry 6703
اِسْتَأْسَرَ
To submit oneself as a captive to the enemy.
The recorded construction is استأسر للعدوّ; the imperative may mean “be captive to me.”
- Lane · entry 6705
أَسْرٌ
Altogether or in entirety.
Used in the idiom بِأَسْرِهِ, as in taking or possessing something completely and people coming together as a whole.
- Lane · entry 6706
أُسْرٌ
Urinary retention or obstruction; also described as painful dribbling with bladder pain and spasms.
This is the medical noun; suppression of feces is distinguished by حَصْرٌ.
- Lane · entry 6707
- Mufradāt · row 35
عُودُ أُسْرٍ
A stick or piece of wood placed on the abdomen to treat urinary retention.
A technical therapeutic expression associated with the medical sense of أُسْرٌ.
- Lane · entry 6707
أُسْرَةٌ
A man’s near kinsmen or close relations, regarded as a source of strength.
The close relations may be specified generally or, in one description, as the nearer relations on the father’s side.
- Lane · entry 6709
إِسَارٌ
A binding thong of untanned hide, a rope or cord, or a pair of shackles.
Used for fastening a camel’s or horse’s saddle and for binding a captive.
- Lane · entry 6710
- Lane · entry 6706
إِسَارٌ
A captive.
This lexical use is recorded alongside the noun’s sense of a binding implement.
- Lane · entry 6710
أَسِيرٌ
Figuratively, one held by or dependent upon another’s benefaction.
A metaphorical use derived from the condition of being held captive.
- Mufradāt · row 35
تَأْسِيرُ السَّرْجِ
The thongs of a horse’s saddle by which it is fastened.
This expression is treated as a plural with no singular form in the cited lexical discussion.
- Lane · entry 6712
مَأْسُورٌ
A camel’s saddle fastened with a binding thong.
A specialized nominal use describing the secured saddle rather than a captive person.
- Lane · entry 6713
مَأْسُورٌ
A man or beast having strongly knit joints.
The recorded application is to a human or an animal whose joints are firmly joined.
- Lane · entry 6713
مَأْسُورٌ
A man suffering urinary retention.
An adjectival description derived from the medical sense of أُسْرٌ.
- Lane · entry 6713
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic expression أَسْرَهُمْ in 76:28 has closely related but distinct traditional interpretations—bodily make or form, joints, and the constricting outlets for urine and feces—so these are retained as constructional nuances of one sense rather than treated as unrelated meanings.