Quranic root
عوذ
ʿ · w · dh
The root centers on seeking refuge by turning to, attaching oneself to, or taking shelter with something protective.
The basic notion of taking refuge extends to things that cling to, remain with, or shelter beneath something else.
- Maqāyīs · row 3345
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 17
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
عَاذَ
ʿādha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 10 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 seek protection or refuge in someone or something; to have recourse to a protector and rely on that protection.
Commonly constructed with بِـ for the protector and with مِنْ or عَنْ for the danger or act avoided. Quranic usage includes seeking refuge in God and in other beings.
- Lane · entry 5209
- Mufradāt · row 1023
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:18word 3
“[I] seek refuge”
Quran 72:6word 6
“who sought refuge”
Quran 113:1word 2
“I seek refuge”
أَعَاذَ
ʾaʿādha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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 place someone under protection; to seek or provide refuge for someone with a protector.
A transitive causative construction, as in seeking protection for a person through another protector.
- Mufradāt · row 1023
- Lane · entry 5210
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:36word 19
“[I] seek refuge for her”
اِسْتَعَاذَ
āistaʿādha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form X
- Form
- X
- 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.
To seek protection or refuge by turning to a protector.
In the Quranic command, the form directs the addressee to seek refuge in God, conventionally by saying أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ.
- Lane · entry 5214
- Mufradāt · row 1023
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:98word 4
“seek refuge”
Quran 41:36word 6
“then seek refuge”
مَعَاذٌ
maʿādhun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
A formula of seeking refuge in God: “God forbid,” or “I seek refuge in God from that.”
Used in the expression مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ, often before or in response to a clause describing an act being rejected or disclaimed; in Quranic usage it functions as an exclamatory refuge formula rather than the literal place-sense of “refuge.”
- Lane · entry 5209
- Mufradāt · row 1023
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:23word 14
“I seek refuge in Allah”
Quran 12:79word 2
“Allah forbid”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:67أَعُوذُI seek refuge
- 3:36أُعِيذُهَا[I] seek refuge for her
- 7:200فَٱسْتَعِذْthen seek refuge
- 11:47أَعُوذُseek refuge
- 12:23مَعَاذَI seek refuge in Allah
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 22 Classical meanings
عَاذَتْ
Of a female animal: to remain with and attend her young, keeping close to it for protection.
A specialized Form I usage described of a female that stays with her offspring while it is young.
- Lane · entry 5209
عَائِذٌ
A female that has recently given birth and is in the early period of remaining with her young.
Applied especially to a female gazelle, she-camel, mare, or similar animal; authorities variously specify roughly seven to fifteen days after giving birth.
- Lane · entry 5209
- Lane · entry 5220
عَاذَ
Of flesh-meat: to cling or adhere to the bone.
A figurative or specialized expression describing meat that remains attached to a bone.
- Lane · entry 5209
- Lane · entry 5219
عَوَّذَ
To cause or enable someone to seek protection; to invoke or provide protection for someone.
A causative construction, commonly with بِـ naming the protector or means of protection; with God as subject, it can mean to grant protection or preserve someone.
- Lane · entry 5210
عَوَّذَ
To charm or fortify someone against evil, illness, envy, destruction, or trial by invoking God, divine names, recitation, or an amulet.
A conventional protective or apotropaic practice, including reciting the protective chapters or using a charm.
- Lane · entry 5210
تَعَاوَذَ
To seek protection or refuge from one another, or to rely on one another’s protection.
The reciprocal Form VI usage is specifically attested in the context of war.
- Lane · entry 5213
عَوَذٌ
A tree or other object beneath or within which one takes refuge or shelter.
A noun for a physical refuge or sheltering object.
- Lane · entry 5215
عَوَذٌ
A stone, tree-trunk, or similar object surrounded by material blown against it and around it by the wind.
A specialized noun for something around which wind-borne matter accumulates.
- Lane · entry 5215
عَوَذٌ
Fallen leaves that shelter against or gather around a rising object such as a building, hill, or mountain.
The name is explained by the leaves’ taking shelter against the object.
- Lane · entry 5215
عَوَذٌ
Vile or ignoble people; the worse, worst, or vilest of mankind.
A collective evaluative noun for persons of especially low status or character.
- Lane · entry 5215
عَوَذًا
Escape from someone without being beaten or killed, despite being frightened, beaten, or attacked with intent to kill.
Used in the idiom أَفْلَتَ فُلَانٌ مِنْهُ عَوَذًا, describing escape from a threatened or attempted assault.
- Lane · entry 5215
عَوَذًا
To leave someone only because of dislike or hatred.
Used in the expression مَا تَرَكْتُهُ إِلَّا عَوَذًا مِنْهُ.
- Lane · entry 5215
عُوذَةٌ
An amulet, phylactery, or charm intended to protect its wearer from the evil eye, fright, or demonic harm.
The item may bear an inscription, and the term is also used for a protective charm or recitation; its relation to Quranic inscriptions is part of the classical discussion, not a Quranic use of the QAC forms here.
- Lane · entry 5216
- Lane · entry 5224
عُوَّذٌ
Birds taking refuge in a mountain or another sheltered place.
A plural or collective usage for birds that have saved themselves by taking shelter.
- Lane · entry 5219
عُوَّذٌ
Herbage or plants growing beneath thorn-trees, trees, stones, or other rising objects that shelter or protect them.
The plants may be difficult or impossible for grazing animals to reach because of the rugged ground or protecting growth.
- Lane · entry 5219
عَائِذٌ
One who seeks protection or preservation, especially by taking refuge in God.
The active participle may be used in a refuge formula or as an absolute complement expressing earnest seeking of protection.
- Lane · entry 5220
العَوَائِذُ
The name of four northern stars forming a quadrilateral around a smaller star.
A traditional astronomical designation for stars in the head of Draco.
- Lane · entry 5220
مَعَاذٌ
A refuge or place to which one has recourse for protection; also a time of resort and an infinitive meaning seeking protection.
This is the broader literal noun and verbal-noun range; the Quranic expression مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ is presented separately under the Quranic nominal form.
- Lane · entry 5222
مُعْوِذٌ
مُعْوِذَاتٌ: she-camels that have their young with them.
A plural participial usage associated with females accompanied by their offspring.
- Lane · entry 5223
مُعَوَّذٌ
The place of a horse’s collar, or the feathered or curling part of its coat at that place.
A specialized equine anatomical term, apparently associated with the suspension of charms or amulets there.
- Lane · entry 5225
مُعَوَّذٌ
A she-camel said to remain continually in one place.
This is a reported and lexicographically disputed reading in the cited entry.
- Lane · entry 5225
المُعَوِّذَتَانِ
The two protective Quran chapters, al-Falaq and the chapter following it, al-Nās.
The designation is explained by their opening with قُلْ أَعُوذُ and, in another explanation, by their function of preserving from evil; المُعَوِّذَاتُ may additionally include the preceding chapter.
- Lane · entry 5226
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The historical verse citation associated with the Form X discussion is not used as a modern word-level example; the examples here use independently supplied QAC locations.
The reported camel sense of مُعَوَّذٌ is retained as a Classical meaning but is marked as lexicographically disputed.
The Quranic مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ formula is kept separate from the broader Classical noun meaning “refuge” or “place of resort.”