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Quranic root

حذر

ḥ · dh · r

The root centers on guarding oneself through alertness, caution, and vigilance against feared harm.

From this basic orientation develop meanings of fearing, taking precautions, being prepared, warning others, and designating a feared thing or danger.

  • Maqāyīs · row 1322
  • Mufradāt · row 304
6
Quran-attested forms
7
Quran senses
21
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

حَذِرَ

ḥadhira

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
Quran occurrences
12 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.

  1. To beware of, guard against, or take precautions against a danger, person, thing, or event.

    Used transitively and also with مِنْ or عَلَيْهِ; Quranic imperatives express the command to beware.

    • Lane · entry 13853
    • Mufradāt · row 304
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 63:4word 18

    so beware of them

  2. To fear or be apprehensive of something.

    The feared object may be an anticipated matter or consequence; the Quranic use includes fearing the Hereafter.

    • Lane · entry 13853
    • Mufradāt · row 304
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 39:9word 8

    fearing

حَذَّرَ

ḥadhdhara

Part of speech
Verb · Form II
Form
II
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.

  1. To warn or caution someone against a thing, person, or event; to make someone fear it.

    The verb may take the person warned and the feared matter as objects, or may be used with مِنْ for the matter against which someone is warned.

    • Lane · entry 13854
    • Mufradāt · row 304
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 3:28word 22

    And warns you

حَذَرٌ

ḥadharun

Part of speech
Verbal 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.

  1. Caution or fear expressed as guarding against something feared.

    A verbal noun or simple substantive; context may foreground fear, vigilance, or guardedness.

    • Lane · entry 13859
    • Mufradāt · row 304
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 2:19word 15

    (in) fear (of)

حَاذِرٌ

ḥādhirun

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.

  1. Being on guard, prepared, or fully equipped against danger.

    The Quranic plural in 26:56 occurs in a context of military preparedness and may convey being equipped with arms.

    • Lane · entry 13861
    • Mufradāt · row 304
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 26:56word 3

    forewarned

حِذْرٌ

ḥidhrun

Part of speech
Verbal noun
Quran occurrences
3 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.

  1. Precautionary readiness or the means of guarding against danger, including protective equipment or weapons.

    In the Quranic construction خُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ, it denotes taking or using one's precautions.

    • Lane · entry 13859
    • Mufradāt · row 304
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 4:71word 5

    your precautions

مَحْذُورٌ

maḥdhūrun

Part of speech
Passive 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.

  1. A thing feared or regarded as an object of fear.

    A passive participle used substantivally for a feared matter or outcome.

    • Lane · entry 13872
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 17:57word 18

    (ever) feared

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 2:19حَذَرَ(in) fear (of)
  • 2:235فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚso beware of Him
  • 2:243حَذَرَ(in) fear
  • 3:28وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُAnd warns you
  • 3:30وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُAnd warns you
View all 21 occurrences

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 15 Classical meanings
  • حَاذَرَ

    To be mutually cautious or fearful; for each of two parties to be on guard against the other.

    A reciprocal Form III construction.

    • Lane · entry 13855
  • احدارّ

    To become angry or enraged, draw oneself together, and prepare to do mischief.

    A rare derived usage.

    • Lane · entry 13857
  • ابْنُ أَحْذَارٍ

    A person of resolve or determination combined with caution and wariness.

    Used in the idiomatic expression ابن أحذار.

    • Lane · entry 13859
  • أَبُو حَذَرٍ

    The male chameleon.

    A specialized animal name.

    • Lane · entry 13859
  • حَذِرٌ

    Cautious, wary, vigilant, careful, or fearful.

    An adjectival description of a person; the form may also convey being in a state of preparation.

    • Lane · entry 13861
  • حَذُرٌ

    Very fearful and cautious, wary, or vigilant.

    An adjectival variant with an intensified sense of fear or caution.

    • Lane · entry 13861
  • حِذْرِيَةٌ

    Rugged or rough ground; a hard, level summit or rugged hill.

    A topographical noun.

    • Lane · entry 13862
  • حِذْرِيَةٌ

    The feathers at the back of a cock's neck.

    A specialized anatomical noun.

    • Lane · entry 13862
  • الحُذُرَّى

    What is false, vain, or ineffectual.

    Synonymous with الباطل.

    • Lane · entry 13865
  • حَذَارِ

    Beware; be cautious, wary, or on one's guard.

    An imperative verbal noun, also used with an object of caution and with the vocative suffix in حَذَارِكَ.

    • Lane · entry 13866
  • حَذِيرٌ

    A cautioner or one who warns another against a person or thing.

    A rare noun for a person who gives a warning.

    • Lane · entry 13867
  • حُذَارِيَاتٌ

    Persons who make others fear; warners or cautioners.

    The term is explained both causatively and as a designation for warners.

    • Lane · entry 13868
  • أَحْذَرُ

    More or most cautious, wary, vigilant, careful, or fearful.

    A comparative or superlative adjective.

    • Lane · entry 13871
  • مَحْذُورَةٌ

    A calamity or circumstance feared or regarded with caution.

    A feminine noun for something apprehended as harmful or dangerous.

    • Lane · entry 13873
  • مَحْذُورَةٌ

    A hostile troop's attack or incursion, or war.

    Lexicographical explanations also relate the term to a sudden cry or attack and to punishment; the precise application is variable.

    • Lane · entry 13873

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The supplied QAC form is حَاذِرُونَ at 26:56; the reported alternative reading حَذِرُونَ is not treated as a separate QAC form group.

Unassigned or ambiguous evidence

  • The alternative reading حَذِرُونَ reported for 26:56 is preserved as a reading variant but cannot be assigned to a separate public form because no corresponding QAC form group was supplied.