Quranic root
طهر
ṭ · h · r
The root centers on cleanness, purity, and the removal of defilement.
Its meanings extend from physical cleanliness and washing to ritual purification, moral integrity, spiritual purification, and things that purify or are purified.
- Maqāyīs · row 3072
- Mufradāt · row 915
- 9
- Quran-attested forms
- 14
- Quran senses
- 31
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
طَهَرَ
ṭahara
- 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 become free from menstrual bleeding; to become pure after the discharge stops.
In the Quranic menstrual context, this Form I use denotes the cessation of the discharge, distinguished from the subsequent self-purification expressed by Form V.
- Lane · entry 11859
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:222word 14
“they are cleansed”
طَهَّرَ
ṭahhara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 9 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 cleanse or purify someone or something from physical dirt, impurity, or defilement; to wash.
Used with objects such as a house, clothing, or people. In the clothing expression, it is also interpreted as shortening garments to prevent them from trailing and becoming soiled.
- Lane · entry 11860
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:125word 17
“[You both] purify”
To purify the heart, soul, or conduct by removing sin, unbelief, or moral corruption.
This is a figurative or spiritual extension of cleansing and includes purification understood as right direction and sound conduct.
- Lane · entry 11860
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:41word 57
“He purifies”
Quran 33:33word 24
“And to purify you”
تَطَهَّرَ
taṭahhara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- 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.
To cleanse or purify oneself by washing; to perform ritual purification.
Includes using water or its substitute, ablution, ritual washing, and self-cleansing after menstrual impurity.
- Lane · entry 11862
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:6word 21
“then purify yourselves”
To remove oneself from impurity, sin, or blameworthy conduct; to purify oneself spiritually.
The expression can be used derisively by opponents of those claiming such purity, as in the Quranic accounts of Lot's people.
- Lane · entry 11862
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:82word 13
“who keep themselves pure”
Quran 9:108word 20
“purify themselves”
أَطْهَر
ʾaṭhar
- Part of speech
- Adjective · Comparative
- 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.
Purer; more free from impurity, blame, or moral objection.
A comparative evaluation; in social or legal contexts, purity can yield the contextual sense of being more proper or lawful.
- Lane · entry 11872
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
طَهُور
ṭahūr
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
Pure and purifying; especially able to remove impurity.
In the Quran it describes water as both clean in itself and suitable as a means of purification, and describes a pure purifying drink.
- Lane · entry 11866
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 25:48word 13
“pure”
Quran 76:21word 13
“pure”
مُطَهَّر
muṭahhar
- Part of speech
- Passive participle · Form II
- Quran occurrences
- 6 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.
Purified or cleansed from physical and natural impurities.
Used of spouses and other created things purified from bodily defilement and the impurities associated with ordinary worldly life.
- Lane · entry 11874
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:25word 31
“purified”
Cleansed of impurity, falsehood, or corrupt content.
Used of writings or scripture to indicate freedom from falsehood and defilement rather than literal washing.
- Lane · entry 11874
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 80:14word 2
“purified”
Spiritually purified from corrupt conduct, ignorance, or disobedience.
In the Quranic expression concerning those who touch it, the purification is interpreted as purification of the self and moral conduct.
- Lane · entry 11874
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:79word 4
“the purified”
مُطَهِّر
muṭahhir
- Part of speech
- Active participle · Form II
- 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 purifies or removes another from defiling association and conduct.
In the Quranic use, it denotes being taken away from those who disbelieve and kept distant from their ways.
- Lane · entry 11875
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:55word 9
“and purify you”
مُتَطَهِّر
mutaṭahhir
- Part of speech
- Active participle · Form V
- 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.
One who purifies or cleanses himself.
The Form V active participle may refer to self-cleansing and ritual purification, including the people praised for purifying themselves.
- Lane · entry 11862
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:222word 27
“those who purify themselves”
One who purifies the spirit by abandoning sin and adopting righteous conduct.
The Quranic praise of such people is explicitly understood as purification of the self and spirit.
- Lane · entry 11876
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:222word 27
“those who purify themselves”
Quran 9:108word 23
“the ones who purify themselves”
تَطْهِير
taṭhīr
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
The act or result of cleansing and purifying; thorough purification.
In the Quranic construction, it denotes comprehensive purification from defilement, especially in the spiritual and ethical sphere.
- Lane · entry 11860
- Mufradāt · row 915
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:33word 25
“(with thorough) purification”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:25مُّطَهَّرَةٌۭ ۖpurified
- 2:125طَهِّرَا[You both] purify
- 2:222يَطْهُرْنَ ۖthey are cleansed
- 2:222تَطَهَّرْنَthey are purified
- 2:222ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَthose who purify themselves
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
طَهَرَ
To be or become clean, free from dirt or filth, or pure.
The classical verb is used for physical cleanliness and, by extension, for spiritual purity.
- Lane · entry 11859
طَهَرَهُ
To make something distant or remote; to put it far away.
A distinct classical transitive use, synonymous with making something remote.
- Lane · entry 11859
طُهْرٌ
Cleanness, freedom from dirt or filth, or pureness; also the state of purity from menstrual discharge.
Its plural can denote the days of a woman's state of purity between menstrual periods.
- Lane · entry 11863
طُهْرَةٌ
A cleansing or purification, especially purification by water.
The term was also applied by Christians to baptism.
- Lane · entry 11865
طَهَّرَهُ
To perform the rite of circumcision upon someone.
A figurative or conventional use understood as purifying the person.
- Lane · entry 11860
طَهَّرَهُ
To cleanse someone from sin through a prescribed punishment.
The purification is understood as the expiatory effect of a punishment such as stoning.
- Lane · entry 11860
طَهُورٌ
A means of purifying a sinner, especially repentance.
Used of an action or means whose effect is purification rather than of water specifically.
- Lane · entry 11866
طَهُورٌ
That which purifies a sinner through the execution of a prescribed punishment.
A specialized classical interpretation of purification from sin.
- Lane · entry 11866
طَهَارَةٌ
The act of performing ritual washing, ablution, or cleansing after relieving oneself.
Includes ghusl, wudu, and istinja as named ritual or practical forms of purification.
- Lane · entry 11868
طُهَارَةٌ
The water remaining after purification or ablution has been performed.
A specialized nominal use distinct from the act of purification itself.
- Lane · entry 11869
طَهُورِيَّةٌ
The quality or property of being pure and purifying.
An abstract noun describing the quality denoted by طَهُور.
- Lane · entry 11870
طَاهِرٌ
Clean, free from dirt or filth, or pure; of water, clean and suitable for purification.
A general adjective of physical purity and of water fit for cleansing, without implying the stronger instrumental sense of طَهُور in every context.
- Lane · entry 11871
طَاهِرٌ
Pure or free from menstrual discharge.
This use is also expressed without the feminine marker when referring to a woman in this condition.
- Lane · entry 11871
طَاهِرٌ
Free from vice, fault, or low and ignoble habits.
Used in constructions describing a person's honor, character, conduct, or moral reputation.
- Lane · entry 11871
مَطْهَرَةٌ
A vessel used for washing, purification, or ablution.
Includes vessels such as a bucket or waterskin; the approved form is مَطْهَرَةٌ rather than مِطْهَرَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 11873
مَطْهَرَةٌ
A house or chamber in which washing and ablution are performed.
May include a place for wudu, ghusl, or istinja.
- Lane · entry 11873
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic Form I and Form V forms in 2:222 reflect a recognized distinction between the stopping of menstrual discharge and subsequent ritual self-purification; the two readings are therefore kept as separate form groups.
طَهُورٌ has both adjectival and quasi-verbal-noun analyses in the classical evidence, with debate over whether its force is simply 'pure' or also 'purifying'; the Quranic sense states the shared lexical result without resolving that grammatical debate.
The assimilated Quranic spelling مُطَّهِّرِينَ is grouped with the regular Form V citation form مُتَطَهِّر because it is an allomorphic realization of the same active participle.