Quranic root
لعن
l · ʿ · n
The root centers on forceful removal and exclusion, especially banishment under condemnation.
The basic notion of driving away develops into cursing: for God, exclusion from mercy, guidance, and ultimately blessedness; for people, an invocation of condemnation against another. Reciprocal and reflexive cursing constructions develop from the same semantic field.
- Maqāyīs · row 4183
- Mufradāt · row 1307
- 5
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 41
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
لَعَنَ
laʿana
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 23 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 curse: to invoke or impose banishment from mercy as an expression of condemnation.
When attributed to God, the curse denotes exclusion from mercy and guidance in this world and punishment or banishment in the Hereafter. When attributed to people, it is a supplication or invocation against another. Active and passive voice express the same lexical action and result.
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:159word 17
“curses them”
Quran 4:93word 12
“and He (will) curse him”
Quran 5:64word 8
“and they have been cursed”
لَعْن
laʿn
- 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.
Cursing; the act or invocation of pronouncing a curse.
A verbal noun for the act of invoking condemnation or exclusion from mercy; the Quranic occurrence appears in an intensified construction.
- Mufradāt · row 1307
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:68word 7
“(with) a curse”
لَعْنَة
laʿnah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 14 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 curse; an imposed state or sentence of exclusion from mercy.
Used as a countable or definite noun, including in expressions such as God's curse and the curse upon a people or party.
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Selected Quran examples
لَاعِن
lāʿin
- 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 curses; one who invokes a curse against another.
The Quranic plural refers to those who pronounce curses, in a construction where they curse people who conceal or suppress revealed guidance.
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:159word 20
“the ones who curse”
مَلْعُون
malʿūn
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- 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.
Accursed; subjected to condemnation and exclusion from mercy.
Used adjectivally or substantively for one placed under a curse; the Quranic forms include feminine singular and masculine plural inflections.
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:60word 17
“the accursed”
Quran 33:61word 1
“Accursed”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:88لَّعَنَهُمُhas cursed them
- 2:89فَلَعْنَةُSo (the) curse
- 2:159يَلْعَنُهُمُcurses them
- 2:159وَيَلْعَنُهُمُand curse them
- 2:159ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَthe ones who curse
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 6 Classical meanings
لُعْنَة
A person who is much cursed.
A personal epithet, distinct in vocalization and meaning from the Quranic noun لَعْنَة meaning “a curse.”
- Lane · entry 20645
- Mufradāt · row 1307
لُعَنَة
A person who curses frequently.
A personal epithet describing habitual cursing.
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لَعِين
An expelled or banished person; also a wolf, as a conventional Classical Arabic designation.
A broader Classical usage of the adjective, separate from the Quranic active participle لَاعِن and from the passive sense “accursed.”
- Maqāyīs · row 4183
لَعِين
The base or lower part of a palm-tree raceme.
A specialized botanical meaning.
- Lane · entry 20646
اِلْتَعَنَ
To curse oneself.
A reflexive derived-verb construction.
- Mufradāt · row 1307
اللِّعَانُ / التَّلَاعُنُ / المُلاعَنَةُ
Mutual cursing, in which each party curses himself or the other.
The three labels are explicitly associated with the reciprocal cursing construction; no narrower legal or procedural sense is assumed here.
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Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quran-only plural active participle لَاعِنُون and the feminine and masculine plural passive participles مَلْعُونَة and مَلْعُونِين are normalized to singular dictionary citation forms.
The Quranic noun لَعْنَة meaning “a curse” is distinct in vocalization and meaning from the Classical personal epithet لُعْنَة meaning “a person who is much cursed.”