Quranic root
لحد
l · ḥ · d
The root centers on turning aside from a straight or central line.
This orientation appears physically in the lateral recess of a grave, semantically in deviation from truth or proper conduct, and in turning aside toward a place of refuge. These developments describe the root's semantic orientation rather than meanings of every derived form.
- Maqāyīs · row 4120
- Mufradāt · row 1292
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- 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.
أَلْحَدَ
ʾalḥada
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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.
To deviate from the right or from truth; in Quranic usage, to distort or improperly interpret what should be held rightly.
Used with فِي in applications involving religion, divine names, or revealed signs. The expressions concerning deviation in God's names and distortion of His signs belong to this sense.
- Mufradāt · row 1292
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:180word 8
“deviate”
Quran 41:40word 3
“distort”
To incline toward someone as a referent or source.
In the construction يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ, إِلَى identifies the person toward whom they incline or to whom they refer. A Form I reading of the same passage is also reported, but the QAC occurrence is grouped here under Form IV.
- Mufradāt · row 1292
- Lane · entry 9467
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:103word 10
“they refer”
إِلْحَاد
ʾilḥād
- 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.
Wrongful deviation or violation in the Sacred Mosque or its sacred territory.
In 22:25, the noun concerns departing from commanded right conduct there, committing injustice or desecration, and related forms of impious violation. Explanations also include opposing others, associating partners with God, doubting God, and, as a reported application, hoarding provisions in the sanctuary. The Quran-focused classification distinguishes association with God from attributing independent efficacy to created causes; the former invalidates faith, while the latter weakens it without nullifying it.
- Lane · entry 9467
- Mufradāt · row 1292
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:25word 20
“of deviation”
مُلْتَحَد
multaḥad
- Part of speech
- Passive participle (substantivized) · refuge
- 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 refuge, asylum, or place of recourse to which one turns for protection or concealment.
The passive participle is substantivized as a place of refuge or recourse; it can include a place sought for lodging or protection.
- Lane · entry 9477
- Mufradāt · row 1292
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:27word 15
“a refuge”
Quran 72:22word 12
“any refuge”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 7:180يُلْحِدُونَdeviate
- 16:103يُلْحِدُونَthey refer
- 18:27مُلْتَحَدًۭاa refuge
- 22:25بِإِلْحَادٍۭof deviation
- 41:40يُلْحِدُونَdistort
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 11 Classical meanings
لَحَدَ
To decline or deviate from the straight course, or to incline toward someone or something.
With إِلَى, the verb denotes inclination toward a person or thing; with فِي الدِّينِ, it denotes deviation from the right way or impugning religion.
- Lane · entry 9467
لَحَدَ / أَلْحَدَ
To make a lateral recess in a grave and, for a corpse, to place or bury it in that recess.
The construction may describe digging the recess for the corpse or putting the corpse into it.
- Lane · entry 9467
- Mufradāt · row 1292
لَحْدٌ
A lateral hollow or oblong excavation in the side of a grave, where the corpse is placed.
لُحْدٌ and لَحَدٌ are reported as variant forms of this noun.
- Lane · entry 9471
- Mufradāt · row 1292
لَاحَدَ
To behave toward another in a crooked or perverse manner, with the other behaving likewise.
This is the reciprocal Form III construction.
- Lane · entry 9468
أَلْحَدَ
To dispute, wrangle, or engage in altercation.
This is a reported interpersonal use of Form IV.
- Lane · entry 9469
أَلْحَدَ
To bring reproach upon someone, despise or disparage him, or say something false about him; also to disparage his clemency or intellect.
The construction أَلْحَدَ بِهِ carries the interpersonal sense of reproach or disparagement.
- Lane · entry 9469
اِلْتَحَدَ
To turn or have recourse to someone or something for refuge, protection, concealment, or lodging.
Typically constructed with إِلَى; the action is understood as turning aside toward the sought refuge.
- Lane · entry 9470
- Mufradāt · row 1292
مُلْحِدٌ
One who deviates from truth and introduces into it what does not belong to it; an impugner of religion.
In a specialized historical usage, the plural appellation may be applied especially to Bāṭinī groups said to reinterpret the Quran through an inward doctrine that departs from its outward sense.
- Lane · entry 9474
مُلْحَدٌ
A grave lahd, understood as the place into which the corpse is put.
This is a place-noun use distinct from مُلْتَحَد, the refuge or place of recourse.
- Mufradāt · row 1292
مَلْحُودٌ
A grave in which a lateral lahd has been made.
مُلْحَدٌ and لَاحِدٌ are cross-referenced with this grave-related lexical use in the classical material.
- Lane · entry 9476
أَلْحَدَ
Of an arrow, to veer to one side of the target.
This is a physical-direction use of Form IV, distinct from religious deviation.
- Mufradāt · row 1292
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form IV Quranic occurrence at 16:103 has a reported Form I reading; the public form assignment follows the canonical QAC Form IV grouping, while the shared incline-or-refer construction is retained.
The historical bracketed Quran reference in the Lane transcription is not converted into a modern verse location; the 16:103 example uses the independently supplied QAC location and the explicit reading discussion.