Quranic root
مسك
m · s · k
The root centers on holding something back, retaining it, or remaining held fast.
From this central idea develop meanings of retention, restraint, adherence, cohesion, containment, and withholding. Related nominal branches include objects that hold or contain, such as a bracelet or hide; the lexical association of musk is treated as a separate nominal branch.
- Maqāyīs · row 4372
- Mufradāt · row 1368
- 7
- Quran-attested forms
- 8
- Quran senses
- 27
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
مَسَّكَ
massaka
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- 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.
To hold fast to or adhere to something.
The Quranic occurrence describes firm adherence to what has been received or followed; the construction does not impose a restriction on the general type of object.
- Mufradāt · row 1368
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:170word 2
“hold fast”
أَمْسَكَ
ʾamsaka
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 18 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 hold, retain, keep, seize, or keep something or someone in place.
This covers retaining a person, detaining or confining someone, catching or grasping something, and preserving something in position, including keeping something from falling. It includes the legal construction of retaining a spouse and the general sense of holding onto something.
- Lane · entry 5700
- Mufradāt · row 1368
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:231word 6
“then retain them”
Quran 4:15word 12
“then confine them”
Quran 22:65word 15
“And He withholds”
Quran 35:41word 3
“upholds”
To withhold, prevent, or refrain from releasing or giving something.
Used with the sense of holding something back from another, preventing it, or abstaining from an act; withholding what one possesses may convey refusal or stinginess in context.
- Lane · entry 5700
- Mufradāt · row 1368
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:100word 9
“surely you would withhold”
Quran 35:2word 11
“He withholds”
اِسْتَمْسَكَ
āistamsaka
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form X
- Form
- X
- 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 grasp, cling to, or hold fast to something; to seek to lay hold of it.
The construction commonly takes بِـ and expresses intentional attachment or adherence. Quranic usage includes figurative holding fast to a firm support or to revealed guidance.
- Lane · entry 5704
- Mufradāt · row 1368
Selected Quran examples
إِمْسَاكٌ
ʾimsākun
- 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.
Retention or keeping hold of something or someone.
In the Quranic legal construction, it denotes retaining a spouse in a recognized and proper manner, as opposed to release.
- Lane · entry 5700
- Mufradāt · row 1368
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:229word 3
“Then to retain”
مِسْكٌ
miskun
- Part of speech
- 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.
Musk, the fragrant substance obtained from the musk deer.
A nominal meaning associated with the root but lexically distinct from the verbal senses of holding and retaining.
- Lane · entry 5705
Selected Quran examples
Quran 83:26word 2
“(will be of) musk”
مُمْسِكٌ
mumsikun
- Part of speech
- Active 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.
One who or that which withholds, retains, or prevents something from being released.
The Quranic uses include withholding divine mercy or other provision; the feminine plural occurrence is represented by the same normalized participial headword.
- Lane · entry 5700
- Mufradāt · row 1368
Selected Quran examples
Quran 35:2word 8
“(can) withhold”
Quran 39:38word 29
“withholders”
مُسْتَمْسِكٌ
mustamsikun
- 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 holds fast, clings, or adheres firmly.
A participial description of intentional adherence or reliance, including holding fast to a teaching or inherited position.
- Lane · entry 5704
- Mufradāt · row 1368
Selected Quran examples
Quran 43:21word 8
“(are) holding fast”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:229فَإِمْسَاكٌۢThen to retain
- 2:231فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّthen retain them
- 2:231تُمْسِكُوهُنَّretain them
- 2:256ٱسْتَمْسَكَhe grasped
- 4:15فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّthen confine them
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 20 Classical meanings
يُمْسِكُ الرَّمَقَ
To sustain or prolong a person's remaining breath or life.
A conventional expression referring to preserving the last remnant of life or vitality.
- Lane · entry 5698
مَسَّكَ بِالنَّارِ
To pierce or bore with fire.
A specialized Form II construction.
- Lane · entry 5699
أَمْسَكَ
To be tenacious or niggardly; to hold back from giving.
A Classical extension of withholding, including the characterization of a miserly person.
- Lane · entry 5700
- Maqāyīs · row 4372
أَمْسَكَ بَطْنَهُ
To bind or confine the belly or bowels.
A specialized expression said of the effect of medicine.
- Lane · entry 5700
تَمَسَّكَ بِحَبْلِهِ
To hold fast by a covenant or bond.
The object is expressed through the image of holding fast to a person's cord or bond.
- Lane · entry 5701
تَمَاسَكَ
To restrain oneself; by extension, to be capable or powerful.
The corresponding negative construction denotes being unable to restrain oneself from doing something.
- Lane · entry 5702
تَمَاسَكَ
To hold together or cohere.
Used of things that remain joined or structurally cohesive.
- Lane · entry 5702
تَمَاسُكٌ
Figuratively, intelligence or sound capacity; lack of it may signify lack of good.
A figurative application of cohesion and inner firmness.
- Lane · entry 5702
اِمْتَسَكَ بِهِ
To clutch or grip someone or something.
A Form VIII construction equivalent in sense to laying hold of the object.
- Lane · entry 5703
اِسْتَمْسَكَ البَطْنُ
For the belly or bowels to become bound or confined.
A specialized bodily expression, distinct from the Quranic Form X sense of holding fast to an object.
- Lane · entry 5704
مُسْكَةٌ
Food or drink that sustains the last breath or keeps a person alive.
A noun for the small amount sufficient to preserve remaining vitality.
- Mufradāt · row 1368
مَسَكٌ
A bracelet or anklet made of tortoise-shell, ivory, or horn.
The noun denotes the article worn or fastened around the wrist or ankle.
- Lane · entry 5706
- Mufradāt · row 1368
مُسْكَةٌ
Intelligence, judgment, or inner strength.
A figurative noun for the mental or personal capacity on which one relies.
- Lane · entry 5707
مُسَكَةٌ
A person who is not easily caught or held and manages to get free.
An expression describing freedom from being attached or detained.
- Maqāyīs · row 4372
مِسَاكٌ
A kind of needle.
An isolated technical nominal use; an alternate vocalization is also reported.
- Lane · entry 5709
مَسْكٌ
Skin or hide, especially as the covering that contains and holds the body.
A nominal branch based on the containing function of hide.
- Mufradāt · row 1368
- Maqāyīs · row 4372
مَسَكَةُ البِئْرِ
The hard, firm place in a well that does not require lining.
A geological or structural noun explained through the idea of cohesion and firmness.
- Maqāyīs · row 4372
مَسَّاكاتٌ
Places in the land where rainwater flows and is retained.
A regional or topographical plural noun.
- Lane · entry 5711
مُمْسَكٌ
A horse marked with white on both forelegs and one hind leg on the same side.
A specialized description of the horse's leg markings.
- Lane · entry 5712
مُتَمَاسِكٌ
Compact or closely knit in the limbs or flesh.
A physical description of a body or its flesh as firmly held together.
- Lane · entry 5713
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form X Lane citation uses historical Quran-reference notation; it has not been converted into a modern verse location. Modern examples use only independently supplied QAC locations.
The noun مِسْكٌ is lexically supported as musk, while the root-level holding principle does not by itself derive or define this nominal branch.