Quranic root
نسخ
n · s · kh
A relation in which one thing is removed, replaced, transferred, or reproduced in connection with another succeeding thing.
The root develops along two closely related paths: removal or replacement by a successor, and transfer or reproduction of an existing form. These underlie abrogation, copying, succession, and the preservation of a record.
- Maqāyīs · row 4618
- Mufradāt · row 1435
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَسَخَ
nasakha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To remove, annul, abrogate, or supersede one thing by a succeeding thing or ruling.
In Quranic and legal usage, this may concern a prior verse, command, ruling, or what has been cast into a matter; the wording, legal force, or both may be affected. The related participial usage describes a verse that abrogates another or is treated as abrogated.
- Lane · entry 43638
- Lane · entry 43645
- Mufradāt · row 1435
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:106word 2
“We abrogate”
Quran 22:52word 16
“But Allah abolishes”
To bring forth and send down a succeeding revelation or replacement.
This is an alternative Quranic interpretation of 2:106, emphasizing establishment of the successor rather than removal of the earlier matter.
- Mufradāt · row 1435
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:106word 2
“We abrogate”
اِسْتَنْسَخَ
āistansakha
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form X
- Form
- X
- 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 have something transcribed, recorded, or preserved in a written record.
In 45:29, the construction concerns having people's deeds transcribed or registered and thereby preserved; the Form X usage can emphasize undertaking or causing the transcription.
- Lane · entry 43638
- Mufradāt · row 1435
Selected Quran examples
Quran 45:29word 8
“transcribe”
نُسْخَةٌ
nuskhahun
- 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.
A copy, transcript, or written version.
In 7:154, the possessed form refers to a written copy or inscription.
- Lane · entry 43642
- Mufradāt · row 1435
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:154word 9
“their inscription”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:106نَنسَخْWe abrogate
- 7:154نُسْخَتِهَاtheir inscription
- 22:52فَيَنسَخُBut Allah abolishes
- 45:29نَسْتَنسِخُtranscribe
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
نَسَخَ
To change or alter a thing, including effacing or altering existing traces.
A general Classical Arabic use distinct from the explicit abrogation-by-a-successor construction.
- Lane · entry 43638
نَسَخَ
To transform or metamorphose someone into a worse, fouler, or uglier shape.
A rare lexical use equated with transformation into another form.
- Lane · entry 43638
نَسْخٌ
The transmigration of a soul from one human body into another.
A rare or post-classical theological usage; the cited terminology distinguishes transfer into a beast by another term.
- Lane · entry 43638
- Lane · entry 43641
- Mufradāt · row 1435
نَسَخَ
To transfer something from one place to another while it remains materially the same.
The lexical evidence illustrates transfer of contents between places, but does not restrict the meaning to that example.
- Lane · entry 43638
نَسَخَ
To copy or transcribe a writing or book, reproducing it letter for letter.
Faithful reproduction is contrasted with merely corrupting a copy by changing its diacritical points or meanings.
- Lane · entry 43638
- Mufradāt · row 1435
أَنْسَخَ
To cause a verse to be annulled, abrogated, or superseded by another, or to find it in that state.
A Quran-attested derived Form IV construction recorded separately because no Form IV QAC form group is supplied.
- Lane · entry 43640
تَنَاسَخَ
To succeed one another, with each thing, time, generation, or state taking the place of what came before.
Used for the succession of things, times, and generations, and for change from one state to another.
- Lane · entry 43641
تَنَاسُخُ الْوَرَثَةِ
The successive death of heirs while the original inheritance remains undivided.
A technical inheritance term, also applied to succession involving the fixed primary shares of an inheritance.
- Lane · entry 43641
- Mufradāt · row 1435
نُسْخَةٌ
An exemplar or original from which a transcript is made.
This is the source-copy sense of the noun, distinct from the Quranic use referring to a copy or written version.
- Lane · entry 43642
نَسِيخَةٌ
A distant town, district, or country; also, a transverse or cross wind.
The two glosses are recorded under the same rare lexical headword.
- Lane · entry 43644
نَاسِخٌ
A copier or transcriber of writing or books.
The active-participial noun denotes the person performing the copying action.
- Lane · entry 43645
نَاسِخٌ
A grammatical operator that changes the grammatical form or meaning of a nominal proposition.
A technical grammatical term applied to certain particles and verbs that alter the construction before which they occur.
- Lane · entry 43645
مَنْسُوخٌ
A writing or book that has been copied or transcribed.
This is the passive-participial object sense of the copying branch.
- Lane · entry 43647
تَنَاسُخٌ
The transmigration of souls from body to body.
A theological doctrine involving the continuing transfer of souls between bodies.
- Lane · entry 43638
- Lane · entry 43641
- Mufradāt · row 1435
التَّنَاسُخِيَّةُ
A sect or doctrine that holds the transmigration of souls and denies the resurrection.
A doctrinal designation derived from the transmigration sense.
- Lane · entry 43646
- Mufradāt · row 1435
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The alternative interpretation of 2:106 as bringing forth and sending down a successor is represented separately from the ordinary abrogation sense.
The Form IV Quranic construction is retained as a separate derived lexical item because the supplied QAC groups contain Form I and Form X but no Form IV group.
Lane's historical Quran citation notation has not been converted into an unverified modern verse location; secure modern examples are taken from the supplied QAC locations.