Quranic root
قهر
q · h · r
The root denotes overcoming joined with superiority or elevation over another, extending to subduing, humbling, and being placed under domination.
Its lexical development includes active conquest and subjugation, abasement and coercion, passive subjection, and a specialized usage for flesh affected by fire until its juices flow. The root discussion also records more remote or exceptional extensions involving a hard stone, a he-goat, and moving backward; these are not direct Quranic meanings.
- Maqāyīs · row 3884
- Mufradāt · row 1217
- Lane · entry 9058
- Lane · entry 9059
- Lane · entry 9060
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 10
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
قَهَرَ
qahara
- 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 oppress or humiliate by subduing or overbearing someone.
In the Quranic occurrence, it is a prohibition against oppressing or humiliating the orphan.
- Lane · entry 9058
- Mufradāt · row 1217
Selected Quran examples
Quran 93:9word 4
“oppress”
قَاهِرٌ
qāhirun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
One who overcomes, conquers, or subdues.
This is the agentive use, including the plural description of people who exercise subjugating power.
- Lane · entry 9065
- Mufradāt · row 1217
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:127word 21
“(are) subjugators”
The Subduer of created beings by sovereign authority and power.
As a divine epithet, it includes disposing of creatures as desired, with or against their will.
- Lane · entry 9065
- Mufradāt · row 1217
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:18word 2
“(is) the Subjugator”
Quran 6:61word 2
“(is) the Subjugator”
قَهَّارٌ
qahhārun
- Part of speech
- Adjective · intensive active participle
- 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.
Intensively one who overcomes and subdues—the Irresistible.
A divine adjective emphasizing overwhelming or pervasive subduing power; all Quranic occurrences are in divine descriptions.
- Lane · entry 9065
- Mufradāt · row 1217
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:39word 9
“the Irresistible”
Quran 13:16word 45
“the Irresistible”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 6:18ٱلْقَاهِرُ(is) the Subjugator
- 6:61ٱلْقَاهِرُ(is) the Subjugator
- 7:127قَـٰهِرُونَ(are) subjugators
- 12:39ٱلْقَهَّارُthe Irresistible
- 13:16ٱلْقَهَّـٰرُthe Irresistible
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
قَهَرَ
To overcome, conquer, subdue, overpower, master, prevail over, or abase.
The comparative أَقْهَرُ expresses a greater or greatest degree of subduing or abasing.
- Lane · entry 9058
- Lane · entry 9066
قَهَرَ
To force, compel, or coerce someone, including taking someone by force against their will.
قَهَرَهُ عَلَى الأَمْرِ expresses compelling someone to do something; قَهْرًا can describe forcible taking.
- Lane · entry 9058
قُهِرَ اللَّحْمُ
Of flesh: to become affected by fire so that its juice flows.
A specialized culinary usage describing flesh acted upon by heat.
- Lane · entry 9058
أَقْهَرَ
To become overcome, conquered, subdued, or abased; transitively, to find or cause someone to be in a subdued state.
The causative use can mean placing someone under the power of one who overcomes him.
- Lane · entry 9059
- Mufradāt · row 1217
اِنْقَهَرَ
To be overcome, subdued, or overpowered.
A quasi-passive derived use related to قَهَرَ.
- Lane · entry 9060
قُهْرًا وَبُهْرًا
An imprecation wishing that a person or group be overcome and subdued.
A fixed formula of invocation or imprecation.
- Lane · entry 9061
قُهْرَةٌ
A person liable to be overcome, conquered, or subdued by everyone.
Used in the construction فُلَانٌ قُهْرَةٌ لِلنَّاسِ.
- Lane · entry 9062
قُهْرَةً
By constraint, compulsion, or force.
An adverbial use describing an action performed under compulsion.
- Lane · entry 9062
قُهَرَةٌ
A woman characterized by evil, injustice, or corruptness.
This is a distinct lexical noun, not a general restriction on the root's other meanings.
- Lane · entry 9063
القَاهِرُ
The planet Mars.
A specialized astronomical naming use.
- Lane · entry 9065
قَوَاهِرُ
Lofty mountains.
A figurative usage applied to mountains.
- Lane · entry 9065
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic Form I occurrence is normalized from the imperfect form تَقْهَرْ to the classical citation form قَهَرَ.
The QAC nominal tag for قَاهِر occurrences is presented as an active participle because the supplied derived morphology identifies them as ACTIVE_PARTICIPLE.