Quranic root
سكر
s · k · r
A root oriented toward confusion or obstruction of normal clarity, whether of the intellect, sight, or movement.
The central notion develops from intoxication obstructing reason to obscured vision, while related usages describe water being held back, wind becoming still, and other states of stoppage or fullness.
- Maqāyīs · row 2459
- Mufradāt · row 709
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 6
- Quran senses
- 7
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
سَكَّرَ
sakkara
- 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 obstruct, confuse, or dazzle the sight so that normal seeing is prevented.
In the Quranic passive construction سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَارُنَا, the eyes are described as covered, closed, dazzled, or otherwise rendered unable to see; some interpretations express this as enchantment or confusion.
- Lane · entry 41622
- Mufradāt · row 709
Selected Quran examples
Quran 15:15word 3
“have been dazzled”
سَكَر
sakar
- 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.
An intoxicating beverage, especially wine or a fermented beverage made from dates.
In 16:67, it is contrasted with good or lawful provision; the lexical discussion includes wine and intoxicating date beverages, in a context understood as preceding the prohibition of wine.
- Lane · entry 41629
- Mufradāt · row 709
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:67word 7
“intoxicant”
Vinegar, in a reported interpretation of the Quranic term.
This interpretation is attributed to some Quranic expositors for 16:67 but is explicitly reported as disputed and not accepted by the leading lexicologists.
- Lane · entry 41629
سَكْرَة
sakrah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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 fit or episode of intoxication in which consciousness or intellectual clarity is impaired.
The noun may describe a transient state between sensibility and insensibility; the Quranic occurrence in 15:72 refers to such a state of intoxication.
- Lane · entry 41631
- Mufradāt · row 709
Selected Quran examples
Quran 15:72word 4
“their intoxication”
The overpowering stupor, confusion, or insensibility accompanying death.
In the Quranic construction سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ, the term denotes the oppressive mental and sensory disturbance associated with the agony of death.
- Lane · entry 41631
- Mufradāt · row 709
Selected Quran examples
Quran 50:19word 2
“(the) stupor”
سَكْرَان
sakrān
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
Intoxicated, inebriated, or drunken; deprived of ordinary reason by intoxication.
The supplied Quran form is the irregular plural سُكَارَى. For 4:43, the evidence also records an alternative interpretation as being overcome by sleep, while the ordinary lexical sense is intoxication; the occurrences in 22:2 use the same adjective in the imagery of overwhelming terror.
- Lane · entry 41633
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:43word 8
“(are) intoxicated”
Quran 22:2word 15
“intoxicated”
Quran 22:2word 18
“(are) intoxicated”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 4:43سُكَـٰرَىٰ(are) intoxicated
- 15:15سُكِّرَتْhave been dazzled
- 15:72سَكْرَتِهِمْtheir intoxication
- 16:67سَكَرًۭاintoxicant
- 22:2سُكَـٰرَىٰintoxicated
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 25 Classical meanings
سَكِرَ
To become intoxicated, inebriated, or drunken.
The basic Form I verbal use; it is contrasted with becoming sober.
- Lane · entry 41621
سُكْر
Intoxication or drunkenness as a state obstructing the intellect.
Usually used of intoxicating drink, but also extended to states arising from anger or passionate love.
- Lane · entry 41627
سَكِرَ
To become violently angry or enraged.
A figurative Form I use, including the construction سَكِرَ عَلَيْهِ.
- Lane · entry 41621
سَكِرَ
To become full, especially of water.
Attested of a watering trough or tank becoming full.
- Lane · entry 41621
سَكِرَ
To become still or cease moving, flowing, boiling, or burning; to subside.
Used of wind, water, food or hot liquid ceasing to boil, and heat becoming allayed.
- Lane · entry 41621
سَكَرَ
To fill something.
A transitive use, distinct from the intransitive description of a container becoming full.
- Lane · entry 41621
سَكَرَ
To stop up or dam a river or rivulet; by extension, to close or block a door.
The object is a channel of water or, figuratively, a door.
- Lane · entry 41621
سَكَّرَ
To confuse or cloud a person's judgment concerning a matter.
Used of a person whose judgment is unsettled before deciding about the object of a need.
- Lane · entry 41622
سَكَّرَ
To squeeze or throttle someone, nearly killing him.
The recorded illustration describes one camel throttling another with its foreleg.
- Lane · entry 41622
أَسْكَرَ
To intoxicate or deprive someone of reason.
Form IV is used transitively of wine or another beverage affecting a person; it can also describe causing the after-effects of intoxication.
- Lane · entry 41623
تَسَاكَرَ
To feign intoxication or a state of drunkenness.
A reciprocal Form VI usage describing assumed rather than actual drunkenness.
- Lane · entry 41624
اِسْتَكَرَ
To become full or abundant.
Used of an udder becoming full of milk and of the sky raining vehemently.
- Lane · entry 41625
سِكْر
A dam or barrier by which a river or rivulet is stopped up.
A substantive denoting the physical obstruction, with plural سُكُور.
- Lane · entry 41628
سَكَر
Food.
A reported usage attributed to one authority and disputed by the leading lexicologists in the cited poetic example, where wine is considered more probable.
- Lane · entry 41629
سَكْرَة
A fit of anger.
A figurative extension of the noun's overpowering-state meaning.
- Lane · entry 41631
سَكْرَة
An overpowering sensation of delight affecting a young person.
A figurative noun use describing an overwhelming emotional state.
- Lane · entry 41631
سَكْرَة
The oppressive sensation, disturbance of mind, or insensibility accompanying anxiety or sleep.
A figurative extension parallel to the expression for the stupor of death; these are Classical uses rather than supplied Quranic occurrences of this construction.
- Lane · entry 41631
سَكَرَة
A plant identified with shaylam or a similar herb, reportedly used in an anaesthetic decoction.
A botanical meaning, distinct from the abstract noun سَكْرَة.
- Lane · entry 41632
سُكَّر
Sugar; by extension, something compared to sugar for its sweetness, including named sweet varieties of dates and grapes.
The entry describes the term as an Arabicized loanword and records several food-specific applications.
- Lane · entry 41636
سُكَّرِيّ
Sugary or saccharine; also a sweet cake containing sugar or barley sugar with nuts.
The adjective and the recorded food noun are included under this derived form.
- Lane · entry 41637
سَكَّار
A maker or seller of the beverage called نَبِيذ.
A professional or occupational noun synonymous with نَبَّاذ.
- Lane · entry 41638
سِكِّير
A habitual drunkard or tippler, one who intoxicates himself often.
An intensive personal adjective or noun describing repeated intoxication.
- Lane · entry 41639
سَاكِرَة
Still or motionless, especially of wind, a night, or water.
The recorded expressions describe a windless night and water that is no longer running.
- Lane · entry 41640
سَيْكُرَان
A particular evergreen plant whose grain is eaten; in later usage, a species of henbane.
A botanical term with variant identifications in the lexical record.
- Lane · entry 41641
مُسَكَّر
Affected by the lingering effects of intoxication.
A passive participial adjective describing residual rather than initial intoxication.
- Lane · entry 41642
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic سُكَارَى is an irregular plural and is displayed under the supported singular citation form سَكْرَان.
The sleep-based interpretation of سُكَارَى in 4:43 is recorded as an alternative reading of the passage, not as the primary lexical definition.
The vinegar interpretation of سَكَر in 16:67 is explicitly disputed in the lexical evidence.