What does « Adversary / Dispute » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Adversary / Dispute (خصم) in the Quran, with 17 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

خصم

Adversary / Dispute

Root: خ - ص - م

Creed (aqida) 17 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Adversary / Dispute

Al-khasm: source of 'khasamtuhu' (I disputed with him).

One says 'khâsamtuhu wa-khtasamtu ma'ahu' (I fought with him in dispute).

Allah says: 'These are two adversaries (khasmân) who dispute' (Al-Hajj: 19).

The Quran describes believers and disbelievers as adversaries.

Adversary / Dispute in the Quran (17)

Meccan: 13 Medinan: 4

Distribution of verses by surah

Sad 4

Ya-Sin 2

Az-Zukhruf 2

Al-Baqara 1

Âl 'Imrân 1

An-Nisa 1

An-Nahl 1

Al-Hajj 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

An-Naml 1

+ 2 more surahs

Surah Al-Baqara : 204 Medinan

﴿وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ﴾

And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 44 Medinan

﴿ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾

That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.

Surah An-Nisa : 105 Medinan

﴿إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِمَآ أَرَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمًا﴾

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate.

Surah An-Nahl : 4 Meccan

﴿خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ﴾

He created man from a sperm-drop; then at once, he is a clear adversary.

Surah Al-Hajj : 19 Medinan

﴿هَٰذَانِ خَصْمَانِ ٱخْتَصَمُوا۟ فِى رَبِّهِمْ فَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارٍ يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِمُ ٱلْحَمِيمُ﴾

These are two adversaries who have disputed over their Lord. But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 96 Meccan

﴿قَالُوا۟ وَهُمْ فِيهَا يَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾

They will say while they dispute therein,

Surah An-Naml : 45 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَٰلِحًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَإِذَا هُمْ فَرِيقَانِ يَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾

And We had certainly sent to Thamud their brother Salih, [saying], "Worship Allah," and at once they were two parties conflicting.

Surah Ya-Sin : 49 Meccan

﴿مَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَٰحِدَةً تَأْخُذُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَخِصِّمُونَ﴾

They do not await except one blast which will seize them while they are disputing.

Surah Ya-Sin : 77 Meccan

﴿أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ﴾

Does man not consider that We created him from a [mere] sperm-drop - then at once he is a clear adversary?

Surah Sad : 21 Meccan

﴿وَهَلْ أَتَىٰكَ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَصْمِ إِذْ تَسَوَّرُوا۟ ٱلْمِحْرَابَ﴾

And has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber -

Surah Sad : 22 Meccan

﴿إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ دَاوُۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ خَصْمَانِ بَغَىٰ بَعْضُنَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تُشْطِطْ وَٱهْدِنَآ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ﴾

When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.

Surah Sad : 64 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَحَقٌّ تَخَاصُمُ أَهْلِ ٱلنَّارِ﴾

Indeed, that is truth - the quarreling of the people of the Fire.

Surah Sad : 69 Meccan

﴿مَا كَانَ لِىَ مِنْ عِلْمٍۭ بِٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰٓ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾

I had no knowledge of the exalted assembly [of angels] when they were disputing [the creation of Adam].

Surah Az-Zumar : 31 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾

Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord, will dispute.

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 18 Meccan

﴿أَوَمَن يُنَشَّؤُا۟ فِى ٱلْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُبِينٍ﴾

So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident [attributed to Allah]?

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 58 Meccan

﴿وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَٰلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًۢا بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ﴾

And they said, "Are your gods better, or is he?" They did not present the comparison except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute.

Surah Qaf : 28 Meccan

﴿قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا۟ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ﴾

[Allah] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning.