What does « Barren / To cut » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Barren / To cut (عقر) in the Quran, with 8 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

عقر

Barren / To cut

Root: ع - ق - ر

Creed (aqida) 8 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Barren / To cut

'Uqr al-hawd and ad-dar: their origin and base.

One also says 'aqr.

The Almighty says: 'The one who will kill it' (Ash-Shams 14) the she-camel. 'Aqara means cutting the hamstrings. 'My wife is barren' (Al 'Imran 40).

Barren / To cut in the Quran (8)

Meccan: 7 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Maryam 2

Âl 'Imrân 1

Al-A'raf 1

Hud 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Al-Qamar 1

Ash-Shams 1

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 40 Medinan

﴿قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ﴾

He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" The angel said, "Such is Allah; He does what He wills."

Surah Al-A'raf : 77 Meccan

﴿فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰصَٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ﴾

So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Salih, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers."

Surah Hud : 65 Meccan

﴿فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فِى دَارِكُمْ ثَلَٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ذَٰلِكَ وَعْدٌ غَيْرُ مَكْذُوبٍ﴾

But they hamstrung her, so he said, "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be denied."

Surah Maryam : 5 Meccan

﴿وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَٰلِىَ مِن وَرَآءِى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا﴾

And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir

Surah Maryam : 8 Meccan

﴿قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا﴾

He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?"

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 157 Meccan

﴿فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ نَٰدِمِينَ﴾

But they hamstrung her and so became regretful.

Surah Al-Qamar : 29 Meccan

﴿فَنَادَوْا۟ صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ﴾

But they called their companion, and he dared and hamstrung [her].

Surah Ash-Shams : 14 Meccan

﴿فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا﴾

But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].

Words from the same root as Barren / To cut

To swallow / To drink

حرق

To burn / To set ablaze

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم