What does « To chase / To drive away » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To chase / To drive away (خسأ) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

خسأ

To chase / To drive away

Root: خ - س

Quranic language 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To chase / To drive away

Khasa'tu al-kalb fa-khasa'a: I drove away the dog with contempt and it withdrew.

It is repelling with contempt.

Allah says: 'Be driven away (ikhsa'û) therein' (Al-Mu'minûn: 108).

The damned are chased into Hell like dogs.

To chase / To drive away in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

Al-A'raf 1

Al-Mu'minun 1

Al-Mulk 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 65 Medinan

﴿وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعْتَدَوْا۟ مِنكُمْ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ﴾

And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised."

Surah Al-A'raf : 166 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا۟ عَن مَّا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ﴾

So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 108 Meccan

﴿قَالَ ٱخْسَـُٔوا۟ فِيهَا وَلَا تُكَلِّمُونِ﴾

He will say, "Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.

Surah Al-Mulk : 4 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ﴾

Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.

Words from the same root as To chase / To drive away

بخس

To wrong / To diminish

خسر

Loss / Failure

خسف

To sink / To collapse

خمس

Five

خنس

To withdraw / To go back

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