What does « To curse / To abandon » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To curse / To abandon (بهل) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

بهل

To curse / To abandon

Root: ب - ه - ل

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To curse / To abandon

The origin of 'bahl': leaving something unattended.

Al-bâhil: the camel left free from its bridle.

One says 'abhala nâqatahu' (he left his she-camel free).

Al-mubâhala: the mutual invocation where each party asks for Allah's curse on the liar.

Allah says: 'Then let us invoke Allah's curse upon the liars' (Âl 'Imrân: 61).

To curse / To abandon in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 1

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 61 Medinan

﴿فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ﴾

Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you - say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars [among us]."