What does « Defeat / To flee » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Defeat / To flee (هزم) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

هزم

Defeat / To flee

Root: ه - ز - م

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Defeat / To flee

Al-Hazm refers to defeat.

The Almighty says: 'They defeated them by the permission of Allah' (Al-Baqarah 251).

Hazamahum means to defeat them.

Al-mahzūm is the defeated.

Al-hazīmah is defeat.

Defeat / To flee in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

Sad 1

Al-Qamar 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 251 Medinan

﴿فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ﴾

So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingship and prophethood and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.

Surah Sad : 11 Meccan

﴿جُندٌ مَّا هُنَالِكَ مَهْزُومٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ﴾

[They are but] soldiers [who will be] defeated there among the companies [of disbelievers].

Surah Al-Qamar : 45 Meccan

﴿سَيُهْزَمُ ٱلْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ﴾

[Their] assembly will be defeated, and they will turn their backs [in retreat].