What does « To incite / To arouse » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To incite / To arouse (حرض) 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.

حرض

To incite / To arouse

Root: ح - ر - ض

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

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Definition of To incite / To arouse

Al-harad: what has no value and is of no use.

What is on the verge of destruction is called 'harad'.

Allah says: 'Until you become consumed (harad)' (Yûsuf: 85).

Jacob risked consuming himself with grief for Joseph.

To incite / To arouse in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nisa 1

Al-Anfal 1

Yusuf 1

Surah An-Nisa : 84 Medinan

﴿فَقَٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا﴾

So fight, [O Muhammad], in the cause of Allah; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allah will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allah is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.

Surah Al-Anfal : 65 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلْقِتَالِ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَٰبِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ﴾

O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.

Surah Yusuf : 85 Meccan

﴿قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا۟ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْهَٰلِكِينَ﴾

They said, "By Allah, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish."