What does « To return / To attack » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To return / To attack (كر) in the Quran, with 6 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

كر

To return / To attack

Root: ك - ر

Quranic language 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To return / To attack

Al-Karr refers to returning to attack after fleeing, the opposite of al-farr (fleeing).

The Almighty says: 'Then you turned back in retreat' (At-Tawbah 25).

Karra wa farra means he attacked and fled.

Takrīr means repetition.

To return / To attack in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

Al-Isra 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Az-Zumar 1

Al-Mulk 1

An-Nazi'at 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 167 Medinan

﴿وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةًۭ فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا۟ مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ حَسَرَٰتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ﴾

Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.

Surah Al-Isra : 6 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَـٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا﴾

Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 102 Meccan

﴿فَلَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةًۭ فَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾

Then if we only had a return [to the world] and could be of the believers... "

Surah Az-Zumar : 58 Meccan

﴿أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى كَرَّةًۭ فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾

Or [lest] it say when it sees the punishment, "If only I had another turn so I could be among the doers of good."

Surah Al-Mulk : 4 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًۭا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌۭ﴾

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

Surah An-Nazi'at : 12 Meccan

﴿قَالُوا۟ تِلْكَ إِذًۭا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٌۭ﴾

They say, "That, then, would be a losing return."

Words from the same root as To return / To attack

To abandon / To leave

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