What does « To seize violently » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To seize violently (بطش) in the Quran, with 8 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

بطش

To seize violently

Root: ب - ط - ش

Quranic language 8 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To seize violently

Al-batsh (violent seizing): taking something with force and violence.

Allah says: 'And when you seize (batashtum), you seize as tyrants' (Ash-Shu'arâ': 130).

Allah says: 'Indeed the seizing (batsha) of your Lord is severe' (Al-Burûj: 12).

To seize violently in the Quran (8)

Meccan: 8 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-A'raf 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Al-Qasas 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

Ad-Dukhan 1

Qaf 1

Al-Qamar 1

Al-Buruj 1

Surah Al-A'raf : 195 Meccan

﴿أَلَهُمْ أَرْجُلٌ يَمْشُونَ بِهَآ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَيْدٍ يَبْطِشُونَ بِهَآ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَآ أَمْ لَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِ فَلَا تُنظِرُونِ﴾

Do they have feet by which they walk? Or do they have hands by which they strike? Or do they have eyes by which they see? Or do they have ears by which they hear? Say, [O Muhammad], "Call your 'partners' and then conspire against me and give me no respite.

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 130 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُم بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ﴾

And when you strike, you strike as tyrants.

Surah Al-Qasas : 19 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّآ أَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَبْطِشَ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقْتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۢا بِٱلْأَمْسِ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ﴾

And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders."

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 8 Meccan

﴿فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.

Surah Ad-Dukhan : 16 Meccan

﴿يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ ٱلْبَطْشَةَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰٓ إِنَّا مُنتَقِمُونَ﴾

The Day We will strike with the greatest assault, indeed, We will take retribution.

Surah Qaf : 36 Meccan

﴿وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا فَنَقَّبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَٰدِ هَلْ مِن مَّحِيصٍ﴾

And how many a generation before them did We destroy who were greater than them in [striking] power and had explored throughout the lands. Is there any place of escape?

Surah Al-Qamar : 36 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ أَنذَرَهُم بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا۟ بِٱلنُّذُرِ﴾

And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning.

Surah Al-Buruj : 12 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ﴾

Indeed, the vengeance of your Lord is severe.