What does « To stretch tightly » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To stretch tightly (شد) 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.

شد

To stretch tightly

Root: ش - د

Creed (aqida) 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 4 min read

Definition of To stretch tightly

Ash-shadd: the strong knot.

One says: I tightened the thing, I strengthened its knot.

The Almighty says: 'Strengthen through him my back' (Ta-Ha 31) said Moses for his brother Aaron.

Ash-shidda: strength and intensity. 'When he reached his full strength' (Al-Qasas 14): his physical maturity.

To stretch tightly in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Yunus 1

Ta-Ha 1

Al-Qasas 1

Sad 1

Muhammad 1

Al-Insan 1

Surah Yunus : 88 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةًۭ وَأَمْوَٰلًۭا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ﴾

And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."

Surah Ta-Ha : 31 Meccan

﴿ٱشْدُدْ بِهِۦٓ أَزْرِى﴾

Increase through him my strength

Surah Al-Qasas : 35 Meccan

﴿قَالَ سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجْعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلْطَـٰنًۭا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيْكُمَا ۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلْغَـٰلِبُونَ﴾

[Allah] said, "We will strengthen your arm through your brother and grant you both supremacy so they will not reach you. [It will be] through Our signs; you and those who follow you will be the predominant."

Surah Sad : 20 Meccan

﴿وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُۥ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ ٱلْخِطَابِ﴾

And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and discernment in speech.

Surah Muhammad : 4 Medinan

﴿فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍۢ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ﴾

So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.

Surah Al-Insan : 28 Medinan

﴿نَّحْنُ خَلَقْنَـٰهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَآ أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَآ أَمْثَـٰلَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا﴾

We have created them and strengthened their forms, and when We will, We can change their likenesses with [complete] alteration.

Words from the same root as To stretch tightly

رشد

Righteousness / Guidance

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم