Discover the meaning of the term Al-ʿhd (عهد) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readKeeping a thing and observing it, state after state: that is its root; then it was used for the binding document (mawthiq) that must be observed, which is the intended sense.
In language: keeping a thing and observing it, state after state: that is its root; then it was used for the binding document that must be observed. In 'Al-Kulliyyat': al-'ahd is the binding document; it was used for what merits being observed and maintained, such as speech, resolution, oath, testament, guarantee, safekeeping, time, and command. One says: ''ahidtu ilayhi bi-l-amri ya'idu' (of the farih root) ''ahdan': I enjoined it on him, placing it in his trust and guarantee. God Most High said: 'a-lam a'had ilaykum ya bani Adama an la ta'budu ash-shaytan' (Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan?).
''Ahidtu fulanan illa fulanan' 'ahdan': to cast the pledge to him and enjoin him to keep it. In the noble Quran: 'a-lam a'had ilaykum ya bani Adama an la ta'budu ash-shaytan, innahu lakum 'aduwwun mubin, wa-an i'buduni hadha siratun mustaqim' (Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan? He is to you a manifest enemy. And: worship Me; this is a straight path) (Ya-Sin, 60-61). ''Ahada ash-shay'': he knew it. ''Ahada fulanan bi-makan kadha': he met him at such a place.
Keeping a thing and observing it, state after state; then it was used for the binding document (mawthiq) that is required.
﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مِيثَـٰقِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ﴾
« Who break the covenant of Allah after contracting it and sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers. »
Surah البقرة : 27
﴿يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِىٓ أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ﴾
« O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me. »
Surah البقرة : 40
﴿وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَةًۭ ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًۭا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ﴾
« And they say, "Never will the Fire touch us, except for a few days." Say, "Have you taken a covenant with Allah? For Allah will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allah that which you do not know?" »
Surah البقرة : 80
﴿أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ عَهْدًۭا نَّبَذَهُۥ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُم ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾
« Is it not [true] that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away? But, [in fact], most of them do not believe. »
Surah البقرة : 100
﴿۞ وَإِذِ ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَـٰتٍۢ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّى جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًۭا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ﴾
« And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." »
Surah البقرة : 124
﴿وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا ٱلْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةًۭ لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًۭا وَٱتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ مُصَلًّۭى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْعَـٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ﴾
« And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]." »
Surah البقرة : 125
This term appears in 33 verses of the Quran.