Discover the meaning of the term Al-aḥtras (احتراس) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readIt is to add, in speech that might suggest the opposite of the aim, what repels that suggestion, that is, to bring something that dispels that illusion, as in the Most High's saying: 'fa-sawfa ya'ti Allahu bi-qawmin yuhibbuhum wa-yuhibbunahu adhillatin 'ala l-mu'minina a'izzatin 'ala l-kafirin' (God will bring a people He loves and who love Him, humble toward the believers, mighty against the rejecters). Had the Most High rested with describing them as humble toward the believers, one might have understood this to be from weakness, which is contrary to the aim; so He added, by way of completion: 'mighty against the rejecters'.
It is to add, in speech that might suggest the contrary of the aim, what repels that illusion, as in: 'la yahtimannakum Sulaymanu wa-junuduhu wa-hum la yash'urun' (Solomon and his hosts will not crush you while they perceive not).
It is to add, in speech that might suggest the contrary of the aim, what repels that illusion, that is, to bring what dispels that suggestion, as in the Most High's saying: 'fa-sawfa ya'ti llahu bi-qawmin yuhibbuhum wa-yuhibbunahu adhillatin 'ala l-mu'minina a'izzatin 'ala l-kafirin'. Had the Most High rested with describing them as humble toward the believers, one might have understood it to be from weakness, which is contrary to the aim; so He added, by way of completion: 'mighty against the rejecters'.
Adding to speech that might suggest the contrary of what is meant what repels that illusion. (At-Tawqif 'ala muhimmat at-ta'rif, p. 39).
The like of the foregoing.
Adding, in speech that might suggest the contrary of what is meant, what repels it (see At-Ta'rifat, p. 12).