What does « ʿaṣb » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word ʿaṣb (عصب) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

عصب
ʿaṣb
Root: ع - ص - ب
Creed (aqida) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of ʿaṣb

Al-'asab: the tendons of joints.

Lahm 'asib: meat with many tendons.

Al-'usba and al-'isaba: the group bound by a cause.

The Almighty says: 'We are a strong group' (Yusuf 14). 'A group among you' (An-Nur 11).

ʿaṣb in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 1
Distribution of verses by surah
Yusuf 2
Hud 1
An-Nur 1
Al-Qasas 1
Surah Hud : 77 Meccan
﴿وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ﴾
And when Our messengers, [the angels], came to Lot, he was anguished for them and felt for them great discomfort and said, "This is a trying day."
Surah Yusuf : 8 Meccan
﴿إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ﴾
When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.
Surah Yusuf : 14 Meccan
﴿قَالُوا۟ لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ﴾
They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."
Surah An-Nur : 11 Medinan
﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو بِٱلْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُم مَّا ٱكْتَسَبَ مِنَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُۥ مِنْهُمْ لَهُۥ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾
Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you. For every person among them is what [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof - for him is a great punishment.
Surah Al-Qasas : 76 Meccan
﴿إِنَّ قَٰرُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْكُنُوزِ مَآ إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُۥ لَتَنُوٓأُ بِٱلْعُصْبَةِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ لَا تَفْرَحْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَرِحِينَ﴾
Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, "Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant.

Words from the same root as ʿaṣb

أصبع
Aṣbʿ
بخع
Bakhʿ
بدع
Badiʿ
برص
Braṣ
بصر
Bṣir
بصل
Baṣal
بضع
Baḍʿ
بعث
Baʿth

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إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

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Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ