Core sense — forbidden, unlawful, sacred; a mare kept for breeding; understanding, reasongenerated
1forbidden, prohibited, unlawful, inviolable, or sacred—حُجْرٌ
Also حَجْرٌ, and مَحْجَرٌ and حَاجُورٌ [and مَحْجُورٌ]; of these the first is the most chaste. Each of the first three forms occurs in different readings of 6:139.
this is forbidden, or unlawful, to you—هٰذَا حِجْرٌ عَلَيْكَ
it is strictly forbidden to you [to commit an act of hostility against me] in this month—حِجْرًا مَحْجُورًا
In the time of paganism a man meeting another whom he feared, in a sacred month, used to say this, and the other would then abstain from any aggression against him. So too, on the day of resurrection, the polytheists, when they see the punishment, will say it to the angels, thinking that it will profit them.
Az says that I'Ab and his companions explain these words [in 25:24] otherwise: as said by the angels, and meaning that the joyful announcement is forbidden to be made to you. According to El-Hasan, the former word will be said by the sinners and the latter by God, meaning that it will be forbidden to them to be granted refuge or protection as they used to be in their former life in the world. Az adds that it is more proper to regard the two words as composing one saying, the latter being a corroborative of the former, like مَائِتٌ in the expression مَوْتٌ مَائِتٌ.
[I pray for] preservation, and freedom, from this thing—حِجْرًا
The same words in 25:55 signify a strong mutual repugnance, or incongruity, as though each said what one says who seeks refuge or protection from another; or, as some say, a defined limit.
Said in reply when a man asks another, “Do you do so and so, O such a one?” Also حُجْرًا or حَجْرًا. The meaning comes back to that of prohibition, and of a thing that is prohibited.
may it be averted—حُجْرًا لَهُ
With ḍamm; said by the Arabs on the occasion of a thing they disapprove.
Qur’ān 6:139 approximate — somewhere between 6:125 and 6:151 Lane cites “Kur vi. 139”
Lane cites “Kur xxv. 24” — Flügel numbering, not yet mapped
Lane cites “Kur xxv. 55” — Flügel numbering, not yet mapped
Qur’ān 6:138 located by this root inside the range Lane’s citation allows
وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَنْعَـٰمٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَّا يَطْعَمُهَآ إِلَّا مَن نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ لَّا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا ٱفْتِرَآءً عَلَيْهِ ۚ سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَAnd they say that such and such cattle and crops are taboo, and none should eat of them except those whom - so they say - We wish; further, there are cattle forbidden to yoke or burden, and cattle on which, (at slaughter), the name of Allah is not pronounced; - inventions against Allah's name: soon will He requite them for their inventions.Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)
1.1
Homeyd Ibn-Thowr says
shāhidفَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَغْشَى إِلَيْهَا مَحْجَرًاوَلَمِثْلُهَا يُغْشَى إِلَيْهِ المَحْجَرُ
, meaning: And I purposed doing to her a forbidden action; and indeed one like her is one to whom what is forbidden is done.
مَحْجَرٌ is also explained as meaning حُرْمَةٌ [apparently a thing from which one is bound to refrain, out of respect or reverence], and as having this meaning in the verse above.
1.2
Also, the first of these words: any حَائِط [i.e. garden, or walled garden of palm-trees] which one closes to the public.
1.3the space enclosed by the حَطِيم, the curved wall that surrounds the Kaʿbah—الحِجْرُ
That is, on the north — or rather north-west — side, on the side of the spout. Or it is the curved wall حطيم [itself], which surrounds the Kaʿbah on the side of the spout. It is applied to both of these in the present day, but more commonly to the former.
1.4the front private parts of a man or of a woman—حِجْرٌ
Also حَجْرٌ, which is the more chaste.
1.5
A mare; the female of the horse. Also a mare kept for breeding, as though her womb were forbidden to all but generous horses; but in this latter sense the singular is scarcely ever used, though its plural — the first of the forms below, as well as the second — is used for mares kept for breeding.
حِجْرَةٌ as a singular is said by F and others to be a barbarism. It occurs in a tradition, but perhaps the ة is added there to make it match بَغْلَةٌ, with which it is coupled.
The plural of paucity is أَحْجَارٌ, and the plurals of multitude are حُجُورٌ and حُجُورَةٌ.
A poet says
shāhidإِذَا خَرِسَ الفَحْلُ وَسْطَ الحُجُورِوَصَاحَ الكِلَابُ وَعَقَّ الوَلَدْ
: When the stallion, seeing the army and the gleaming swords, is mute in the midst of the mares kept for breeding and does not look towards them, and the dogs bark at their masters because their appearances have changed, and children behave undutifully to their mothers, whom fear keeps from attending to them.
1.6
Relationship [that prohibits marriage]; nearness with respect to kindred.
1.7in that is a warning to one who possesses understanding—فِى ذٰلِكَ عِبْرَةٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ
Understanding, intelligence, mind, or reason; so in 89:4. So called because it forbids what one ought not to do.
Qur’ān 89:4 approximate — somewhere between 89:1 and 89:29 Lane cites “Kur lxxxix. 4”
Qur’ān 89:5 located by this root inside the range Lane’s citation allows
هَلْ فِى ذَٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِّذِى حِجْرٍIs there (not) in these an adjuration (or evidence) for those who understand?Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)
2
See also حَجُرٌ, in three places.
Qur’ānic occurrences حِجْر
6:138
وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَنْعَـٰمٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَّا يَطْعَمُهَآ إِلَّا مَن نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ لَّا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا ٱفْتِرَآءً عَلَيْهِ ۚ سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَAnd they say that such and such cattle and crops are taboo, and none should eat of them except those whom - so they say - We wish; further, there are cattle forbidden to yoke or burden, and cattle on which, (at slaughter), the name of Allah is not pronounced; - inventions against Allah's name: soon will He requite them for their inventions.
15:80
وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْحِجْرِ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَThe Companions of the Rocky Tract also rejected the messengers:
25:22
يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ لَا بُشْرَىٰ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُجْرِمِينَ وَيَقُولُونَ حِجْرًا مَّحْجُورًاThe Day they see the angels,- no joy will there be to the sinners that Day: The (angels) will say: "There is a barrier forbidden (to you) altogether!"
25:53
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَرَجَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخًا وَحِجْرًا مَّحْجُورًاIt is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water: One palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter; yet has He made a barrier between them, a partition that is forbidden to be passed.
89:5
هَلْ فِى ذَٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِّذِى حِجْرٍIs there (not) in these an adjuration (or evidence) for those who understand?
Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.
Show Lane's original text
(S A, Mgh, Msb, K) and حُجْرٌ (S, Mgh, Msb, K) and حَجْرٌ , (S, K,) of which the first is the most chaste, (S,) and مَحْجَرٌ (S, K) and حَاجُورٌ (K) [and مَحْجُورٌ ], Forbidden, prohibited, unlawful, inviolable, or sacred. (S, A, Mgh, Msb, K.) Each of the first three forms occurs in different readings of the Kur vi. 139. (S.) You say, هٰذَا حِجْرٌ عَلَيْكَ This is forbidden, or unlawful, to thee. (A.) In the time of paganism, a man meeting another whom he feared, in a sacred month, used to say, حِجْرًا مَحْجُورًا , meaning It is rigorously forbidden to thee [to commit an act of hostility against me] in this month: and the latter, thereupon, would abstain from any aggression against him: and so, on the day of resurrection, the polytheists, when they see the punishment, will say to the angels, thinking that it will profit them: (Lth, S: *) but Az says that I' Ab and his companions explain these words [occurring in the Kur xxv. 24] otherwise, i. e., as said by the angels, and meaning, the joyful annunciation is forbidden to be made to you: and accord. to El-Hasan, the former word will be said by the sinners, and the latter is said by God, meaning it will be forbidden to them to be granted refuge or protection as they used to be in their former life in the world: but Az adds, it is more proper to regard the two words as composing one saying: (TA:) and the latter word is a corroborative of the former, like مَائِتٌ in the expression مَوْتٌ مَائِتٌ . (Bd.) The same words in the Kur xxv. 55 signify A strong mutual repugnance, or incongruity; as though each said what one says who seeks refuge or protection from another: or, as some say, a defined limit. (Bd.) A man says to another, “ Dost thou so and so, O such a one?” and the latter replies حِجْرًا , or حُجْرًا , or حَجْرًا , meaning [I pray for] preservation, and acquitment, from this thing; a meaning reducible to that of prohibition, and of a thing that is prohibited. (Sb.) The Arabs say, on the occasion of a thing that they disapprove, حُجْرًا لَهُ , with damm, meaning, May it be averted. (S.) Homeyd Ibn-Thowr says, 1 meaning, And I purposed doing to her a forbidden action: and verily the like of her is one to whom that which is forbidden is done. (S, K.) مَحْجَرٌ is also explained as signifying حُرْمَةٌ ; [app. meaning a thing from which one is bound to refrain, from a motive of respect or reverence;] and to have this meaning in the verse above. (Az.) فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَغْشَى إِلَيْهَا مَحْجَرًا | وَلَمِثْلُهَا يُغْشَى إِلَيْهِ المَحْجَرُ Also, the first of these words, Any حَائِط [i. e. garden, or walled garden of palm-trees,] which one prohibits [to the public]. (S.) And الحِجْرُ That [space] which is comprised by [the curved wall called] the حَطِيم , (S, A, Mgh, K,) which encompasses the Kaabeh on the north [or rather north-west] side; (S, A, K;) on the side of the spout: (Mgh:) or the حطيم [itself], which encompasses the Kaabeh on the side of the spout. (Msb.) [It is applied to both of these in the present day; but more commonly to the former.] Also, حِجْرٌ , The anterior pudendum of a man and of a woman; and so حَجْرٌ : (K, TA:) the latter the more chaste. (TA.) A mare; the female of the horse: (S, A, Msb, K:) and a mare kept for breeding; (A;) as though her womb were forbidden to all but generous horses: (T:) but in the latter sense the sing. is scarcely ever used; though its pl., the first of the following forms, (as well as the second, A,) is used to signify mares kept for breeding: (K:) حِجْرَةٌ , as a sing., is said by F and others to be a barbarism: it occurs in a trad.; but perhaps the ة is there added to assimilate it to بَغْلَةٌ , with which it is there coupled: (MF:) the pl. [of pauc.] is أَحْجَارٌ (Msb, K) and [of mult.] حُجُورٌ (A, Msb, K) and حُجُورَةٌ . (K.) A poet says, 1 When the stallion, seeing the army and the gleaming swords, is mute in the midst of the mares kept for breeding, and does not look towards them, and the dogs bark at their masters, because of the change of their appearances, and children behave undutifully to their mothers whom fear diverts from attending to them. (A.) إِذَا خَرِسَ الفَحْلُ وَسْطَ الحُجُورِ | وَصَاحَ الكِلَابُ وَعَقَّ الوَلَدْ Relationship [that prohibits marriage]; nearness with respect to kindred. (Msb, K.) Understanding, intelligence, intellect, mind, or reason: (S, A, Msb, K:) so in the Kur lxxxix. 4: (S, Bd:) thus called because it forbids that which it does not behoove one to do. (Bd.) One says, فِى ذٰلِكَ عِبْرَةٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ In that is an admonition to him who possesses understanding, &c. (A.) See also حَجُرٌ , in three places.