k-r-h

Description

The Arabic root كره (k-r-h) conveys the core meaning of dislike, hatred, aversion, and compulsion or doing something unwillingly against one's natural inclination. In the Quran, it appears in contexts describing both human emotional rejection of divine guidance or truth, and the principle that religious faith cannot be imposed by force, as genuine belief must come from willing acceptance rather than coercion. The root's semantic range encompasses both the internal state of aversion and the external condition of being compelled, highlighting the contrast between voluntary devotion and reluctant compliance that is central to Quranic theology.