سرح

Core meaning

To let go freely, without holding back: to give a wife her freedom, or to lead the flock out to pasture.

Uses

1. سَرَّحَ, تَسْرِيح → "to release", "a release" : to let the wife go, always with propriety.

   • «أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَٰنٍۢ» — "or a release in good grace" (2:229)
   • «أَوْ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ» — "or release them according to what is recognized" (2:231)

2. سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا → "a gracious release" : the formula that says the manner of letting go.

   • «وَسَرِّحُوهُنَّ سَرَاحًۭا جَمِيلًۭا» — "and release them with a gracious release" (33:49)

3. تَسْرَحُونَ → "to lead out to pasture" : to let the flock go toward open space, in the morning.

   • «وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ» — "and when you lead them out to pasture" (16:6)

Evidence from the text

The verb always goes with its opposite, to retain: "retain them according to what is recognized, or release them according to what is recognized" (2:231). It is not the break itself, but the manner of letting go, without constraint or harm; hence the "gracious release" (33:28, 33:49).

In 16:6 the same gesture opens the pasture: the flock brought back in the evening is let go in the morning.

Distinctions

• طلق — repudiation: the declared break, whereas سرح is the gesture of letting go

See also

مسك (to retain)