They called
Initiating action by summoning another, not acting directly.
فَنَادَوْا صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ
“But, they called for their companion. Then he reached out and hamstrung”.
صَاحِبَهُمْ — their companion
His action remains attached to them despite using him as a proxy.
تَعَاطَىٰ — reached out
Took hold of the matter and engaged himself in the action.
عَقَرَ — hamstrung
Rendered the camel immobile by striking its hamstring.
“They called for their companion” — implications
Insights embedded in the choice of wording and the manner of action.
Proxy instead of direct action
They did not act themselves; instead, they summoned someone known for criminality to act on their behalf.
فَنَادَوْا — they called“Companion” binds the act to them
The use of صَاحِب (Saahib) suggests his deed remains associated with them, even if the proxy was meant to create distance.
صَاحِبَهُمْ — their companion
تَعَاطَىٰ — taking hold and engaging
The word conveys decisive involvement and seizing the matter.
Taking hold
To take hold of something like a sword or spear; to take the matter in one’s own hand.
Active engagement
Undertaking the action personally — engaging oneself in it.
Possible physical grasp
Understood as grabbing the camel, or seizing a sword to use against it.
عَقَرَ — disabling blow and hamstringing
Meanings centered on cutting, wounding, striking, and rendering immobile.
Root focus
The triliteral root ع – ق – ر revolves around:
cutting wounding striking rendering immobile
Specific usage
Refers to the disabling blow used to slaughter a sheep, and with respect to a camel, to hamstring it.
Cutting the camel’s hamstring makes it immobile and easy to slaughter — this is the meaning understood in this verse.
Key vocabulary at a glance
فَنَادَوْا
They called — initiating by summoning another.
صَاحِبَهُمْ (Saahib)
Companion — his deed remains attached to them.
تَعَاطَىٰ (Ta’aataa)
Took hold — engaged personally; seize object or situation.
عَقَرَ (‘Aqara)
Hamstrung — immobilizing strike to the camel’s hamstring.
Concise takeaways
What this verse wording highlights
- فَنَادَوْا صَاحِبَهُمْ signals reliance on a proxy rather than direct action.
- The term “companion” keeps the act tied to the group despite attempts to distance themselves.
- تَعَاطَىٰ conveys seizing the matter and actively engaging, possibly by grabbing the camel or a weapon.
- عَقَرَ centers on a disabling strike — hamstringing the camel to render it immobile.