عصم

عِصْمَةٌ ذ [mentioned in the Mgh as an inf. n., but said in the Msb to be a simple subst.,] primarily (TA) signifies مَنْعٌ [as meaning Prevention, or hindrance: or, as seems to be indicated by most of its subordinate applications, defence, or protection ]: (S, K, TA:) or, as some say, its primary signification is the act of tying, or binding; and hence the meaning of مَنْعٌ: or, accord. to Zj, it primarily signifies حَبْلٌ [i. e. a rope, or cord ]; and accord. to Mohammad Ibn-Neshwán El- Himyeree, سَبَبٌ and حَبْلٌ [which mean the same]. (TA.) Defence, or protection, (TA,) or preservation, (S, Msb, K,) [in an absolute sense, and] as an act of God, (Msb, TA,) from that which would cause destruction of a man. (TA.) عِصْمَةُ الأَنْبِيَاآءِ signifies God's preservation of the prophets; first, by the peculiar endowment of them with essential purity of constitution; then, by the conferring of large and highly-esteemed excellences; then, by aid against opponents, and rendering their feet firm; then, by sending down upon them tranquillity (السَّكِينَة, q. v.), [see the Kur ix. 26, &c.,] and the preservation of their hearts, or minds, and adaptation to that which is right. (Er-Rá- ghib, TA.) ― -b2- Also [ A defence as meaning] a defender from a state of perdition and from want: so in a saying of Aboo-Tálib, in praise of the Prophet, cited voce ثِمَالٌ. (TA.) ― -b3- And A faculty of avoiding, or shunning, acts of disobedience, [or of self-preservation therefrom, ] with possession of power to commit them: (El-Muná- wee, TA:) [or,] as used by the Muslim theologians, inability to disobey: or a disposition that prevents [ disobedience ], not such as constrains [ to act ]. (MF, TA.) ― -b4- عِصْمَةُ النِّكَاحِ means The tie, or bond, of marriage: [also called, in the present day, عِصْمَةُ المَرْأَةِ i. e. the woman's matrimonial tie or bond, which is in her husband's hand, or power: a term used by the lawyers:] one says, بِيَدِهِ عِصْمَةُ النِّكَاحِ i. e. [ In his hand, or power, is ] the tie, or bond, of marriage: pl. عِصَمٌ: whence, in the Kur [lx. 10], وَلَا تُمَسِّكُوا بِعِصَمِ الكَوَافِرِ [ And hold ye not to the matrimonial ties, or bonds, of the unbelieving women; meaning divorce ye such women: but the common reading is ولا تُمْسِكُوا, which signifies the same]. (TA.) ― -b5- See also عُصْمَةٌ.