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The question

What is the meaning of the words "عسى" (ʿasā) and "لعل" (laʿalla) in the Holy Qur’an?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

The meaning of "عسى" (perhaps/may) in the Arabic language is compassion and coveting the proximity of something, and it is one of the verbs of approximation. When "عسى" comes from Allah Almighty, its meaning is realization and obligation; it is a truth and an imperative throughout the entire Qur'an, except in the verse of divorce.

As for "لعل" (so that/perhaps), in the language, it is a particle of hope, expectation, compassion, causation, and interrogation. It appears in the Holy Qur'an with these meanings according to the context in which it is mentioned.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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