Qasam

Qasam is an Arabic term primarily meaning an oath or vow. In transliteration from Arabic, it appears in several variants, including Qasām, Qasem, Qasim, Qassim, Qassam, Kasem, and Kassim. The word is used as a noun for an oath or pledge, and as a verb form related to swearing. Beyond its juridical sense, Qasam also occurs as a personal name or surname in various Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities.

Etymology and linguistic usage: The term derives from the root Q-S-M. The noun qasm (قَسْم) can mean oath, pledge, or portion, while the verb form qasama (قَسَمَ) means to swear or to divide. In everyday language, phrases invoking oaths may use qasm in literary or formal contexts, though common expressions for “I swear” often employ other constructions. In Islamic jurisprudence, oaths play a role in affirming truth or obligations, with rules governing their observance and the expiation for breaking them, known as kafara al-yamin.

Usage and cultural context: The concept of oath (qasm) is embedded in Qur’anic verses, religious poetry, and legal writings within the broader Arabic-speaking and Muslim world. As a given name, Qasam and its variants are used for males; as a surname, it appears in different spellings across regions with diverse linguistic influences.

Variants and transliteration: Variants arise from differences in transliteration from Arabic to Latin script. Common forms include Qasem, Qasim, Qassim, Qasem, Kasem, and Kassim. The form Qassam appears in some modern organizational or proper-name usages, though it is a distinct transliteration rather than a separate word.