ed-Durr is interpreted in five senses:
1. The term ed-Durr is used in the sense of calamity and hardship, as in the following verse:
Those who are patient in al-baʾsāʾ (that is, times of poverty) and al-ḍarrāʾ (that is, times of hardship and calamity)... (al-Baqara 2:177)
They were touched by al-baʾsāʾ and al-ḍarrāʾ (that is, calamity and hardship)... (al-Baqara 2:214)
A similar usage is found in Sūrat al-Zumar.
2. With the word ed-Durr, the lack of rain, i.e., drought, is meant, as in the following verses:
And We certainly sent [messengers] to nations before you. Then We seized them with al-baʾsāʾ (that is, poverty) and al-ḍarrāʾ (that is, drought/lack of rain) that perhaps they might humble themselves. (al-Anʿām 6:42)
And We did not send a prophet to any city except that We seized its people with al-baʾsāʾ and al-ḍarrāʾ (that is, drought/lack of rain) that they might humble themselves. (al-Aʿrāf 7:94)
And when We let the people taste mercy after adversity (al-ḍarrāʾ, that is, drought/lack of rain) has touched them... (Yūnus 10:21)
A similar usage is found in Sūrat al-Rūm.
3. With the word ed-Durr, terrifying situations at sea are meant, as in the following verse:
And when adversity (al-ḍurr, that is, a terrifying situation at sea) touches you at sea, all those you invoke vanish except Him. (al-Isrāʾ 17:67)
4. With ed-Durr, bodily illness and afflictions are meant, as in the following verses:
When adversity (al-ḍurr, that is, illness and affliction in the body) touches man, he calls upon Us whether lying on his side or sitting or standing. But when We remove his adversity (al-ḍurr, that is, his illness) from him, he passes on as if he had never called upon Us for adversity that touched him. (This verse was revealed concerning Abū Ḥudhayfa b. al-Mughīra.) (Yūnus 10:12)
A similar usage is found in Sūrat al-Zumar.
And [mention] Ayyūb, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity (al-ḍurr, that is, calamity and hardship) has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful." (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:83)
5. The word ed-Durr is used in the sense of deficiency or imperfection, as in the following verse:
They cannot harm you (give you any al-ḍurr, that is, deficiency/imperfection) at all. (al-Nisāʾ 4:113)