al-Ahz is interpreted in five ways:
1. al-Ahz is used in the sense of acceptance; as in the following verses:
And when you persisted upon this condition, ahz {that is, did you accept my heavy covenant?} (Āl ʿImrān 3:81)
If you are given this, then ahz {that is, accept it}... (al-Māʾida 5:41)
Did they not know that Allah is the One who accepts tawba (repentance) from His servants and ahz {that is, accepts} charities... (al-Tawba 9:104)
No fidya (ransom) will be ahz {that is, accepted} from him. (al-Baqara 2:48)
Even if he offers every kind of fidya, it will not be ahz {that is, accepted} from him. (al-Anʿām 6:70)
Take to forgiveness, ahz {that is, accept what they offer you as charity from their wealth}! (al-Aʿrāf 7:199)
2. al-Ahz is used in the sense of habs [to detain, to hold back]; as in the following verses:
So, in his place, ahz {that is, detain / hold} one of us. (Yūsuf 12:78)
(Yusuf) said: "I seek refuge in Allah from ahz {that is, detaining / holding} anyone except the one with whom we found our property." (Yūsuf 12:79)
It was not for the king, by his law, to ahz {that is, detain / hold} his brother. (Yūsuf 12:76)
3. al-Ahz is used in the sense of punishment; as in the following verses:
So I ahz them {that is, punished them}; and how severe was My penalty. (al-Muʾmin 40:5)
And thus is the ahz {that is, punishment} of your Lord when He ahz {that is, punishes} the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His ahz (that is, punishment) is painful and severe. (Hūd 11:102)
So We ahz each one for his sin {that is, punished them}. (al-ʿAnkabūt 29:40)
4. al-Ahz is used in the sense of cutting off / killing; as in the following verse:
Every nation intended to ahz its messenger {that is, to kill / slay him}. (al-Muʾmin 40:5)
5. al-Ahz is used in the sense of taking captive; as in the following verses:
So when you encounter those polytheists, kill them wherever you find them and ahz them {that is, take them captive}! (al-Tawba 9:5)
But if they turn away, then ahz them {that is, take them captive}! (al-Nisāʾ 4:89)