Quranic root
شكك
sh · k · k
The root centers on interpenetration, joining, or the bringing of things into contact. In the mental domain, doubt is understood as two incompatible possibilities being brought together without a settled judgment.
Concrete extensions include piercing, fastening, close connection, grouping, and being equipped with interconnected arms. The meaning of doubt develops from alternatives being confused or joined so that the mind finds no firm point of reliance.
- Maqāyīs · row 2678
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 15
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
شَكّ
shakk
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 15 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Doubt or uncertainty: a state in which two incompatible possibilities remain unsettled in the mind.
In Quranic usage, the doubt may concern whether something exists, what kind of thing it is, one of its qualities, or the purpose for which it exists. It is narrower than sheer lack of knowledge and may occur in constructions such as being in doubt about something.
- Lane · entry 38996
- Mufradāt · row 783
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 15 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 44 Classical meanings
شَكَّ
To doubt, waver, or be uncertain about something; said of an affair, to become dubious or confused.
The verb may be used with فِي for the matter about which one is uncertain.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To be difficult, hard, or distressing to someone; in another reported interpretation, to occasion doubt.
Used of a case or affair that presents difficulty or uncertainty.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To limp or halt slightly.
Used especially of a camel, including a slight lameness of the hind leg or an arm held against the side.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكٌّ
Cleaving or sticking closely to another thing; close union, including close relationship.
The lexical use extends to things or relationships that become closely attached.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To put on or attire oneself completely with arms or weapons.
The construction شَكَّ فِي السِّلَاحِ describes entering amid or being fully covered by one's weapons.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To pierce or transpierce someone or something with a spear, arrow, or similar weapon; in one usage, to pierce two things together.
The construction may emphasize joining the pierced objects on the weapon.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To traverse, cross, or cut through countries or districts in order to reach someone.
This is an extended use of the piercing or cutting-through sense.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To draw, join, or adjoin one thing to another; said of a garment, to draw it together and fasten it, or to let it hang down.
The meaning also occurs in expressions of things being conjoined or grasped together.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكُّوا
To place tents in one regular row or series, near together.
This is a conventional plural-verb construction describing an orderly arrangement of tents.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To make relationships closely connected, or to assert that someone is connected with another's lineage.
The passive use can describe a person being made or asserted to belong to another lineage.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّ
To make the stitch-holes in a garment far apart.
This specialized sewing use is reported with a meaning opposite to close joining.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكِكْتُ
To incline toward, trust, rely, or rest upon someone or something.
This use is distinguished by the kasra in the first radical and expresses reliance or finding ease in the relied-upon object.
- Lane · entry 38992
شَكَّكَنِي فِيهِ
To cause someone to doubt, waver, or become uncertain about something.
The causative Form II construction places the affected person in doubt regarding the matter.
- Lane · entry 38993
يَوْمُ الشَّكِّ
A day whose position in the calendar is uncertain, especially the day that may be either the end of Shaʿbān or the beginning of Ramaḍān.
A conventional expression for uncertainty between the last day of one month and the first of the next.
- Lane · entry 38996
شَكٌّ
A small crack in a bone.
- Lane · entry 38996
شَكٌّ
A seam or line of sewing in a garment.
- Lane · entry 38996
شَكٌّ
A coat of mail composed of narrow rings.
This meaning is reported as an attributed lexical gloss and is distinct from the ordinary noun meaning “doubt.”
- Lane · entry 38996
شَكٌّ
Arsenic or ratsbane, a poisonous medicament used to destroy rats.
The substance is described as occurring in white and yellow kinds.
- Lane · entry 38996
شِكٌّ
A covering placed over the two curved extremities of a bow.
- Lane · entry 38997
شَكَّةٌ
A single piercing through two riders on a horse.
- Lane · entry 38998
شُكَّةٌ
A distant region or stretch of country toward which one directs oneself.
The expression is equated with شُقَّةٌ in the cited idiom.
- Lane · entry 38999
شِكَّةٌ
Arms or weapons worn on the body.
- Lane · entry 39000
شِكَّةٌ
A broad piece of wood inserted into the handle-hole of an axe or similar tool to narrow and secure it.
- Lane · entry 39000
شِكَّةٌ
Discordance in natural dispositions or character.
Used in the expression مُخْتَلِفُ الشِّكَّةِ.
- Lane · entry 39000
شَكِكٌ
A camel that limps or halts because of slight lameness.
- Lane · entry 39001
شُكُكٌ
Persons who claim a relationship they do not properly possess, including alleged or adopted sons.
The form is reported as a plural expression for people involved in a disputed claim of lineage.
- Lane · entry 39002
شِكَاكٌ
Tents arranged in a row.
The expression may be used of pitching tents in one line, though an alternative derivation is also reported.
- Lane · entry 39003
شَكُوكٌ
A she-camel whose fatness is uncertain because thick fur conceals whether her hump is full.
A specialized, figurative description of uncertainty about the animal's condition.
- Lane · entry 39004
شُكُوكٌ
Sides or lateral portions.
- Lane · entry 39005
شَكَاكَةٌ
A region, quarter, tract, or section of land.
- Lane · entry 39006
شَكِيكَةٌ
A party, sect, distinct body, or class of people; in the plural, distinct bodies of soldiers.
- Lane · entry 39007
شَكِيكَةٌ
A way, course, mode, or manner of acting or conducting oneself.
Used in the expression عَلَى شَكِيكَتِهِ, “following his way or manner.”
- Lane · entry 39007
شَكِيكَةٌ
Natural disposition or character.
- Lane · entry 39007
شَكِيكَةٌ
A basket used for holding fruit.
- Lane · entry 39007
شَكَائِكُ
Joined pieces of wood forming the tent-like tops of covered vehicles.
This plural technical use refers to the wooden framework of a هَوْدَج.
- Lane · entry 39007
شُكُكَّةٌ
A vulgar term for a woman regarded as well-proportioned, beautiful, slender, active, and clever.
The entry explicitly restricts this colloquial application to a woman.
- Lane · entry 39008
شَكِّىٌّ
Difficult, said of a bit or bridle.
- Lane · entry 39009
شَكْشَكَةٌ
Sharp arms or weapons, or the sharpness of arms or weapons.
The noun may denote either the weapons themselves or their sharpness.
- Lane · entry 39011
شَاكٌّ
Completely armed or clad in a full set of weapons.
Used in constructions describing a person or group fully equipped with arms or iron armor.
- Lane · entry 39012
رَحِمٌ شَاكَّةٌ
A close or near relationship.
A conventional description of closely united kinship.
- Lane · entry 39012
شَاكَّةٌ
A tumour in the throat or fauces.
The term is reported especially in connection with children.
- Lane · entry 39013
مِشَكٌّ
A thong used to join or fasten parts of a coat of mail.
- Lane · entry 39014
مَشْكُوكٌ
Doubted or subject to doubt, said of an affair or case.
The cited expression is مَشْكُوكٌ فِيهِ or an affair described as containing doubt.
- Lane · entry 39015
مَشْكُوكٌ
Made firm or strong, said of a pulpit.
This is a separate reported use, equivalent to مَشْدُودٌ.
- Lane · entry 39015
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Lane match is based on contraction of the geminated QAC root شكك to the Lane root شك.
The Quranic form in this packet is the noun شَكّ; the many additional senses are Classical Arabic uses of homonymous or derived forms and are kept separate from the Quranic sense.