Quranic root
شقق
sh · q · q
The root centers on cleaving or producing an opening, with extensions to splitting into parts, occupying different sides, distance and hardship, and separation or opposition.
The basic image of an object cleaved or divided yields meanings for a fissure, half or side, a distant tract reached with difficulty, and figurative division or adversarial separation.
- Maqāyīs · row 2668
- 9
- Quran-attested forms
- 10
- Quran senses
- 28
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
شَقَّ
shaqqa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 2 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.
to cleave, split, or cut something open
Transitive Form I usage; the object may be divided into parts or opened without complete separation.
- Lane · entry 38896
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 80:26word 2
“We cleaved”
to make difficult, burden, or distress
Used with عَلَى to describe an affair or action as difficult for someone, or to impose a burdensome condition.
- Lane · entry 38896
Selected Quran examples
Quran 28:27word 22
“make it difficult”
شَاقَّ
shāqqa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form III
- Form
- III
- Quran occurrences
- 7 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.
to oppose or act adversely toward someone; to take an opposing side
A reciprocal or adversarial construction: each party is situated in a side opposed to the other, often with a person, God, or the Messenger as the object of opposition.
- Lane · entry 38898
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 8:13word 3
“opposed”
Quran 4:115word 2
“opposes”
تَشَقَّقَ
tashaqqaqa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- Quran occurrences
- 3 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.
to split apart or open into fissures
The Form V development describes an object becoming cleft, often with an extended or repeated splitting.
- Lane · entry 38900
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 25:25word 2
“will split open”
Quran 2:74word 22
“split”
اِنْشَقَّ
āinshaqqa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VII
- Form
- VII
- Quran occurrences
- 5 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.
to become split, cleft, or opened apart
In Quranic usage, the subject is a heavenly or cosmic body that becomes divided or opened, including the moon and sky.
- Lane · entry 38902
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 54:1word 3
“and has split”
Quran 69:16word 1
“And will split”
شَقّ
shaqq
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
cleaving or splitting
A verbal noun denoting the act of cleaving or splitting, as in the preparation of the earth.
- Lane · entry 38896
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 80:26word 4
“splitting”
شِقَاق
shiqāq
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 7 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.
dissension, opposition, or schism
The state of being in a side opposed to another; used for conflict, disagreement, or adversarial separation between parties.
- Lane · entry 38898
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:137word 14
“dissension”
Quran 22:53word 15
“schism”
شِقّ
shiqq
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
hardship, difficulty, or distress
Used in the expression بِشِقِّ الأَنْفُسِ for the severe effort or distress required to reach a destination.
- Lane · entry 38907
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:7word 9
“with great trouble”
شُقَّة
shuqqah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
a distant tract or journey, especially one difficult to reach
Refers to the distance, route, or destination whose remoteness makes travel burdensome.
- Lane · entry 38908
- Mufradāt · row 778
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:42word 11
“the distance”
أَشَقّ
ʾashaqq
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
harder or more difficult
Comparative adjective describing a greater degree of difficulty or severity.
- Lane · entry 38922
- Lane · entry 38896
Selected Quran examples
Quran 13:34word 8
“(is) harder”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:74يَشَّقَّقُsplit
- 2:137شِقَاقٍۢ ۖdissension
- 2:176شِقَاقٍۭschism
- 4:35شِقَاقَa dissension
- 4:115يُشَاقِقِopposes
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 52 Classical meanings
شَقَّ
to break communal unity or a compact of allegiance; to cause disunion and dissension
Figurative use in expressions involving splitting the staff of a community or obedience.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّ
to divide something into equal portions
Used of dividing an object lengthwise so that the resulting parts are equal.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّ
to break through and emerge
Said of a tooth or plant appearing as it cleaves the gum or ground.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّ
for dawn to rise or appear
Figurative intransitive use, as though dawn cleaves its place of rising.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّ
for lightning to cleave or spread through the clouds
Describes lightning extending upward or spreading broadly through the sky.
- Lane · entry 38896
- Lane · entry 38902
شَقَّ
to pass along a way or cross a river
Figurative uses based on cutting or furrowing a path; crossing a river is described as swimming across it.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّ
to open a passage or channel for water to flow
Used of making a vent, opening, or channel through which water emerges.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّ
to discompose, derange, or disorder an affair
Figurative use of an affair or state of affairs becoming incongruous or disorganized.
- Lane · entry 38896
- Lane · entry 38902
شَقَّ
to cut off or articulate speech
The lexical report allows divergent explanations for شَقَّ الكلامَ, including breaking off speech or uttering it distinctly.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّ بَصَرُ المَيِّتِ
for the eyes of a dying person to become fixedly open
A specialized intransitive expression for the fixed, raised, or unreturning gaze associated with approaching death.
- Lane · entry 38896
شُقَّ
to develop the cracking disease called شُقَاق
Said of a solid hoof or pastern affected by cracks.
- Lane · entry 38896
شَقَّقَ
to utter or pronounce speech with cultivated fluency
Form II usage can imply repeated effort to produce speech in the best manner.
- Lane · entry 38897
أَشَقَّ النَّخْلُ
for palm trees to put forth their emerging shoots
A specialized botanical expression referring to the شَوَاقّ of the palm.
- Lane · entry 38899
تَشَقَّقَ
for a horse to become lean and light of flesh
Figurative or specialized use said of a horse that is slender and lean.
- Lane · entry 38900
تَشَاقَّا
for two adversaries to wrangle, quarrel, or contend
Reciprocal Form VI use in a dispute, with the parties taking opposite directions in contention.
- Lane · entry 38901
اِنْشَقَّ
to seem to split from intense anger
Figurative expression describing an angry person's interior as filled to the point of splitting.
- Lane · entry 38902
اِشْتَقَّ
to take one half of a thing
The lexical noun اِشْتِقَاقٌ is explained here through taking the شِقّ, or half, of an object.
- Lane · entry 38903
اِشْتِقَاقٌ
derivation of one word or name from another
Technical linguistic usage includes smaller, greater, and greater phonetic derivation according to the relation of letters, order, meaning, or articulation.
- Lane · entry 38903
اِشْتِقَاقٌ
constructing or founding something from newly originated material
A specialized figurative sense equated with devising or originating a construction.
- Lane · entry 38903
اِشْتَقَّ
to turn to the right and left in speech, dispute, or litigation
Describes digressive argument or speech that does not follow a direct course.
- Lane · entry 38903
اِشْتَقَّ
for a road to branch or lead into the desert
A figurative use of a road diverging into open country.
- Lane · entry 38903
اِسْتَشَقَّ بِالجُوَالِقِ
to turn a sack onto one side in order to pass through a door
A specialized construction describing movement through a narrow opening while using one side of the sack.
- Lane · entry 38904
شَقْشَقَ
to emit a loud bray or cry
Said of a stallion camel braying through its faucial bag and, by extension, of a sparrow making a loud cry.
- Lane · entry 38905
شَقّ
an opening, fissure, cleft, crack, slit, or rent
A noun for an interstice or split in wood, walls, glass, earth, mountains, or similar material; it may also denote the resulting incision or furrow.
- Lane · entry 38906
- Lane · entry 38925
شَقّ
the cleft or gap between the labia
An anatomical specialization referring to the rima vulvae.
- Lane · entry 38906
شِقّ
a half or lateral portion of a thing
May mean one of two equal halves, especially when an object has been divided lengthwise; it can also denote a lateral half or side.
- Lane · entry 38907
شِقّ
a type of jinn imagined in the form of half a human being
A specialized folkloric usage for a half-formed demonic being.
- Lane · entry 38907
شِقّ
the side or lateral part of a body, object, or mountain
Used for a bodily side, one side of a bearer or animal, a lateral part of an object, or a collateral branch of a kin group.
- Lane · entry 38907
شِقّ
a counterpart, likeness, or close equal
Figurative use for someone or something regarded as a counterpart or as though cleft from the other because of resemblance.
- Lane · entry 38907
شِقّ
a full brother
A relational extension from the notion of two corresponding halves, referring to a brother by both father and mother.
- Lane · entry 38907
شُقَّة
a half or oblong piece of a garment or leather container
Used for one of the pieces forming a garment and also for a piece of a water-skin; the word may extend to the completed garment.
- Lane · entry 38908
شُقَّة
a tract, portion, or region of Hell
A specialized figurative use for a section or portion of Hell.
- Lane · entry 38908
شِقَّة
a splinter or piece split lengthwise from wood, a plank, garment, or other material
Refers to a piece separated by splitting, including a half or strip cut from a larger object.
- Lane · entry 38909
أَشَقّ
of a horse, broad in specified parts, tall or long, or inclined to one side while running
The epithet is also applied comparatively to a man; the reported physical applications include breadth between the hind legs or nostrils and veering from side to side in running.
- Lane · entry 38910
- Lane · entry 38924
شَقَقَة
enemies
A plural lexical item reported without a securely supplied singular form.
- Lane · entry 38911
شُقَاق
cracking in several places or a disease producing cracks in skin, hoofs, or pasterns
A specialized pathological term used of animals' pasterns and hoofs and, in another report, of cracked human skin.
- Lane · entry 38912
شَقِيق
a calf, bull, or man that has become firm and strong
A specialized or figurative application to a mature, vigorous male animal or, by comparison, a man.
- Lane · entry 38913
شَقُوقَة
a small dusky gray bird
A specialized bird name, also treated as a diminutive-related form in the lexical report.
- Lane · entry 38914
شَقِيقَة
an intervening or rugged tract between elongated sand formations
A sandy or rocky tract between dunes or mountain ranges, often producing herbage.
- Lane · entry 38915
شَقِيقَة
a slice cut from a melon or similar object
A specialized use for a piece cut off from a larger fruit or object.
- Lane · entry 38915
شَقِيقَة
a broad, heavy rain with large drops
The rain is described as cleaving the clouds; its plural can refer to clouds opened by copious rain.
- Lane · entry 38915
شَقِيقَةُ بَرْق
a lightning flash spread broadly across the horizon or clouds
A specialized meteorological expression for lightning filling the breadth of the sky.
- Lane · entry 38915
- Lane · entry 38913
شَقِيقَة
a headache or pain affecting one half of the head or face
A medical term for hemicrania or a related pain in the front and sides of the head.
- Lane · entry 38915
شَقَائِقُ النُّعْمَان
the red anemone or a blood-colored flower
A plant name whose explanations connect its red color with lightning or blood; the expression can function as singular or plural.
- Lane · entry 38915
شَقِّيّ
a horse difficult for its rider to control
A specialized adjective for a horse whose management or mastery is troublesome.
- Lane · entry 38918
شِقِّيَّة
a sexual position performed with the woman lying on her side
A specialized term for a particular mode of intercourse.
- Lane · entry 38919
شِقْشِقَة
the inflatable faucial bag or throat membrane of a stallion camel
The camel protrudes and inflates it while braying; the term is especially associated with the Arabian camel.
- Lane · entry 38920
شِقْشِقَة
sonorous, fluent, and forceful speech or eloquence
A figurative extension from the camel's faucial bag, applied to an eloquent orator or preacher and sometimes to harangues regarded as deceptive.
- Lane · entry 38920
الخُطْبَةُ الشِّقْشِقِيَّة
the oration known as al-Khuṭbah al-Shiqshiqiyyah
A conventional name explained by an image of speech that briefly brayed forth and then became still.
- Lane · entry 38921
شَاقّ
difficult, hard, distressing, or fatiguing
An adjective for an affair, event, or journey that imposes hardship.
- Lane · entry 38922
شَافَّة
the young spadix of a palm tree after it cleaves its envelope
A specialized botanical term for a spadix about a span long; its plural is شَوَاقّ.
- Lane · entry 38923
مَشَقّ العَيْن
the slit or opening of the eye
A specialized anatomical expression for the eye opening.
- Lane · entry 38925
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Lane match uses contraction of the geminate root شقق to the Lane root شق; the Quranic form identity and counts remain those supplied by QAC.
The Quranic adjective أَشَقّ is presented with its supported comparative difficulty sense; Lane also records separate physical applications of the same adjective for horses.
Two Lane units contain explicitly uncertain or possibly mistranscribed evidence and are retained as ambiguous rather than treated as established meanings.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:$qq:38904:g1:sub2 reports, without secure authority, a possible meaning 'emerged or became manifest' for استشقّ.
lane-unit:$qq:38907:g1:sub9 appears to question whether the cited lexical item is شِقّ or شَقّ.
lane-unit:$qq:38915:g1:main gives a fissure gloss attributed to Golius but states that the cited source does not explain it that way.