Quranic root
شقو
sh · q · w
The root centers on undergoing hardship and on a condition opposed to ease, felicity, and prosperity.
The semantic development connects enduring difficulty with becoming wretched or unfortunate; the reciprocal Form III develops this into struggling with another person or with a difficulty. The supplied root discussion distinguishes the hamzated root شقأ, whose meaning changes, from the شقو family.
- Maqāyīs · row 2677
- Mufradāt · row 779
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 12
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
شَقِيَ
shaqiya
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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 be or become wretched, unfortunate, unhappy, or miserable.
Describes a state contrary to prosperity or felicity, including resulting misfortune or unhappiness.
- Lane · entry 38982
- Mufradāt · row 779
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:106word 3
“were wretched”
To suffer hardship, distress, or fatigue.
Used of undergoing difficulty or strain; in the Quranic Taha constructions, it describes the suffering or distress a person would undergo. Fatigue is a narrower realization of this hardship sense.
- Lane · entry 38982
- Mufradāt · row 779
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:2word 5
“that you be distressed”
Quran 20:117word 12
“so (that) you would suffer”
شَقِيٌّ
shaqiyyun
- Part of speech
- Adjective / noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
Wretched, unfortunate, unhappy, or deprived of felicity; a person in such a state.
Used adjectivally and substantively. In the construction شَقِيًّا بِدُعَائِكَ, the sense is idiomatically extended to being disappointed or without a favorable response to one's supplication.
- Lane · entry 38986
- Mufradāt · row 779
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:105word 9
“(will be the) wretched”
Quran 19:4word 14
“unblessed”
شِقْوَةٌ
shiqwahun
- 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.
Wretchedness, misery, or a condition opposed to felicity.
A nominal expression for the state of being wretched; in شِقْوَتُنَا, it denotes the speakers' prevailing misery or misfortune.
- Lane · entry 38982
- Mufradāt · row 779
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:106word 5
“our wretchedness”
أَشْقَى
ʾashqā
- Part of speech
- Superlative adjective / substantive
- 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.
More or most wretched, unfortunate, or miserable; the one characterized by the greatest wretchedness.
An elative form used substantively in Quranic contexts, with the comparison sometimes implicit in a definite or contextual description.
- Lane · entry 38988
Selected Quran examples
Quran 91:12word 3
“(the) most wicked of them”
Quran 92:15word 4
“the most wretched”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 11:105شَقِىٌّۭ(will be the) wretched
- 11:106شَقُوا۟were wretched
- 19:4شَقِيًّۭاunblessed
- 19:32شَقِيًّۭاunblessed
- 19:48شَقِيًّۭاunblessed
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 8 Classical meanings
شَاقَى
To struggle or contend with another, or with a difficulty, in order to prevail or overcome; to vie in endurance.
A reciprocal Form III construction used for mutual striving, contest, or endurance.
- Lane · entry 38983
شَاقَى
To treat someone with hardness, harshness, or ill-nature.
A figurative or extended Form III use describing harsh treatment.
- Lane · entry 38983
أَشْقَى
To cause someone to be wretched, unfortunate, unhappy, or in distress.
A transitive Form IV causative construction.
- Lane · entry 38984
أَشْقَى
To comb.
A separate rare lexical use, distinct from the wretchedness-related verb and adjective.
- Lane · entry 38984
شَقَاوَةٌ
Unprosperousness, misfortune, unhappiness, or a state of distress contrary to felicity.
This nominal is described as either otherworldly or worldly; worldly wretchedness may concern the soul, body, or external circumstances.
- Lane · entry 38987
شَقَاوَةٌ
Fatigue or weariness.
A narrower use than the general term for fatigue: every instance of this condition involves fatigue, but not every fatigue is شَقَاوَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 38987
أَشْقَى
More or most fatigued.
A tropical comparative or superlative use, distinct from the Quranic sense of greatest wretchedness.
- Lane · entry 38988
مِشْقًى
A comb.
A dialectal variant of مِشْقَأٌ.
- Lane · entry 38989
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
A printed historical Quran citation associated with a reading is not converted into a modern surah:ayah location; the example for شِقْوَةٌ uses 23:106 because that location is independently supplied by QAC and the Quran-focused evidence.
The comb-related entries are kept separate from the wretchedness-related senses. The supplied root discussion itself notes that hamzation can change the meaning.