Quranic root
أدي
ʾ · d · y
The root centers on causing something to reach another thing, or on its reaching it by itself.
From this relation of reaching and causing to reach develop the senses of delivering an entrusted object, discharging a due, fulfilling an obligation, and the arrival of information. The Form II verb is causative, while Form V describes information reaching someone.
- Maqāyīs · row 55
- Lane · entry 6410
- Lane · entry 6412
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 6
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَدَّى
ʾaddā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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 deliver, convey, or hand over something to its intended recipient or destination; to render an entrusted thing.
Used transitively for bringing an object to its recipient, giving it up, or surrendering it. The object may be a trust, a possession, or persons being handed over.
- Lane · entry 6410
- Mufradāt · row 23
Selected Quran examples
To discharge or render a due, right, or obligation; to pay what is owed and thereby acquit oneself of a liability.
May refer to payment of a debt, bloodwit, tax, or other liability, and more broadly to rendering what one is responsible for. In Quranic usage, the obligation may be represented by an entrusted right or trust rather than money.
- Lane · entry 6410
- Mufradāt · row 23
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:283word 14
“then let discharge”
Quran 4:58word 5
“render”
To perform, fulfill, or accomplish what is incumbent.
Used with an obligation, command, religious rite, or other task that is to be carried out. This is a fulfillment sense rather than the physical transfer of an object.
- Lane · entry 6410
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:18word 2
“Deliver”
To give ear or listen to someone.
An alternative interpretation of the Quranic construction أَدُّوا إِلَيَّ in which the verb is understood with an implicit object such as “your hearing”; this is an idiomatic or interpretive use, not the ordinary delivery sense.
- Lane · entry 6410
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:18word 2
“Deliver”
أَدَاءٌ
ʾadāʾun
- 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.
Payment or discharge of a due or right.
In the Quranic legal context, it denotes rendering the required compensation or payment honorably to the party entitled to it.
- Lane · entry 6414
- Mufradāt · row 23
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:178word 23
“[and] payment”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:178وَأَدَآءٌ[and] payment
- 2:283فَلْيُؤَدِّthen let discharge
- 3:75يُؤَدِّهِۦٓhe will return it
- 3:75يُؤَدِّهِۦٓhe will return it
- 4:58تُؤَدُّوا۟render
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
أَدَّى
To lead or conduce to a consequence, result, or state.
Especially used in the construction أَدَّى إِلَى, “it led or brought about such a thing.”
- Lane · entry 6410
تَأَدَّى
For information or news to reach someone.
An intransitive Form V construction, as in تَأَدَّى إِلَيْهِ الْخَبَرُ, “the news reached him.”
- Lane · entry 6412
اسْتَأْدَى
To demand or seek property from someone and obtain, extract, take, or receive it from him.
Used for pursuing a property claim or pressing someone to provide what is sought.
- Lane · entry 6413
أَدَاءٌ
The act of causing something to reach its recipient, including delivery, handover, or surrender.
A nominal use of the verbal noun distinct from the Quranic occurrence specifically referring to payment or discharge.
- Lane · entry 6414
أَدَاءٌ
Performance, fulfillment, or accomplishment of an obligation, task, or act.
Used for carrying out what is incumbent, including the completion of an assigned or prescribed action.
- Lane · entry 6414
أَدَاءٌ
The manner or act of pronouncing and uttering letters.
A specialized usage concerning articulation and pronunciation.
- Lane · entry 6414
أَدَاءٌ
Performance of a religious service at its appointed time.
A legal technical term contrasted with قَضَاءٌ, performance after the appointed time.
- Lane · entry 6414
آدَى
More or better disposed to deliver, surrender, or hand over what has been entrusted.
A comparative or superlative adjective used with لِـ, as in being more disposed to deliver a trust than another person.
- Lane · entry 6416
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The discussion of أَدُّوا إِلَيَّ in 44:18 presents delivery, fulfillment, and listening as alternative interpretations; the listening sense is therefore construction-specific and interpretive.
The public verb headword أَدَّى is the normalized perfect citation form for the QAC group whose occurrences are imperfect or imperative forms. The broader Classical uses of the noun أَدَاءٌ are kept separate from its Quranic payment sense.