Quranic root
أفق
ʾ · f · q
The root centers on distance between the extremities of something, breadth, and reaching its furthest limit.
This orientation yields the meanings of sides, regions, and the horizon; movement through distant regions; and, figuratively, attaining the utmost degree or surpassing others. Other lexical developments, including leather terminology, are separately attested Classical uses.
- Maqāyīs · row 115
- Mufradāt · row 43
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أُفُق
ʾufuq
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
A side, region, or extremity; especially the horizon or far boundary of the sky or earth.
In the Quran, the plural آفاق denotes regions or horizons in 41:53, while the singular أُفُق denotes the horizon in 53:7 and 81:23. These are number and contextual differences within the same lexical sense.
- Lane · entry 6910
- Mufradāt · row 43
Selected Quran examples
Quran 41:53word 4
“the horizons”
Quran 53:7word 2
“(was) in the horizon”
Quran 81:23word 3
“in the horizon”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 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 16 Classical meanings
أَفَقَ
To go one’s own way, wander heedlessly, or go away through the regions of the land.
A Form I verb; the construction may describe going into or through the country.
- Lane · entry 6905
أَفَقَ / آفِقٌ
To attain the utmost degree in generosity, knowledge, eloquence, chasteness of speech, or other excellent qualities; one who reaches this degree.
The verbal and adjectival uses describe reaching an extreme of excellence rather than merely traveling to a region.
- Lane · entry 6905
- Lane · entry 6917
أَفَقَ
To overcome, surpass, or excel another.
With عَلَيْهِ, it means to outdo or precede another in excellence.
- Lane · entry 6905
أَفَقَ / آفِقٌ
To be beautiful, admirable, excellent, or of exceptional breeding and quality.
Applied especially to horses, mares, camels, and she-camels; the adjectival use may refer to generous or high-bred stock.
- Lane · entry 6905
- Lane · entry 6917
أَفَقَ
To give some people more than others.
Attested in the construction أَفَقَ فِي العَطَاءِ.
- Lane · entry 6905
أَفَقَ
To write or issue documents granting gifts and seal them.
An alternative interpretation of the poetic expression concerning giving gifts.
- Lane · entry 6905
أَفَقَ
To tan a hide until it becomes an أَفِيق.
A transitive leather-working use with a hide as its object.
- Lane · entry 6905
تَأَفَّقَ
To come from a region and arrive at someone’s abode as a guest.
Attested with بِنا in the sense of coming to us and alighting with us.
- Lane · entry 6906
تَأَفَّقَ
To reach or overtake someone.
Attested with بِهِ in a separately reported construction.
- Lane · entry 6906
أَفَقٌ
The main or middle course of a road, its face, or its surface.
Used of the central or plainly exposed part of a road; its plural is آفاق.
- Lane · entry 6908
أَفَقٌ
The flank or flanks; also the skin, including a skin considered as a receptacle.
The term may refer to the body’s side or to a skin that can be filled.
- Lane · entry 6908
أُفُقٌ
The side or lateral part of a tent.
In tent terminology, it may denote the part between the anterior structural pieces or the lateral sections of a desert tent.
- Lane · entry 6910
أَفَقَةٌ
The burying of a skin or hide in earth so that its hair can be removed and it can be prepared for tanning.
A technical leather-working noun.
- Lane · entry 6911
أُفُقِيٌّ / أَفَقِيٌّ
A person from the outlying regions, or one who travels through the regions, especially in search of sustenance.
In pilgrimage terminology, it refers to one outside the places where pilgrims entering Mecca assume ihram.
- Lane · entry 6912
أَفِيقٌ
A bucket that excels other buckets.
An adjectival description of an unusually superior bucket.
- Lane · entry 6914
أَفِيقٌ
A skin or hide that is untanned or incompletely tanned, including hide at an intermediate stage of preparation; also a water-skin made from such hide.
Authorities differ over the exact tanning stage denoted; the term can also be extended to a skin or hide generally, including that of a person or animal.
- Lane · entry 6914
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Classical sources differ over the precise tanning stage designated by أَفِيقٌ; the entry preserves the shared hide-related meaning without forcing one technical stage.
The Quranic form group contains both the singular citation form and inflected plural/singular occurrences; all three occurrences are presented under أُفُق.