Quranic root
عكف
ʿ · k · f
The root centers on turning toward something and remaining attached to it without turning away, with a related sense of holding or being held back.
The core sense develops into persistent devotion or attachment, remaining in a place, and detention. Other attested branches extend to approaching, surrounding, arranging elements together, and bending or curling.
- Maqāyīs · row 3279
- Lane · entry 4292
- Lane · entry 4301
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 9
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
عَكَفَ
ʿakafa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To turn devotedly toward something and remain attached to it without turning away; in the Quran, to persist in the worship of idols.
Used with عَلَى for persistent attachment or devotion. The Quranic occurrence describes a group remaining devoted to its idols.
- Lane · entry 4292
- Mufradāt · row 1001
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:138word 8
“devoted”
عَاكِف
ʿākif
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
One who remains devotedly attached or intent upon something.
The Quran uses this of persistent devotional attachment, especially attachment to an object of worship; it may occur with عَلَى or as a predicate.
- Lane · entry 4294
- Lane · entry 4299
- Mufradāt · row 1001
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:91word 5
“being devoted to it”
Quran 21:52word 11
“(are) devoted”
One who remains or resides in a place.
In Quranic usage, this is the place-oriented sense applied to those abiding at the sanctuary; it denotes residence or continued presence rather than necessarily the technical retreat of iʿtikāf.
- Lane · entry 4299
- Mufradāt · row 1001
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:25word 14
“(are) the resident”
One engaged in iʿtikāf: a person remaining in a mosque or place of worship for a prescribed devotional retreat.
This technical religious construction involves seclusion in the mosque and observance of the conditions of the devotional retreat.
- Lane · entry 4297
- Mufradāt · row 1001
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:187word 51
“(are) secluded”
مَعْكُوف
maʿkūf
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- 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.
Prevented from proceeding; detained or held back from reaching its appointed destination.
In the Quran, used of the sacrificial offering prevented from reaching the place where it is to be offered.
- Lane · entry 4301
- Mufradāt · row 1001
Selected Quran examples
Quran 48:25word 9
“(was) prevented”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:125وَٱلْعَـٰكِفِينَand those who seclude themselves for devotion and prayer
- 2:187عَـٰكِفُونَ(are) secluded
- 7:138يَعْكُفُونَdevoted
- 20:91عَـٰكِفِينَbeing devoted to it
- 20:97عَاكِفًۭا ۖdevoted
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 13 Classical meanings
عَكَفَ
To approach or advance toward someone, or keep close to him.
Attested in a construction describing movement or approach toward a leader.
- Lane · entry 4292
عَكَفَ
To go around or circle something; to gather around it.
The lexicon applies this to going around an object or gathering around a slain person, and figuratively to elements running around among strung beads.
- Lane · entry 4292
عَكَفَ
To go back or remain behind.
- Lane · entry 4292
عَكَفَ
To make still or motionless; to detain, withhold, debar, or turn someone or something away from an intended object.
This is the transitive causative use, including withholding someone from the object of a need.
- Lane · entry 4292
عَكَفَ
To tend or pasture.
An additionally attested verbal use.
- Lane · entry 4292
عَكَفَ
To put something into a sound, right, or proper state.
- Lane · entry 4292
عَكَّفَ
To keep components together or arrange them in an ordered formation.
Attested of the elements of a necklace and of gems arranged among strung beads.
- Lane · entry 4293
عَكَّفَ
To curl, twist, contract, or gather hair into plaits.
A derived-form use describing hair made to cleave together or arranged in plaits.
- Lane · entry 4293
تَعَكَّفَ
To confine, restrain, withhold, or debar oneself.
A general reflexive use of self-restraint, distinct from the specifically religious retreat of iʿtikāf.
- Lane · entry 4295
عَكِف
Crisp, curly, twisted, or contracted hair.
An adjectival description of the condition or texture of hair.
- Lane · entry 4298
مُعَكَّف
Bent, crooked, contorted, or distorted.
- Lane · entry 4300
مَعْكُوف
Hair that has been combed and plaited.
A nominal passive-participle use distinct from the Quranic sense of being detained.
- Lane · entry 4301
مُعْتَكَف
A place designated for iʿtikāf or devotional seclusion.
The noun denotes the place in which a person performs iʿtikāf, such as a mosque or comparable place of worship.
- Lane · entry 4302
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's historical Quran citation notation is not converted into modern verse locations; the displayed Quran examples use only independently supplied QAC locations.
Classical evidence records vocalic variants of the Form I verb, while the public headword is normalized to the dictionary citation form عَكَفَ.