Quranic root
حجج
ḥ · j · j
The root centers on directed aiming or recourse: heading toward a destination or revered object, and by extension a means of reaching or establishing a desired conclusion.
The lexical branches include pilgrimage as a specialized act of directed travel, argument as a means by which the sought truth or victory is pursued, and probing a wound to reach knowledge of its depth. Other branches preserve distinct developments such as the year associated with an annual pilgrimage, the orbital bone, and retreat in reduplicated forms.
- Maqāyīs · row 1302
- Mufradāt · row 296
- 8
- Quran-attested forms
- 8
- Quran senses
- 33
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
حَجَّ
ḥajja
- 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 perform the pilgrimage to Mecca and its prescribed rites.
A Quranic and legal usage denoting undertaking Hajj, the pilgrimage to the sacred House and the associated rites.
- Lane · entry 13518
- Mufradāt · row 296
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:158word 8
“performs Hajj”
حَاجَّ
ḥājja
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form III
- Form
- III
- Quran occurrences
- 12 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 contend with someone by argument, plea, proof, or evidence; to argue against an opponent.
The construction is relational, normally involving an opponent or disputing party; the contest may be described as argumentation in which one side prevails over the other, and may include litigation.
- Lane · entry 13519
- Mufradāt · row 296
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:258word 5
“argued”
Quran 3:66word 3
“argued”
تَحَاجَّ
taḥājja
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VI
- Form
- VI
- 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 dispute with one another by exchanging arguments, pleas, or proofs.
A reciprocal construction describing mutual contention or disputation.
- Lane · entry 13521
- Mufradāt · row 296
Selected Quran examples
Quran 40:47word 2
“they will dispute”
حَاجّ
ḥājj
- Part of speech
- Active 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.
A pilgrim to Mecca; one performing the pilgrimage.
A substantivized active participle referring to a person engaged in or identified with the pilgrimage.
- Lane · entry 13535
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:19word 3
“(to) the pilgrims”
حَجّ
ḥajj
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 9 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.
The pilgrimage to Mecca or the Kaaba, with its prescribed religious rites.
The Quranic noun for the pilgrimage observance; in one classical grammatical account, حَجّ is the verbal noun, while حِجّ is the corresponding substantive noun.
- Lane · entry 13525
- Mufradāt · row 296
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:196word 2
“the Hajj”
Quran 22:27word 4
“[of] the Pilgrimage”
حِجَّة
ḥijjah
- 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 year; in the plural, years.
The Quranic occurrence is the plural حِجَج, used for a number of years.
- Lane · entry 13529
Selected Quran examples
Quran 28:27word 13
“years”
حِجّ
ḥijj
- 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.
The pilgrimage to the sacred House.
A substantive noun for the pilgrimage; the sources distinguish it from حَجّ, which may function as the verbal noun.
- Lane · entry 13525
- Mufradāt · row 296
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:97word 13
“(is) pilgrimage”
حُجَّة
ḥujjah
- Part of speech
- 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.
An argument, proof, plea, or evidence used in reasoning or dispute.
It may denote a sound proof or a purported argument that is rejected; Quranic usage can call a defeated or false argument a حُجَّة while explicitly judging it invalid.
- Lane · entry 13528
- Mufradāt · row 296
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:149word 3
“(is) the argument”
Quran 45:25word 8
“their argument”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:76لِيُحَآجُّوكُمso that they argue with you
- 2:139أَتُحَآجُّونَنَاDo you argue with us
- 2:150حُجَّةٌany argument
- 2:158حَجَّperforms Hajj
- 2:189وَٱلْحَجِّ ۗand (for) the Hajj
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 30 Classical meanings
حَجَّ
To head or travel toward a person, place, or revered object; to visit, especially repeatedly.
A general directional or visiting use, broader than the specialized pilgrimage sense.
- Lane · entry 13518
حَجَّ
To shave the head.
A specialized action associated with completing pilgrimage rites, but also attested as a lexical use of the verb.
- Lane · entry 13518
حَجَّ
To probe a head fracture or wound, extract material from it, or treat it by the described probing procedure.
A medical and surgical use concerning a wound or fracture reaching the head or brain.
- Lane · entry 13518
حَجَّ
To overcome another by an argument, plea, proof, evidence, or testimony.
This is the Form I resultative use in which the speaker prevails in a dispute.
- Lane · entry 13518
حَجَّ
To refrain, forbear, or abstain from a thing.
The object of abstention is introduced with عن.
- Lane · entry 13518
أَحَجَّهُ
To send someone to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca and its rites.
Causative Form IV usage.
- Lane · entry 13520
اِحْتَجَّ
To adduce, urge, or defend oneself by means of an argument, plea, proof, evidence, or testimony.
The argument may be directed against an adversary or used in self-defense.
- Lane · entry 13522
حَجْحَجَ
To retreat or draw back, sometimes through fear or lack of power.
Used of withdrawing after an assault or of lacking the ability to continue.
- Lane · entry 13523
حَجْحَجَ
To refrain from saying what one intended, or to withhold what is in one's mind.
A figurative use concerning hesitation or failure to disclose an intended statement.
- Lane · entry 13523
حَجْحَجَ
To remain, stay, or dwell in a place without leaving it.
The place is introduced with في.
- Lane · entry 13523
حَجّ
In the name Ḏū al-Ḥijjah, the month of pilgrimage; the word also occurs in an oath by the pilgrimage.
These are lexicalized expressions derived from the pilgrimage sense; the pilgrimage may also be called the greater pilgrimage in contrast with ʿumrah as the lesser pilgrimage.
- Lane · entry 13525
حَجَّة
The lobe of the ear; also its bore or perforation, or a bead or pearl hung in it.
An anatomical and adornment use distinct from حُجَّة meaning an argument and from حِجَّة meaning a year.
- Lane · entry 13527
حُجَّة
An authoritative person or testimony serving as evidence; also an excuse or justification.
A broader application of the evidentiary noun beyond an argument in a formal dispute.
- Lane · entry 13528
حَجَاج
The bone surrounding the eye, especially the upper orbital bone beneath the eyebrow.
An anatomical noun, grammatically masculine in the cited lexical description.
- Lane · entry 13531
حَجَاج
The upper limb of the sun's disk as it begins to rise.
A figurative or tropical extension of the orbital-bone sense.
- Lane · entry 13531
حَجَاج
A side of a mountain or other extended formation.
A tropical use, including the two sides of a mountain.
- Lane · entry 13531
حَجِيج
A person subjected to probing or treatment for a head fracture; also the treated fracture or the treatment itself.
The same lexical family can denote the patient, the medically treated wound, or the treatment; its plural may refer to probed wounds.
- Lane · entry 13533
حَجِيج
Roads deeply furrowed or heavily marked by the passage of people or animals.
Reported as a plural expression; the singular form is uncertain in the cited evidence.
- Lane · entry 13533
حَجِيج
One who overcomes another by arguments or proofs.
An active-participial use related to حَاجَّ.
- Lane · entry 13533
حَجَّاج
A person who frequently performs the pilgrimage and its prescribed rites.
An intensive nominal description of repeated pilgrimage.
- Lane · entry 13534
حَاجّ
One heading or betaking himself to a person or place.
The general active-participle use, distinct from its substantivized sense ‘pilgrim’.
- Lane · entry 13535
حَاجّ
One who overcomes another by an argument or plea.
An active-participial use of the Form III disputative verb.
- Lane · entry 13535
أَحَجُّ
More capable of overcoming another by an argument or proof.
A comparative expression based on the evidentiary sense of حُجَّة.
- Lane · entry 13539
مَحَجَّة
A road or way, especially the main, middle, or beaten track.
The word can denote the established route along which one travels.
- Lane · entry 13540
مَحَجَّة
A single uniform course or settled line for an affair.
A figurative construction extending the sense of a clear or single road.
- Lane · entry 13540
مِحْجَاج
A surgeon's probe.
An instrument used for probing a wound or head fracture.
- Lane · entry 13541
مِحْجَاج
A person much addicted to litigation, dispute, or altercation.
An intensive nominal description of habitual disputation.
- Lane · entry 13541
مَحْجُوج
A person to whom someone has gone or paid a visit.
A passive-participial result of the general directional or visiting use.
- Lane · entry 13542
مَحْجُوج
A person overcome by an argument or proof.
A passive-participial result of disputation.
- Lane · entry 13542
مُحَجْحِج
A blow that is feeble or falls short.
A derived adjective associated with falling back or failing to reach its effect.
- Lane · entry 13544
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
حَجّ and حِجّ are presented separately because the evidence distinguishes their vocalization and nominal usage, even though both denote the pilgrimage.
The plural Quranic form حِجَج is presented under the supported singular citation form حِجَّة, meaning a year.
The supplied Mufradat row mufradat:row:283 concerns حاجة/احتياج (‘need’) and is not assigned to the حجج root.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
mufradat:row:283 is lexically about حاجة and احتياج, with Quran citations to Yusuf 12:68 and al-Hashr 59:9; it does not provide evidence for the canonical حجج root and is therefore left unassigned.