Quranic root
طغي
ṭ · gh · y
The root centers on exceeding a limit, especially through disobedience or rebellion, and extends to physical overflow beyond measure.
The semantic range develops from moral transgression to the overflowing or agitated movement of water and other fluids. Its derivatives name the condition, the one who exceeds bounds, and a rebellious or falsely worshipped power. An exceptional divergent use denotes a smooth, flat rock.
- Maqāyīs · row 3035
- Mufradāt · row 899
- 8
- Quran-attested forms
- 10
- Quran senses
- 39
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
طَغَىٰ
ṭaghāā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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 transgress or exceed the bounds in disobedience.
The Quranic moral use describes a person or people going beyond the proper limits in rebellion or disobedience.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 96:6word 4
“surely transgresses”
Quran 79:17word 5
“(has) transgressed”
To overflow or exceed its proper measure.
In the Quranic physical use, the subject is water exceeding its bounds.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 69:11word 3
“overflowed”
أَطْغَىٰ
ʾaṭghāā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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 cause or lead someone to transgress; to bring someone into rebellion.
A causative construction in which one person or circumstance is made responsible for another's transgression.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 50:27word 5
“I made him transgress”
أَطْغَىٰ
ʾaṭghāā
- Part of speech
- Adjective · Elative
- 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.
More transgressive or rebellious.
Used comparatively, with the comparison referring to a greater degree of transgression or rebellion.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 53:52word 9
“and more rebellious”
طَاغٍ
ṭāghin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 6 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 transgresses or exceeds the bounds; a transgressor.
The Quranic occurrences are plural forms referring to those characterized by persistent transgression.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 37:30word 10
“transgressing”
Quran 38:55word 3
“for the transgressors”
طَغْوَىٰ
ṭaghwāā
- 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.
Transgression; the act or condition of exceeding the bounds.
A noun naming the transgression for which a people are held accountable.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 91:11word 3
“by their transgression”
طُغْيَان
ṭughyān
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
Transgression, rebellion, or a state of exceeding the bounds.
The verbal noun denotes the condition or activity of going beyond proper limits, especially in disobedience.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:15word 6
“their transgression”
Quran 5:64word 25
“(in) rebellion”
Quran 18:80word 9
“(by) transgression”
طَاغِيَة
ṭāghiyah
- Part of speech
- Noun · 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.
An overwhelming force or calamity by which destruction is brought about.
In its Quranic occurrence, the term is explained as the inundating flood associated with the water that exceeded its bounds.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 69:5word 4
“by the overpowering (blast)”
طَاغُوت
ṭāghūt
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 8 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 transgressing or rebellious person, being, or power; a force that turns people away from the good path.
The lexical application includes a sorcerer, soothsayer, rebellious jinn, or other markedly transgressing or misleading power.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:257word 13
“(are) the evil ones”
Anything worshipped besides Allah; a false deity or object of idolatrous allegiance.
The term is explicitly used for a false object of worship and may be used for singular or plural referents.
- Mufradāt · row 899
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:256word 12
“in false deities”
Quran 16:36word 11
“the false deities”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:15طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْtheir transgression
- 2:256بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِin false deities
- 2:257ٱلطَّـٰغُوتُ(are) the evil ones
- 4:51وَٱلطَّـٰغُوتِand the false deities
- 4:60ٱلطَّـٰغُوتِthe false deities
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 2 Classical meanings
طَغَىٰ
To overflow or surge beyond bounds; of the sea, to become violently agitated, and of blood, to surge.
A broader Classical Arabic physical application of the verb, distinct from the Quran-attested moral use and its specific Quranic reference to overflowing water.
- Maqāyīs · row 3035
طَغْيَة
A smooth, flat rock or stone slab.
An exceptional divergent lexical use reported as departing from the main semantic principle.
- Maqāyīs · row 3035
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
أَطْغَىٰ is homographic in the normalized public headwords for the Form IV verb and the Quranic elative adjective; their morphology distinguishes the two entries.
طَاغُوت is explicitly usable for singular and plural referents, so contextual renderings may vary between a false deity, false gods, and evil or rebellious powers.
The explanation of طَاغِيَة in 69:5 links it to the overflowing flood described in 69:11; the contextual rendering 'overpowering (blast)' is not treated as a separate lexical sense.