Quranic root
طوق
ṭ · w · q
The root centers on surrounding or encompassing something, especially by a ring or encircling form.
From the concrete sense of a neck-ring or enclosing structure, the lexical field extends to arches and coverings, to the capacity that encompasses an action, and metaphorically to burdens made to cling to a person. The strand or small bundle sense is treated as a divergent lexical development.
- Maqāyīs · row 3086
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
طَوَّقَ
ṭawwaqa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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 make a burden cling to someone as though it were a neck-ring; to impose it upon someone as a binding burden.
The Quranic occurrence is passive: withheld wealth is represented as encircling its possessors’ necks as a punishment. A reported variant reading discussed for 2:184 uses the same burden metaphor but is not counted here as a separate QAC form or occurrence.
- Lane · entry 11982
- Mufradāt · row 920
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:180word 17
“Their necks will be encircled”
أَطَاقَ
ʾaṭāqa
- 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 be able to do, accomplish, bear, or endure something; to have the capacity for it, especially at a difficult limit.
In the Quranic occurrence, the capacity concerns undertaking the fast and is presented as an ability involving difficulty or strain.
- Lane · entry 11983
- Mufradāt · row 920
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:184word 16
“can afford it”
طَاقَةٌ
ṭāqahun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 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.
Ability or power; the amount one can do, bear, or endure, especially when it is difficult or troublesome.
The Quranic occurrences use the noun in negated constructions: inability to withstand an opponent and inability to bear a burden. The negation may express lack of practical capacity or the difficulty of undertaking something.
- Lane · entry 11989
- Mufradāt · row 920
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:249word 38
“strength”
Quran 2:286word 36
“(the) strength”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:184يُطِيقُونَهُۥcan afford it
- 2:249طَاقَةَstrength
- 2:286طَاقَةَ(the) strength
- 3:180سَيُطَوَّقُونَTheir necks will be encircled
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 15 Classical meanings
طَوَّقَ
To put a neck-ring on someone or make a thing cling to someone like a neck-ring; figuratively, to make a favor or reproach remain as a lasting badge.
Used literally of a neck-ring and figuratively of something made permanently incumbent or attached. The burden use in the Quran is listed separately under the Quranic form.
- Lane · entry 11982
طَوَّقَ
To strengthen or empower someone sufficiently to perform a task or discharge a due; to enable or facilitate an action.
Includes constructions meaning that a person’s soul or mind facilitated an action.
- Lane · entry 11982
تَطَوَّقَ
To put on a neck-ring or adorn oneself with one; figuratively, to take a difficult burden upon oneself or bear what has been imposed; of a serpent, to encircle a neck like a ring.
The burden use is a Form V construction and is distinct from the Quran-attested Form II passive.
- Lane · entry 11984
طَاقٌ
A curved or arched construction, including an arch, arched gateway, vault, wall opening or niche, projecting coping, or similar ledge-like architectural feature.
The term is also applied to an arched, shelf-like construction; some explanations connect the architectural word with a loanword.
- Lane · entry 11987
طَاقٌ
A single layer, flat piece, or thickness of a composite object, such as one piece of a sole, a single layer of clothing, or a single yarn.
Used for something not doubled, lined, faced, or composed of multiple overlaid pieces.
- Lane · entry 11987
طَاقٌ
A garment, wrap, or covering of various described types.
Reported for a sleeved garment, an infant’s closed garment, a taylasan, a cloak, and a woman’s head-covering. In a figurative comparison, land likened to such garments is land with abundant herbage.
- Lane · entry 11987
طَوْقٌ
A neck-ring or neck ornament; by extension, anything that surrounds or encircles another thing, and a lasting badge or mark.
The ring-dove is called the possessor of a ring, and favors may be described figuratively as rings remaining on people’s necks.
- Lane · entry 11988
طَوْقٌ
The neck itself.
This is a separately attested lexical extension of the noun for a neck-ring.
- Lane · entry 11988
طَوْقٌ
A looped rope or strap used for climbing a palm tree.
A specialized practical term for the climbing loop.
- Lane · entry 11988
طَاقَةٌ
A single strand, yarn, or twist of a rope or cord; also a small branch, bunch, lock, or fascicle of plants, hair, or similar material.
This concrete ‘single strand or small bundle’ sense is distinct from طَاقَةٌ meaning ability or power.
- Lane · entry 11989
طَوْقَةٌ
A round, plain, or soft patch of ground amid rugged terrain.
A rare lexical item reported from pre-Islamic poetry.
- Lane · entry 11990
طَائِقٌ
A projecting ledge, ridge, or prominence on a mountain or in a well; correspondingly, a ledge, plank, or central structural part within a boat, or a surrounding ridge.
The exact structural application varies by context, but the term denotes a projecting or surrounding structural part.
- Lane · entry 11991
طَائِقٌ
The curved extremity of a bow.
A specialized meaning attributed to one authority and disputed by another.
- Lane · entry 11991
أَطْوَاقٌ
Coconut milk, described as an intoxicating drink that may turn sharply sour when left until the following day.
A plural-form lexical item with a specialized regional usage.
- Lane · entry 11992
مُطَوَّقٌ
Ringed or marked with a ring around the neck; of a bottle, having a ringed neck.
Used of pigeons or a pigeon with a neck-ring and of a flask or bottle with a ringed neck.
- Lane · entry 11993
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Mufradat reports a variant reading at 2:184, يُطَوَّقُونَهُ, interpreting it as being burdened to undertake the fast; it is retained as related Quran-focused evidence but is not added as a separate QAC form or occurrence.
Several rare architectural, garment, and technical extensions are qualified or attributed to particular authorities in the lexical evidence; they are presented as reported Classical Arabic usages rather than Quranic senses.