Quranic root
بقي
b · q · y
The root centers on remaining, enduring, and persisting in existence, in contrast to perishing.
The basic notion of duration extends to what remains as a remnant, preserving or sparing something, waiting or keeping watch, and religious works or provisions whose benefit endures. Classical descriptions distinguish what endures in itself from what endures through another cause, and what remains in substance from what remains only in kind.
- Maqāyīs · row 816
- Mufradāt · row 148
- Lane · entry 36918
- 6
- Quran-attested forms
- 9
- Quran senses
- 21
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
بَقِيَ
baqiya
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To remain, continue, last, or endure.
Used of a thing, person, or state that continues in existence rather than perishing.
- Lane · entry 36918
- Mufradāt · row 148
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:278word 8
“remained”
Quran 55:27word 1
“But will remain”
أَبْقَى
ʾabqā
- 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 spare, leave alive, or refrain from destroying entirely.
In the Quranic construction لا تُبْقِي, the subject is said not to spare or leave its object unconsumed.
- Lane · entry 36920
Selected Quran examples
Quran 74:28word 2
“it lets remain”
أَبْقَى
ʾabqā
- Part of speech
- Adjective · comparative
- 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.
More lasting, more enduring, or longer continuing.
A comparative or evaluative adjective describing greater duration or permanence.
- Lane · entry 36933
- Mufradāt · row 148
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:127word 12
“and more lasting”
Quran 87:17word 3
“and everlasting”
بَاقٍ
bāqin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
Remaining, continuing, enduring, or surviving.
The active participle may describe what continues to exist or what survives after others have ceased to exist.
- Lane · entry 36931
- Mufradāt · row 148
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:96word 7
“(will) be remaining”
Quran 37:77word 4
“the survivors”
بَاقِيَةٌ
bāqiyahun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
Remaining, enduring, or constituting a continuance or surviving remnant.
In فَهَلْ تَرَى لَهُمْ مِنْ بَاقِيَةٍ, it can denote continuance, a remaining group or person, or a remnant; the feminine form may also function as a noun of continuance.
- Lane · entry 36932
- Mufradāt · row 148
Selected Quran examples
Quran 43:28word 3
“lasting”
Quran 69:8word 5
“remains”
Enduring righteous works whose reward or benefit remains.
In البَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ, the expression denotes good works or religious acts whose recompense or fruit endures, not merely a physically surviving object.
- Lane · entry 36932
- Mufradāt · row 148
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:46word 6
“But the enduring”
Quran 19:76word 6
“And the everlasting”
بَقِيَّةٌ
baqiyyahun
- 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 remainder, remnant, residue, relic, or remaining portion.
Used of what is left over or preserved from something; the Quranic occurrences include a material remnant and a remaining portion or benefit.
- Lane · entry 36930
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:248word 14
“and a remnant”
People possessing excellence, sound judgment, discernment, religious integrity, or obedience.
In أُولُو بَقِيَّةٍ, the noun describes people characterized by excellence or understanding; some explanations emphasize their religious obedience or their guarding themselves from punishment.
- Lane · entry 36930
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:116word 8
“those possessing a remnant”
A lawful or good remainder preserved by God, and, by extension, a religious observance through which God's reward is sought.
In بَقِيَّةُ اللَّهِ, it may denote lawful sustenance remaining after honest measure and avoidance of what is forbidden, a good condition preserved by God, or religious obedience and service directed toward His recompense.
- Lane · entry 36930
- Mufradāt · row 148
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:86word 1
“(What) remains”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:248وَبَقِيَّةٌۭand a remnant
- 2:278بَقِىَremained
- 11:86بَقِيَّتُ(What) remains
- 11:116بَقِيَّةٍۢthose possessing a remnant
- 16:96بَاقٍۢ ۗ(will) be remaining
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 9 Classical meanings
بَقَاهُ
To look at, watch, observe, or wait for someone or something.
A transitive usage meaning to keep something or someone under observation or to await them; it is distinct from the intransitive verb meaning to remain.
- Lane · entry 36918
أَبْقَى
To cause to remain, preserve, perpetuate, retain, or reserve something or a portion of it.
Includes preserving an asset in its existing state, leaving a portion for later use, and—especially with عَلَى—sparing, pardoning, or showing mercy so as to preserve a person or relationship.
- Lane · entry 36920
بُقْيَا
Preservation, sparing, quarter, mercy, or compassion that lets a person live or preserves affection.
A substantive associated with asking to be spared or shown mercy, including an appeal for quarter after defeat.
- Lane · entry 36929
تَبَاقٍ
Remaining together.
A reciprocal construction describing two or more parties continuing in one place or association.
- Lane · entry 36922
بَقِيَّةٌ
The best or choicest part of a people, family, or company.
In expressions such as مِنْ بَقِيَّةِ القَوْمِ or بَقِيَّةُ القَوْمِ, the term refers to those selected as the most excellent, as though reserved from what a people produces.
- Lane · entry 36930
بَقِيَّةٌ
Forbearance or restraint from seriously marring an existing bond of amity.
A relational use describing mercy or restraint that preserves unity or affection between parties.
- Lane · entry 36930
البَاقِي
The net produce or amount remaining from a kharāj tax or a similar assessment.
A specialized nominal use referring to the yield left after the relevant dues or calculation.
- Lane · entry 36931
أَبْقَى
More sparing, merciful, pitiful, or compassionate toward one's people than another person.
A comparative idiomatic use based on showing greater preservation or mercy toward others.
- Lane · entry 36933
مُبْقِيَةٌ
One that retains some of what it holds or supplies.
Applied to a she-camel that retains some milk, horses that reserve some of their running, and places that retain some collected water rather than exhausting it.
- Lane · entry 36934
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The QAC Form I group بَقِيَ includes the supplied surface أَبْقَى at 53:51:3, glossed contextually as “He spared.” The direct lexical evidence for sparing belongs to the Form IV entry أَبْقَى; that occurrence is therefore not reassigned as an independent Form I sense.
أَبْقَى occurs as both a Form IV verb and a comparative adjective in separate QAC form groups; these are displayed as distinct public forms despite their identical undiacritized spelling.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
The occurrence 53:51:3 is grouped by QAC under Form I بَقِيَ although its supplied surface and contextual gloss indicate أَبْقَى meaning “spared.” Because the packet supplies no secure Form I lexical evidence for that transitive sense, it remains flagged rather than being silently added to the Form I definition.