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Quranic root

محق

m · ḥ · q

The root denotes diminution: making something deficient or causing it to lose its increase or blessing.

Its semantic range extends from decrease and loss of blessing to disappearance or total effacement; the lunar noun applies the image of waning to the end of the month.

  • Maqāyīs · row 4306
  • Mufradāt · row 1347
1
Quran-attested forms
2
Quran senses
2
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

مَحَقَ

maḥaqa

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
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.

  1. To diminish or reduce something, especially by removing its increase or blessing.

    In the construction يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا, the object is made deficient and deprived of its increase or blessing.

    • Lane · entry 5635
    • Mufradāt · row 1347
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 2:276word 1

    “Destroys”

  2. To efface, annihilate, or destroy something completely, leaving no trace.

    In وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ, the focus is the result of complete destruction or obliteration rather than mere diminution.

    • Lane · entry 5635
    • Mufradāt · row 1347
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 3:141word 5

    “and destroy”

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 2:276يَمْحَقُDestroys
  • 3:141وَيَمْحَقَand destroy
View all 2 occurrences

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

  • مَحْق

    Diminution, depletion, or loss of increase and blessing.

    A verbal noun naming the state or act expressed by مَحَقَ.

    • Lane · entry 5635
    • Mufradāt · row 1347

  • مِحَاق

    The waning or disappearance of the moon at the end of the lunar month.

    Used for the final lunar phase and in the expression لَيَالِي الْمِحَاقِ, the nights of that waning phase.

    • Lane · entry 5637
    • Mufradāt · row 1347

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The lunar noun is kept separate from the Quranic verb; the supplied evidence shows differing vocalization conventions for this noun.