Quranic root
مكر
m · k · r
The main lexical orientation is deliberate, often concealed maneuvering that diverts another through stratagem, deception, or cunning. A separate lexical branch concerns the thickness or fleshiness of the legs.
The principal branch extends across the act of plotting, the resulting scheme or plot, its active agent, reciprocal forms, and the Quranic usage of divine counteraction or requital. The moral value of mكر varies with its object, while the leg-related branch is treated as lexically distinct.
- Maqāyīs · row 4445
- Mufradāt · row 1382
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 43
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
مَكَرَ
makara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 22 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 employ a covert stratagem, deception, or artifice to divert another from what they intend; to plot or scheme.
The action may be praiseworthy or blameworthy according to its object. With بِ, the construction means to deceive, beguile, or circumvent someone; the verb may also be used for plotting a thing.
- Lane · entry 12899
- Lane · entry 5785
- Mufradāt · row 1382
Selected Quran examples
Quran 8:30word 11
“And they were planning”
Quran 7:123word 12
“you have plotted it”
Of God, to counter or requite opponents’ plotting, including by granting them respite and worldly enablement until punishment overtakes them.
This is the specialized Quranic construction مَكَرَ اللهُ. Its transmitted explanations include divine counteraction or requital and the gradual taking of those who are allowed to prosper while their wrongdoing brings about their punishment.
- Lane · entry 12899
- Mufradāt · row 1382
Selected Quran examples
Quran 8:30word 12
“and (also) was planning”
Quran 27:50word 3
“and We planned”
مَاكِرٌ
mākirun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
One who practices mكر: a plotter or deviser of a covert stratagem.
The Quranic plural مَاكِرِينَ is used of God as the superior counter-planner against hostile plotting.
- Lane · entry 12905
- Mufradāt · row 1382
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:54word 6
“(of) the planners”
Quran 8:30word 16
“(of) the Planners”
مَكْرٌ
makrun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 19 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 covert stratagem, deception, or artful scheme used to divert or circumvent another; a plot or machination.
The noun may denote the plotting itself or the resulting plan. Its moral value depends on the object and purpose of the scheme.
- Lane · entry 12899
- Lane · entry 5786
- Mufradāt · row 1382
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:31word 3
“of their scheming”
Quran 27:50word 2
“a plot”
God’s counteraction or requital of plotting; also His granting of respite and worldly enablement that leads the wrongdoer toward punishment.
This is the Quranic expression مَكْرُ اللهِ and related constructions referring to divine action against plotters.
- Lane · entry 12899
- Mufradāt · row 1382
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:99word 2
“(from the) plan”
Quran 13:42word 7
“(is) the plot”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:54وَمَكَرُوا۟And they schemed
- 3:54وَمَكَرَand planned
- 3:54ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ(of) the planners
- 6:123لِيَمْكُرُوا۟so that they plot
- 6:123يَمْكُرُونَthey plot
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 5 Classical meanings
مَكَرَ
To manage affairs with deliberation, craft, and policy, employing stratagem, especially in warfare.
This branch emphasizes skilled or cunning management and does not inherently require deception or a harmful objective.
- Lane · entry 12899
مَاكَرَ
To practice mutual deceit, guile, or circumvention with another.
Form III expresses reciprocal participation in the mكر.
- Lane · entry 12900
تَمَاكَرَ
To practice mutual deceit, guile, or circumvention.
Form VI expresses reciprocal or mutual engagement in the action.
- Lane · entry 12902
مَكُورٌ، مَكَّارٌ
A habitual or frequent practitioner of deceit, guile, or cunning; a habitual trickster.
These adjectival forms intensify the agentive meaning by indicating repeated or frequent practice.
- Lane · entry 12905
مَمْكُورَةُ السَّاقَيْنِ
A woman described as having thick, fleshy, or robust legs.
This is a separate bodily lexical branch, explicitly used in the phrase describing the two legs.
- Maqāyīs · row 4445
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Divine مكر has several transmitted explanations, including counteraction or requital and the granting of respite with worldly enablement; it should not be reduced mechanically to ordinary human deception.
The bodily sense concerning thick or fleshy legs is lexically separate from the main deception-and-stratagem branch.