Quranic root
نكل
n · k · l
The root centers on restraint and prevention: fetters hold back, while deterrent punishment prevents recurrence and warns others.
The semantic development runs from physical restraining implements such as fetters and bridle-irons to making a person or peer recoil, and then to deterrent punishment or chastisement.
- Maqāyīs · row 4751
- Mufradāt · row 1488
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 5
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نِكْلٌ
niklun
- 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.
A fetter or shackle; the Quranic plural أَنْكَالٌ denotes restraining bonds.
Quranic occurrence is plural and refers to shackles prepared as punishment.
- Mufradāt · row 1488
Selected Quran examples
Quran 73:12word 3
“(are) shackles”
نَكَالٌ
nakālun
- 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 deterrent or exemplary punishment, intended to prevent recurrence by the offender and to warn others.
Used for punishment regarded as a warning or restraint, not merely as retribution without a deterrent function.
- Lane · entry 32407
- Mufradāt · row 1488
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:66word 2
“a deterrent punishment”
Quran 5:38word 8
“(as) an exemplary (punishment)”
Quran 79:25word 3
“(with) an exemplary punishment”
تَنْكِيلٌ
tankīlun
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
The infliction of deterrent punishment or chastisement—doing to someone what deters him and others from repeating the offense.
Verbal-noun form of نَكَّلَ به; the Quranic use concerns punitive chastisement as a deterrent.
- Mufradāt · row 1488
- Maqāyīs · row 4751
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:84word 22
“(in) punishment”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:66نَكَـٰلًۭاa deterrent punishment
- 4:84تَنكِيلًۭا(in) punishment
- 5:38نَكَـٰلًۭا(as) an exemplary (punishment)
- 73:12أَنكَالًۭا(are) shackles
- 79:25نَكَالَ(with) an exemplary punishment
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 7 Classical meanings
نَكَلَ
To be weak or unable to undertake something; to shrink or recoil from it.
Used with عن for withdrawing from or failing to undertake a matter.
- Mufradāt · row 1488
نَكَلَ
To fetter or bind.
A transitive use for physically restraining an object or creature.
- Mufradāt · row 1488
النِّكْلُ
An iron bit of a bridle.
A concrete restraining implement associated with the bridle.
- Mufradāt · row 1488
النِّكْلُ
A formidable person or thing that overawes or overcomes its peers.
A lexical use for something that makes its equals recoil or unable to match it.
- Lane · entry 32405
النَّكَلُ عَلَى النَّكَلِ
A strong, experienced man mounted on a strong, experienced horse.
A conventional expression describing matched strength and experience in rider and mount.
- Mufradāt · row 1488
مَنْكَلٌ
A thing that chastises or deters a person.
An object or means whose effect makes a person recoil or prevents repetition.
- Maqāyīs · row 4751
نُكْلٌ / نُكْلَةٌ
Something that chastises or punishes a person.
Used in the expression رماه الله بنُكْلِه وبنُكْلَةٍ, meaning that someone was struck with what chastises him.
- Maqāyīs · row 4751
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic plural أَنْكَالٌ is normalized under the singular dictionary headword نِكْلٌ.
تَنْكِيلٌ is labeled as a verbal noun despite its generic Noun tag in the supplied QAC morphology.
The strong rider and horse usage is an idiomatic Classical Arabic expression, not a separate Quranic sense.