Quranic root
قطط
q · ṭ · ṭ
The root is oriented toward cutting something rapidly across or transversely, producing a separated or sharply delimited portion.
From transverse cutting develop meanings involving a cut-off share or written allotment, as well as related descriptions of contracted hair and light, broken precipitation. The particle قَطْ meaning “enough” is treated separately as an alteration of قَدْ rather than as a direct development of this root.
- Maqāyīs · row 3801
- Mufradāt · row 1191
- Lane · entry 8538
- Lane · entry 8554
- Lane · entry 8563
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
قِطّ
qiṭṭ
- 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.
An allotted portion, share, or lot, including a due assigned as reward or recompense.
In رَبَّنَا عَجِّلْ لَنَا قِطَّنَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ, the word may refer to the requested allotted share or due before the Day of Reckoning; exegetical readings include a share of Paradise or of punishment.
- Lane · entry 8554
- Mufradāt · row 1191
Selected Quran examples
Quran 38:16word 5
“our share”
A written allotment, record, or document, especially a written statement or obligation specifying a due payment or gift.
In the same Quranic expression, the word is also understood as the written reckoning or entitlement to be delivered. This interpretation is distinct from, but applies to, the same Quranic form as the sense “share.”
- Lane · entry 8554
- Mufradāt · row 1191
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 38:16قِطَّنَاour share
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
قَطَّ
To cut across, crosswise, or transversely; to cut or trim a hard object or an edge into an even form.
It is opposed to قَدَّ, which denotes cutting lengthwise. The verb is also used of nibbing a writing reed and paring a beast’s hoof. The quasi-passive form انْقَطَّ denotes being or becoming cut.
- Lane · entry 8538
- Lane · entry 8540
قَطٌّ
Crisp, curly, twisted, contracted, and short hair; also an epithet for a person characterized by such hair.
The description may refer to hair that is especially tightly curled or contracted.
- Lane · entry 8538
- Lane · entry 8553
قَطَّ / قَاطٌّ
To become dear or high in price; of a price, dear.
قَطَّ السِّعْرُ is the verbal construction, while قَاطٌّ is an adjectival description of the price.
- Lane · entry 8538
- Lane · entry 8564
قَطْقَطَ / مُقَطْقِطٌ
Of the sky, to let fall rain or hail, especially the light precipitation called قِطْقِطٌ.
مُقَطْقِطَةٌ describes a sky producing such precipitation.
- Lane · entry 8542
- Lane · entry 8569
قَطْ
Sufficiency; enough, or what suffices.
Used as a prefixed noun or verbal noun equivalent to حَسْبُ or كَفَى, in expressions such as قَطْكَ and قَطْنِي, with several grammatical variants.
- Lane · entry 8543
قَطْ في فَقَطْ
Only; no more; a limiting expression for a restricted amount.
It occurs especially in limiting or negative expressions. Some analyses of فَقَطْ explain it as a verbal noun meaning “stop” or “abstain from further questioning,” while others relate it to satisfaction or sufficiency.
- Lane · entry 8543
قَطُّ
Ever or hitherto, throughout the past time up to the present.
It is normally used in negative statements about past time, though occurrences after affirmative clauses are also reported; it is not normally used for the future.
- Lane · entry 8550
قِطٌّ
A slice or piece cut off, especially of a melon or similar object.
- Lane · entry 8554
قِطٌّ
An hour or portion of the night.
- Lane · entry 8554
قِطٌّ
A male cat.
قِطَّةٌ is reported as the term for a female cat, although its status as genuine Arabic is disputed in the cited lexical tradition.
- Lane · entry 8554
قِطَّةٌ
A mode or manner of cutting, especially the cut made at the extremity of a writing-reed nib.
- Lane · entry 8557
قَطَّاطٌ
A maker or turner of small boxes or containers called حُقَق.
- Lane · entry 8562
قِطْقِطٌ
Small rain or drizzle; also small hail, or hail or rain of the kinds described in the lexical tradition.
The term is used for light precipitation, with descriptions differing over whether the precipitation is rain, hail, or continuously falling larger drops.
- Lane · entry 8563
مَقَطٌّ
The place where the extremities of a horse’s ribs end, or a rib extremity projecting over the belly.
The plural مَقَاطّ refers to the paired extremities of the horse’s belly, extending from the sternum toward the pubic region.
- Lane · entry 8566
مِقَطَّةٌ
A small bone or similar support on which a writing reed is cut or nibbed.
It is the implement used by writers or paper sellers for cutting the extremities of reeds.
- Lane · entry 8567
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The single Quran occurrence supports two materially different interpretive readings: an allotted share or recompense, and a written allotment or document. The supplied contextual gloss “our share” reflects the first reading.
The particle قَطْ meaning “enough” and the adverb قَطُّ meaning “ever” are distinct Classical Arabic items and should not be conflated with the Quranic noun قِطّ.