Quranic root
قدس
q · d · s
The root centers on purity, holiness, and removal from impurity or imperfection.
Its meanings extend from becoming or making pure to sanctification, sacred places, the Holy Spirit, and the divine epithet denoting transcendent purity.
- Maqāyīs · row 3734
- Mufradāt · row 1162
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 10
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
قَدَّسَ
qaddasa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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 purify or sanctify a person or thing in a spiritual or devotional sense.
In وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ, this is explained as purifying oneself and those who obey God for Him; the purification is distinguished from merely removing perceptible filth.
- Lane · entry 7961
- Mufradāt · row 1162
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:30word 21
“and we sanctify”
To declare God holy, affirming that He is free from impurity, evil, or imperfection.
This is an alternative explanation of وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ: declaring God to be holy and free from anything derogatory to His glory.
- Lane · entry 7961
- Mufradāt · row 1162
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:30word 21
“and we sanctify”
مُقَدَّس
muqaddas
- Part of speech
- Passive 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.
Hallowed, sacred, or purified from spiritual impurity; consecrated.
Used of sacred places, including the holy land and the sacred valley; in the Quran-focused explanation, purification concerns spiritual impurity such as associationism rather than merely physical dirt.
- Lane · entry 7969
- Mufradāt · row 1162
Selected Quran examples
قُدُس
qudus
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
The Holy Spirit; in the Quranic usage, the spirit identified with Gabriel and associated with conveying divine purification, revelation, or guidance.
All supplied Quran occurrences are in the construction رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ. The Quran-focused interpretation identifies the referent with Gabriel; classical discussion also records the Spirit of Jesus, the Gospel, the divine name, or divine protection and guidance as alternative explanations of the expression.
- Lane · entry 7963
- Mufradāt · row 1162
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:102word 4
“the Holy Spirit”
Quran 2:87word 16
“the Holy Spirit”
قُدُّوس
quddūs
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
The All-Holy or utterly pure one, free from every imperfection and anything derogatory to divine glory.
A divine epithet with an intensive sense of holiness, purity, and perfection.
- Lane · entry 7967
Selected Quran examples
Quran 59:23word 9
“the Holy One”
Quran 62:1word 10
“the Holy”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:30وَنُقَدِّسُand we sanctify
- 2:87ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗthe Holy Spirit
- 2:253ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ[the] Holy
- 5:21ٱلْمُقَدَّسَةَthe Holy
- 5:110ٱلْقُدُسِthe Holy
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 17 Classical meanings
قَدَسَ
To go far away into the land or country.
An intransitive Form I usage describing departure deep into a land or country.
- Lane · entry 7960
قَدُسَ
To be or become holy or pure.
Said of a thing; it may also be applied emphatically to God in the sense of holiness.
- Lane · entry 7960
قَدَّسَ
To bless someone.
A classical Form II usage, including in expressions invoking or denying divine blessing.
- Lane · entry 7961
تَقْدِيسٌ
A prayer for a blessing.
A nominal use referring to the act of praying that a blessing be granted to someone.
- Lane · entry 7961
قَدَّسَ
To go or come to Jerusalem, Bayt al-Maqdis.
A specialized Form II directional usage, comparable to verbs formed from place-names.
- Lane · entry 7961
تَقَدَّسَ
To become hallowed, sanctified, or purified; to be free from impurity or imperfection; or to purify oneself.
Form V usage, including descriptions of God as free from every impurity or defect and of a person or thing as becoming purified.
- Lane · entry 7962
قُدْسٌ
Holiness, sanctity, or purity.
A noun and verbal noun referring to the state or quality of holiness and purity.
- Lane · entry 7963
حَظِيرَةُ الْقُدْسِ
The Enclosure of Holiness, identified with Paradise.
A conventional expression for Paradise.
- Lane · entry 7963
قُدْسٌ
Blessing.
A classical nominal sense distinct from holiness or purity.
- Lane · entry 7963
الْقُدْسُ / بَيْتُ الْمَقْدِسِ
Jerusalem, especially in the designations al-Quds and Bayt al-Maqdis.
A place-name meaning the hallowed or consecrated dwelling.
- Lane · entry 7963
- Lane · entry 7969
الْأَرْضُ الْمُقَدَّسَةُ
The Holy Land, a designation variously applied to Damascus, Palestine, part of the Jordan region, or Syria.
A classical geographical designation whose precise territorial reference varies among authorities.
- Lane · entry 7963
- Lane · entry 7969
مُقَدَّسٌ
Blessed.
A broader classical extension of the passive participle beyond the Quranic sense of being hallowed or purified.
- Lane · entry 7969
قُدُّوسٌ
The Blessed or greatly blessed one.
A classical divine epithet emphasizing blessing in addition to holiness and purity.
- Lane · entry 7967
مُقَدِّسٌ
A religious person associated with pilgrimage to Jerusalem, especially a Christian monk; in some usages, a Christian or Jew, or a learned Jew.
A specialized personal noun connected with coming from or going to Bayt al-Maqdis and seeking blessing from it.
- Lane · entry 7970
مَقْدِسِيٌّ / مُقَدَّسِيٌّ
Jerusalem-related or belonging to Jerusalem; as a personal designation, a Jew associated with Jerusalem.
A relational adjective and corresponding personal noun.
- Lane · entry 7971
قَدَسٌ
A vessel like a bucket or tub.
A Hijazi dialectal term for a vessel used for purification.
- Lane · entry 7964
قَادُوسٌ
An earthen or wooden pot attached to a water-wheel.
Its plural is قَوَادِيسُ.
- Lane · entry 20856
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
All supplied Quran occurrences of قُدُس are in the construction رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ; the referent is interpreted as Gabriel in the Quran-focused evidence, while classical interpretations vary.
The classical geographical scope of الْأَرْضُ الْمُقَدَّسَةُ is reported with differing identifications, including Palestine, Damascus, part of Jordan, and Syria.