Quranic root
قسط
q · s · ṭ
The root expresses two opposed evaluations of apportionment: equitable allocation and deviation into injustice.
From the contrast between قِسْطٌ, equitable justice or a due share, and قَسْطٌ, injustice or deviation, the lexical family extends to dividing shares, measuring, and balancing. The costus term is treated separately as a homographic usage.
- Maqāyīs · row 3776
- Mufradāt · row 1178
- 5
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 25
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَقْسَطَ
ʾaqsaṭa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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.
To act equitably or justly.
Used for equitable treatment in dealings with people or groups, including acting justly toward or between them. The Quranic forms include imperfect and imperative inflections of this verb.
- Lane · entry 8315
- Mufradāt · row 1178
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:3word 4
“you will be able to do justice”
Quran 49:9word 26
“and act justly”
Quran 60:8word 16
“and deal justly”
قِسْطٌ
qisṭun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 15 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.
Justice or equity; a fair apportionment of what is due.
Used of equitable judgment, weighing, recompense, and dealings among people. The notion of justice may be presented as a properly measured or apportioned due; the broader generic meaning “a share” is listed separately among the Classical meanings.
- Lane · entry 8319
- Mufradāt · row 1178
Selected Quran examples
أَقْسَطُ
ʾaqsaṭu
- Part of speech
- Adjective · Comparative
- 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.
More equitable, more just, or more right.
A comparative adjective used when one course, attribution, or arrangement is judged more equitable than another.
- Lane · entry 8321
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:282word 88
“(is) more just”
Quran 33:5word 4
“(is) more just”
مُقْسِطٌ
muqsiṭun
- Part of speech
- Active 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.
One who acts equitably or justly.
An active participle referring in the Quran to people characterized by equitable conduct. The separate use as a divine epithet is Classical Arabic evidence and is listed separately.
- Lane · entry 8323
- Mufradāt · row 1178
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:42word 26
“the ones who are just”
Quran 49:9word 30
“those who act justly”
Quran 60:8word 21
“those who act justly”
قَاسِطٌ
qāsiṭun
- 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 deviates from the right and acts unjustly, wrongfully, or tyrannically.
The Quranic active participle has the negative sense of deviation and injustice, contrasting with مُقْسِطٌ, one who acts equitably.
- Lane · entry 8320
- Mufradāt · row 1178
Selected Quran examples
Quran 72:14word 5
“(are) unjust”
Quran 72:15word 2
“the unjust”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:282أَقْسَطُ(is) more just
- 3:18بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚin justice
- 3:21بِٱلْقِسْطِ[with] justice
- 4:3تُقْسِطُوا۟you will be able to do justice
- 4:127بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚwith justice
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 16 Classical meanings
قَسَطَ
To decline or deviate from the right course; to act unjustly, wrongfully, injuriously, or tyrannically.
The Form I verb has the negative sense associated with قَاسِطٌ; it is distinct in polarity from Form IV أَقْسَطَ, to act equitably.
- Lane · entry 8313
قَسَّطَ
To distribute or apportion something among people; to assign their several portions.
Used of property, taxes, and other amounts. The same distribution sense is also reported for the undoubled form قَسَطَ in one lexical analysis.
- Lane · entry 8314
قَسَّطَ
To be niggardly or parsimonious in expenditure toward one's household.
A specialized construction concerning expenditure on one's dependents.
- Lane · entry 8314
تَقَسَّطَ
To divide or share something among themselves equitably or equally.
The reciprocal Form V construction is used of parties dividing property or another thing among themselves.
- Lane · entry 8316
قُسْطٌ
Costus: a fragrant wood, drug, or substance used in fumigation and medicine.
Historical descriptions vary as to whether the substance is Indian or Arabian wood, aloeswood, a sea drug, or another aromatic medicinal material.
- Lane · entry 8318
قِسْطٌ
A portion, share, or lot belonging to a person.
Used of a person's portion of property or another divisible thing; the related sense of a fair due is distinct from this broader generic share meaning.
- Lane · entry 8319
- Mufradāt · row 1178
قِسْطٌ
A person's allotted share of the means of subsistence.
Used for the portion of livelihood assigned to a created being.
- Lane · entry 8319
قِسْطٌ
A quantity, especially a quantity of water, and sometimes a quantity of other things.
The water-specific use is especially noted, but the term may be extended to quantity generally.
- Lane · entry 8319
قِسْطٌ
A measure for grain or similar commodities, traditionally holding half a صَاع.
A concrete measuring unit; the same lexical entry also records uses for vessels associated with measuring or ablution.
- Lane · entry 8319
قِسْطٌ
A vessel or mug used for a measured quantity, including a vessel used for ablution or for measuring olive oil.
Includes the vessel use in traditional ablution contexts and the urban use for a mug or liquid measure.
- Lane · entry 8319
قِسْطٌ
A balance or weighing instrument.
Reported as an interpretation of the expression describing lowering and raising the qist; this is a specialized lexical interpretation distinct from the noun’s justice sense.
- Lane · entry 8319
قَاسِطٌ
A member of the party of Muʿāwiyah, or one of the people of Ṣiffīn.
A special historical application of the plural قَاسِطُونَ.
- Lane · entry 8320
قَاسِطٌ
Acting equitably or justly.
A reported contrary use of the active participle, opposite to the Quranic negative sense of قَاسِطٌ.
- Lane · entry 8320
أَقْسَطَ
To divide or apportion.
A reported alternative lexical analysis restricts the Form IV family to division; the Quran-attested use of the form in the supplied evidence is equitable action.
- Lane · entry 8315
تَقْسِيطٌ
A register recording a person’s portion or share of property.
A substantive naming the written record of an allotted share.
- Lane · entry 8322
مُقْسِطٌ
The Equitable, as a divine name or epithet.
A specialized theological use of the active participle, separate from its Quranic reference to human actors who act justly.
- Lane · entry 8323
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The root exhibits a lexical polarity contrast: قَسَطَ and قَاسِطٌ denote deviation or injustice, while أَقْسَطَ and مُقْسِطٌ denote equitable action.
The Form IV entry records an alternative analysis connecting أَقْسَطَ with division, but the Quranic occurrences supplied here support its equitable-action sense.
قُسْطٌ meaning costus is a homographic medicinal term; it is kept separate from the justice, share, and measure branches.