Quranic root
قوي
q · w · y
The root has a principal sense of strength, intensity, and freedom from weakness, with an associated image of the strands or twists of a rope. It also has a distinct branch relating to barren, uninhabited land and consequent want.
The strength branch yields قُوَّةٌ and قَوِيٌّ, while the separate قَوَاءٌ branch denotes an empty or barren land and develops into meanings of desolation and poverty. A rare isolated usage records اِقْتَوَى for partners successively raising the price of an item.
- Maqāyīs · row 3902
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 42
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
مُقْوٍ
muqwin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
One who is in a barren land; hence, one left without provisions or in want.
In the Quranic plural مُقْوِينَ, the word refers to people in the desert or barren open country, with the associated notion of lacking provisions.
- Mufradāt · row 1222
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:73word 5
“for the wayfarers in the desert”
قَوِيّ
qawiyy
- Part of speech
- Adjective / substantivized noun
- Quran occurrences
- 11 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.
Strong, powerful, and possessing substantial capacity or force.
Used of created beings or entities for ordinary strength and power, and of God as the All-Strong, whose power is unrestricted in relation to creation.
- Lane · entry 21220
- Mufradāt · row 1222
Selected Quran examples
Quran 27:39word 15
“surely, strong”
Quran 28:26word 9
“(is) the strong”
Quran 42:19word 8
“(is) the All-Strong”
قُوَّة
quwwah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 30 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.
Strength or capacity available for action; physical power, general ability, or power attributed to God.
The capacity may belong to the body, a person or community, or divine power. Context can render it as strength, power, force, or firmness without requiring a separate lexical meaning.
- Lane · entry 21226
- Mufradāt · row 1222
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:95word 8
“with strength”
Quran 51:58word 6
“(of) Power”
Inner strength, resolve, or firmness of heart for receiving and carrying out a command.
In constructions such as taking a book or revelation بِقُوَّةٍ, the word denotes inward resolve rather than merely bodily force.
- Mufradāt · row 1222
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:12word 4
“with strength”
External means, forces, or resources by which one is strengthened or enabled to act.
This includes supporting people, troops, material resources, or other means relied upon for strength; it is distinct from strength inherent in the person or body.
- Mufradāt · row 1222
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:80word 6
“power”
Quran 27:33word 4
“(of) strength”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:63بِقُوَّةٍۢwith strength
- 2:93بِقُوَّةٍۢwith firmness
- 2:165ٱلْقُوَّةَthe power
- 7:145بِقُوَّةٍۢwith firmness
- 7:171بِقُوَّةٍۢwith strength
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 12 Classical meanings
قَوِيَ
To become strong, vigorous, robust, or sturdy.
A basic Form I verbal use describing the acquisition or presence of strength.
- Lane · entry 21220
قَوِيَ عَلَيْهِ
To be strong enough for or able to endure something; to prevail against it, or to prevail over a person or thing.
A conventional عَلَى construction, used with travel, adversity, and similar objects or circumstances.
- Lane · entry 21220
قَاوَى
To vie with, contend with, or strive to surpass another in strength.
A Form III reciprocal or competitive construction concerning superiority in strength.
- Lane · entry 21222
أَقْوَتِ الدَّارُ
For a house to become empty, vacant, or unoccupied.
Used of a dwelling that has been left without inhabitants.
- Lane · entry 21223
قِوَاء
A barren, uninhabited, or desolate tract of land.
A distinct lexical branch associated with the condition of an empty or uncultivated place.
- Mufradāt · row 1222
- Maqāyīs · row 3902
أَقْوَى
To enter barren country and, by extension, to be left without provisions or become poor.
The sense develops from being in a desert or empty land to lacking sustenance.
- Mufradāt · row 1222
- Maqāyīs · row 3902
تَقَوَّى
To strengthen oneself, seek to acquire strength, or make oneself capable of enduring something.
With مِنَ الشَّيْءِ بِقَوْمِهِ, it can mean to protect or support oneself against something through one's people.
- Lane · entry 21224
فُوَّة
Strength, power, potency, might, or force, including vigor in the body or intellect.
A lexical variant or related noun used for force or vigor in physical and intellectual contexts.
- Lane · entry 21226
قُوَّة
A single strand, twist, or yarn forming part of a rope, string, or thread.
A concrete technical sense referring to a distinct twisted portion of a larger cord or thread.
- Lane · entry 21226
قُوَّة
A faculty or perceptive capacity, such as the faculty by which the ear perceives sounds.
A technical sense for an operative faculty or capacity in a bodily organ.
- Lane · entry 21226
قُوَّة
Potential or virtual capacity: a state of being able or prepared to become or do something without its being actualized.
Used in contrast with بِالفِعْلِ, actuality; it can describe an existing but unused ability or a capacity to learn or develop one.
- Lane · entry 21226
- Mufradāt · row 1222
اِقْتَوَى
For partners or co-purchasers to raise their bids successively until an item's price reaches its highest point.
A rare, isolated usage recorded as departing from the principal strength and barren-land branches.
- Maqāyīs · row 3902
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form مُقْوِينَ is a plural active participle; it is displayed under the normalized singular citation form مُقْوٍ.
The Quranic form قُوَىٰ is retained within the قُوَّة entry as a Quranic plural form, not treated as a separate public headword.