Quranic root
ركض
r · k · ḍ
A root principle of movement forward or causing movement, especially through the action of the foot or leg.
The root extends from striking or impelling with the foot to running and fleeing, and further to related movements such as wing-flapping, fetal motion, agitation, and propulsion.
- Maqāyīs · row 2126
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
رَكَضَ
rakaḍa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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 strike or tread the ground with the foot.
In the Quranic command, the subject is instructed to use his foot against the ground.
- Lane · entry 24333
- Mufradāt · row 580
Selected Quran examples
Quran 38:42word 1
“Strike”
To run away, flee, or retreat.
In the Quranic passages, the verb describes flight from a threatened place or punishment.
- Lane · entry 24333
- Mufradāt · row 580
Selected Quran examples
Quran 21:12word 7
“were fleeing”
Quran 21:13word 2
“Flee not”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 26 Classical meanings
رَكَضَ
To strike or move something with the foot or leg; of an animal, to strike a person, and of a person or animal, to kick the ground or a garment.
Includes physical striking and kicking constructions beyond the Quranic foot-striking command.
- Lane · entry 24333
رَكَضَ
Of a bird, to move the wings in flight; also, to fly swiftly.
Applied to the movement of the wings or to the bird's speed in flight.
- Lane · entry 24333
رَكَضَ
To impel or urge a riding animal forward by striking it with the foot or leg.
Used transitively of urging a horse or other riding animal, whether or not it actually proceeds.
- Lane · entry 24333
رَكَضَ
To run or move along; of a horse, to run, and of stars, to move across the sky.
Also used of a person's going along by both legs together.
- Lane · entry 24333
رَكَضَ
In an idiomatic construction, to defend oneself or respond angrily to an affront.
The cited negative expression means not to defend oneself or become vexed at a thing.
- Lane · entry 24333
رَكَضَ
To propel an arrow with a bow; hence, to shoot with a bow.
The bow may be the grammatical subject as the propelling instrument, or the shooter may be the subject.
- Lane · entry 24333
رَكَضَ
To stir a fire with a fire-stirring tool.
A tool-based application of striking or agitating.
- Lane · entry 24333
رَاكَضَ
To contend with another in a race, each urging his horse to run.
Form III reciprocal usage involving a racing contest.
- Lane · entry 24334
أَرْكَضَ
Of a pregnant female, for the fetus to become large and move about in the womb.
Attested of a woman, mare, or she-camel; the supplied Lane form is normalized from an inflected Form IV occurrence.
- Lane · entry 24335
تَرَاكَضَ
To race one another by urging one's horses.
Form VI reciprocal usage, especially in a racecourse or pursuit.
- Lane · entry 24336
اِرْتَكَضَ
To struggle or convulse with the legs, especially before death.
Occurs in the idiom describing a person struggling with or convulsing in the legs.
- Lane · entry 24337
اِرْتَكَضَ
To be or become in a state of commotion or agitation.
Used of a fetus moving in the womb or of water in a well.
- Lane · entry 24337
اِرْتَكَضَ
To become agitated, disturbed, or disquieted in an affair.
Used with فِي and an affair or matter.
- Lane · entry 24337
اِرْتَكَضَ
To maneuver, exercise ingenuity, and strive to accomplish an affair.
A figurative use describing active efforts to bring a matter to completion.
- Lane · entry 24337
اِرْتَكَضَ
To travel through or traverse countries or regions.
A specialized verbal-noun usage referring to traversing territory.
- Lane · entry 24337
رَكْضَةٌ
An impulse, thrust, or sudden motion.
In the cited traditional expression, it is an impulse attributed to the devil and understood as a دفعَة.
- Lane · entry 24338
رَكُوضٌ
Of a bow, forceful or rapid propulsion of an arrow.
An adjectival description of a bow that sends or impels its arrow swiftly or vehemently.
- Lane · entry 24339
رَاكِضٌ
Running, of a horse or mare; moving along, of stars.
An active-participial description of a runner or of stars in motion.
- Lane · entry 24341
تَرْكَضَى
A particular proud, self-conceited gait with an affected swaying of the body.
The form has orthographic variants in the lexical sources; the meaning is a distinctive manner of walking.
- Lane · entry 24342
مَرْكَضٌ
The part of a horse's flank struck by the rider's heel or foot.
Usually used in the plural for the corresponding parts on either side.
- Lane · entry 24343
مَرْكَضٌ
A side of a watering-trough against which the water strikes.
Usually used in the plural for the sides of the trough.
- Lane · entry 24343
مُرْكِضٌ
A mare or she-camel whose fetus moves about in her belly.
A descriptive participial noun for a pregnant animal showing fetal movement.
- Lane · entry 24344
مِرْكَضٌ
An instrument used for stirring a fire.
Instrumental noun; the corresponding entry is cross-referenced from another form of the same noun.
- Lane · entry 24345
مِرْكَضَةٌ
A mare that beats the ground with her legs when she runs.
A descriptive noun for a running mare.
- Lane · entry 24346
مِرْكَضَةٌ
A particular part of a bow, especially one of its curved extremities or sides.
The term may denote either of the two corresponding parts and has a plural form.
- Lane · entry 24346
مُرْتَكَضُ المَاءِ
The place in which water collects.
A locative expression referring to a water-collecting place.
- Lane · entry 24348
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form is cited under the normalized perfect رَكَضَ although the supplied occurrences are imperfect and imperative inflections.
The printed Lane citation attached to the foot-striking Quranic expression is not used as a modern verse location; the example 38:42 is anchored by the independently supplied QAC occurrence.