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Quranic root

رخو

r · kh · w

The root centers on softness, yieldingness, and freedom from rigidity or strain, with a related classical association of lightness or shallowness of mind.

Its semantic range develops from physical softness and looseness to slackening or letting down, gentle and unimpeded running or wind, ease and abundance of circumstances, and the slowing or postponement of an action or event.

  • Maqāyīs · row 1994
  • Lane · entry 22895
  • Mufradāt · row 542
1
Quran-attested forms
1
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.

رُخَاءٌ

rukhāʾun

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.

  1. A gentle, soft wind.

    In the Quranic expression at 38:36, the wind is described as running at command; the usage conveys gentleness and ease of movement, with traditional interpretations also emphasizing speed without resistance or opposition.

    • Lane · entry 22905
    • Mufradāt · row 542
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 38:36word 6

    gently

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 38:36رُخَآءًgently
View all 1 occurrences

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 26 Classical meanings
  • رَخُوَ / رَخِيَ

    To become soft, yielding, flaccid, slack, uncompact, fragile, brittle, or easily broken.

    A basic intransitive verbal use, applied to things that lose firmness or compactness.

    • Lane · entry 22895
  • رَخُوَ / رَخِيَ

    Of life or a person's circumstances, to become ample, unstraitened, or plentiful.

    A figurative use applied to means or circumstances of life.

    • Lane · entry 22895
  • تَرْخِيَةُ الشَّيْءِ بِالشَّيْءِ

    The mixing of one thing with another.

    A Form II verbal-noun construction.

    • Lane · entry 22896
  • رَاخَاهُ

    To make distant or remote, or to become distant from someone or something.

    A reciprocal or transitive Form III use expressing separation or remoteness.

    • Lane · entry 22897
  • رَاخَتْ

    Of a woman, to be near bringing forth.

    A specialized Form III usage referring to approaching childbirth.

    • Lane · entry 22897
  • أَرْخَى

    To make soft, yielding, lax, slack, fragile, or easily broken; to relax or loosen something.

    Used of ties, bonds, shackles, ropes, reins, and similar things; the intensive or comparative expression أَشَدُّ إِرْخَاءً means more or most relaxing, slackening, or loosening.

    • Lane · entry 22898
  • أَرْخَى

    To let down, lower, or allow to hang loosely.

    Used of a veil, curtain, clothing, or a similar hanging object or portion of an object.

    • Lane · entry 22898
  • أَرْخَى

    To give ease, relief, delay, or ample scope; to leave someone free to manage an affair as they please.

    These figurative uses arise from loosening a restraint, tether, or difficulty; loosening one's turban can likewise express becoming secure or at ease.

    • Lane · entry 22898
  • أَرْخَتْ

    Of a she-camel, for the parts on either side of the tail to relax or gape at parturition.

    A specialized anatomical usage associated with giving birth.

    • Lane · entry 22898
  • إِرْخَاءٌ

    A mode of running that is easy or gentle and exceeds ordinary trotting, ranging from unimpetuous running to very fast running.

    Used especially of horses and other riding animals; it can also mean letting an animal follow its own eager desire in running without tiring it.

    • Lane · entry 22898
    • Mufradāt · row 542
  • تَرَاخَى

    To slacken, flag, or become remiss or languid in running, an affair, or the accomplishment of a need.

    The subject may be a runner, an affair, or a person pursuing an objective.

    • Lane · entry 22899
  • تَرَاخَى

    To draw back, hold back, or hang back from someone or something.

    A Form VI use with عن expressing withdrawal or holding back.

    • Lane · entry 22899
  • تَرَاخَى

    To become slow, late, delayed, or protracted; to leave an interval or ample time for action.

    Used of rain, time, or an affair; تَرَاخٍ may denote an interval, extension, or remoteness.

    • Lane · entry 22899
  • اِسْتَرْخَى

    To become relaxed, slack, or loosely pendent; to hang down.

    Used of a veil, curtain, garment, hair, or a lock of hair, and of similar things that hang loosely.

    • Lane · entry 22900
  • اِسْتَرْخَى صَلَاهَا

    Of a she-camel, for the parts on either side of the tail to relax or gape at parturition.

    A specialized anatomical construction referring to the onset of giving birth.

    • Lane · entry 22900
  • اِسْتَرْخَى

    To become weak or slack in one's opinion after having been strong.

    A figurative use applied to firmness of judgment or resolve.

    • Lane · entry 22900
  • اِسْتَرْخَى بِهِ الأَمْرُ

    For one's circumstances to become good, ample, or unstraitened after difficulty.

    The construction describes improvement into a state of ease or plenty after prior constraint.

    • Lane · entry 22900
  • رِخْوٌ / رَخْوٌ / رُخْوٌ

    Soft, yielding, flaccid, flabby, lax, uncompact, fragile, brittle, friable, or easily broken.

    The forms differ by accepted vocalization or dialect; the adjective may be applied to things of any kind.

    • Lane · entry 22901
  • رِخْوٌ / رِخْوَةٌ

    Easy, gentle, moderate, or leisurely in pace; tractable or easy to lead.

    Used especially of a horse or mare, including the construction رِخْوُ العِنَانِ, easy to control by the reins.

    • Lane · entry 22901
  • الحُرُوفُ الرِّخْوَةُ

    A continuant or lax letter in which the sound runs on rather than being stopped.

    A technical phonetic use for the class of letters distinguished from the stops and intermediate letters.

    • Lane · entry 22901
  • رِخْوَةٌ / رُخْوَةٌ

    Softness, yieldingness, flaccidity, laxity, or looseness.

    A verbal noun or abstract noun denoting the state of being soft or relaxed.

    • Lane · entry 22903
  • رَخَاءٌ

    Abundance or freedom from straitness in one's means or circumstances of life.

    Also used in expressions for an easy state of mind or an untroubled condition.

    • Lane · entry 22904
  • رَخِيٌّ

    Ample, unstraitened, easy, pleasant, or plentiful in life or circumstances.

    Applied to life, a person's condition, or the state of mind expressed by رَخِيُّ البَالِ.

    • Lane · entry 22906
  • أُرْخِيَّةٌ

    A thing or part of a thing that has been let loose, let down, or lowered.

    Used, for example, of a loosened veil or curtain.

    • Lane · entry 22909
  • مِرْخَاءٌ

    An animal that runs in the manner called إِرْخَاءٌ, or runs extensively in that manner.

    Applied to a horse, mare, she-camel, she-ass, or other beast; its plural is مَرَاخِيُّ.

    • Lane · entry 22910
  • مُتَرَاخٍ

    Later than, after, or temporally remote from something else.

    The construction compares the time of one event with the time of another.

    • Lane · entry 22911

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The Quran occurrence is securely located by QAC at 38:36; historical citation notation in the lexical evidence is not independently converted into a modern verse location.

  • Classical evidence records multiple vocalizations and related derived forms; these variants are kept distinct where their lexical identity or construction differs.