Quranic root
سلط
s · l · ṭ
The root's principal semantic orientation is force exerted to overcome or prevail over something or someone.
This develops into meanings of domination, delegated authority, and proof understood as something that forcefully establishes a claim. Related lexical branches extend force and sharpness to physical qualities and speech, while the oil sense is treated as a divergent dialectal branch.
- Maqāyīs · row 2470
- Mufradāt · row 716
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 39
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
سَلَّطَ
sallaṭa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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.
To give or assign power, authority, or mastery over someone; to cause someone to prevail over another.
A causative construction, commonly followed by عَلَى, expressing the granting or exercise of superior power over an object.
- Lane · entry 41846
- Mufradāt · row 716
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:90word 21
“surely He (would have) given them power”
Quran 59:6word 16
“gives power”
سُلْطَان
sulṭān
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 37 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.
Authority, power, or dominion exercised over others or granted to an agent.
Used for effective or delegated power and authority, including power attributed to or denied to Satan and authority granted to a person. In some passages it can denote ruling power rather than an abstract proof.
- Lane · entry 41852
- Mufradāt · row 716
Selected Quran examples
Quran 14:10word 32
“an authority”
Quran 69:29word 3
“my authority”
A proof, evidence, argument, plea, or manifest sign that establishes or forcefully demonstrates a claim.
Corresponds to حُجَّةٌ or بُرْهَانٌ and can include a manifest miracle or sign. In passages such as 17:33 and 69:29, the word is explicitly compatible with either authority/power or a plea.
- Lane · entry 41852
- Mufradāt · row 716
Selected Quran examples
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:151سُلْطَـٰنًۭا ۖany authority
- 4:90لَسَلَّطَهُمْsurely He (would have) given them power
- 4:91سُلْطَـٰنًۭاan authority
- 4:144سُلْطَـٰنًۭاan evidence
- 4:153سُلْطَـٰنًۭاan authority
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
سَلُطَ
To overcome, prevail, or predominate; to become established in superior power and possess dominion or rule.
An intransitive Form I verb describing prevailing power or sovereignty.
- Lane · entry 41845
سَلُطَ
To become strong or hard, especially of a solid hoof or a camel's foot.
Applied to physical objects whose hardness or strength is being described.
- Lane · entry 41845
سَلُطَ
To become sharp; of a person or speech, to be eloquent and sharp-tongued, long-tongued, clamorous, or foul-tongued.
The speech-related applications describe forceful or cutting expression; the source gives both commendatory and blameworthy uses.
- Lane · entry 41845
تَسَلَّطَ
To overcome, prevail, or exercise superior power, dominion, or authority over others; to receive or be made to have such power.
An intransitive or quasi-passive Form V counterpart of سَلَّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ.
- Lane · entry 41847
سُلْطَان
A ruler, governor, king, sovereign, or caliph; a person vested with ruling power.
A person-denoting application of the noun, distinct from its abstract sense of authority or proof.
- Lane · entry 41852
سُلْطَان
Strength, hardness, sharpness, force, or violence as manifested in a thing; by extension, severe winter, inflamed blood, or blazing fire.
A broader Classical Arabic application to physical or natural intensity rather than political or evidentiary authority.
- Lane · entry 41852
سَلِيط
Strong or hard, especially describing a solid hoof or a beast with a hard foot.
An adjective applied to physical strength or hardness, with hoof and foot as the recorded applications.
- Lane · entry 41854
سَلِيط
Sharp, including the sharp edges of the foreparts of hoofs.
Applied to things possessing a sharp edge or point.
- Lane · entry 41854
سَلِيط
Eloquent and sharp-tongued; also long-tongued, clamorous, or foul-tongued.
Applied to a person, speech, or tongue; the speech-related use may be praise or blame depending on the expression.
- Lane · entry 41854
سَلِيط
Olive oil; in a dialectal usage, sesame oil, and more broadly oil pressed from grains or berries.
The geographic attribution of the sesame-oil sense varies among authorities.
- Lane · entry 41854
أَسْلَط
More or most overcoming, prevailing, predominating, or superior in power or force.
A comparative or superlative adjective describing superiority in power.
- Lane · entry 41855
أَسْلَط
Most eloquent, chaste, or sharp-tongued in speech.
A comparative or superlative application describing superiority in verbal expression.
- Lane · entry 41855
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
سُلْطَان in several Quranic contexts, especially 17:33 and 69:29, permits an authority/power reading as well as a proof or plea reading; the examples preserve that lexical ambiguity.
The oil sense of سَلِيط is a dialectal branch, and the reported identification of the relevant oil varies between olive oil and sesame oil among authorities.
Classical usage reports سُلْطَان as both masculine and feminine; this grammatical variation does not create a separate lexical sense.