Quranic root
وصل
w · ṣ · l
A basic sense of joining one thing to another until it adheres to it.
This joining principle extends to union rather than separation, reaching or attaining, relational affiliation, continuity, connecting means, and places of juncture. The noun وَصِيلَة also develops specialized senses involving a protected animal, prosperity, and continuous or expansive land.
- Maqāyīs · row 5131
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 12
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
وَصَلَ
waṣala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 10 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.
1. To join, connect, or unite things or persons.
In Quranic usage this includes abstract ties and whatever is commanded to be joined; the passive forms mean “be joined.”
- Mufradāt · row 1585
- Lane · entry 30539
Selected Quran examples
2. To reach, arrive at, or attain.
Used of arriving at or reaching a person, place, object, or outcome; this is distinct from the relational sense of affiliating with a people.
- Lane · entry 30539
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:136word 19
“reach”
Quran 11:81word 7
“they will reach”
3. To affiliate oneself with, or be related to, a people.
In the Quranic construction with إِلَى in 4:90, the connection is explained relationally as being related to or associating oneself with the people, rather than merely arriving physically.
- Mufradāt · row 1585
- Lane · entry 30539
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:90word 3
“join”
وَصَّلَ
waṣṣala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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. To connect or link together repeatedly; in the Quran, to make discourse continuous by joining its parts.
Applied in the Quran to القول, with successive portions presented as a connected whole; the Form II pattern conveys intensive or repeated connection.
- Mufradāt · row 1585
- Lane · entry 30540
Selected Quran examples
Quran 28:51word 2
“We have conveyed”
وَصِيلَةٌ
waṣīlahun
- 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 designated female sheep in a pre-Islamic custom: when she gave birth to a male and a female, the male was spared from slaughter because of her.
This is the specific customary sense in the Quranic expression وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ.
- Mufradāt · row 1585
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:103word 9
“a Wasilah”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 12 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 17 Classical meanings
وَصَلَ
To make or maintain a close bond through affection and good conduct, including with kindred.
The kinship expression وَصَلَ رَحِمَهُ refers to benevolent, affectionate treatment of relatives; the broader sense applies to a close bond generally.
- Lane · entry 30539
وَصَلَ
To maintain loving communion or intimate relations with another.
Used of relations of love, whether chaste or sexual; no restriction to a particular gender is implied.
- Lane · entry 30539
صِلَةٌ
A free gift, gratuity, or gift requiring no compensation.
A nominal use distinct from the relational sense of صِلَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 30539
- Lane · entry 30548
وَصَّلَ
To cause a person or thing to reach another; to convey or deliver it.
Especially used with إِلَيْهِ or an equivalent destination construction.
- Lane · entry 30540
وَاصَلَ
To continue or maintain something without interruption.
Used especially of continuing a fast without a break, and more generally of maintaining continuity rather than severing it.
- Lane · entry 30541
وَاصَلَ
To engage in loving or sexual intercourse with another.
A relational construction referring to intimate communion or intercourse; the source example does not impose a general object restriction.
- Lane · entry 30541
أَوْصَلَ
To cause someone or something to reach; to bring, convey, or deliver.
Often followed by the destination with إِلَى.
- Lane · entry 30542
تَوَصَّلَ
To apply oneself with gentleness or courtesy in order to obtain access or nearness.
Used with إِلَيْهِ for seeking access to or nearness to someone.
- Lane · entry 30543
اِتَّصَلَ
To communicate with or be in communication with something or someone.
The supplied lexical evidence marks this usage as modern.
- Lane · entry 30544
وَصْلٌ
Union or togetherness among companions, friends, or lovers.
Opposed to separation, estrangement, or forsaking.
- Lane · entry 30545
وِصْلٌ
A limb or connecting part between two divisions.
An anatomical or structural use for a connecting part; it is distinct from the general noun وَصْلٌ meaning union.
- Lane · entry 30546
- Maqāyīs · row 5131
صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ
Maintaining ties of kinship through kindness, goodness, affection, gentleness, and regard for relatives’ circumstances.
A conventional phrase for benevolent treatment of relatives, including distant or erring relatives.
- Lane · entry 30548
وُصْلَةٌ
A means of connection or attachment.
A noun for something that provides or enables a connection.
- Lane · entry 30549
مَوْصِلٌ
A joint or place of juncture.
Includes a bodily or structural point at which parts meet.
- Lane · entry 30550
- Maqāyīs · row 5131
وَصِيلَةٌ
Prosperity, cultivation, or flourishing settlement.
An alternative classical nominal use, distinct from the Quranic animal-custom sense.
- Maqāyīs · row 5131
- Mufradāt · row 1585
وَصِيلَةٌ
An expansive tract of land, conceived as continuous or unbroken.
An alternative classical nominal use, distinct from the Quranic animal-custom sense.
- Maqāyīs · row 5131
- Mufradāt · row 1585
وَاصِلَةٌ
A woman who joins her hair to other hair deceptively.
A specialized usage reported in connection with the joining of hair.
- Maqāyīs · row 5131
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form I Quranic group contains both active and passive imperfect forms; voice variation is represented within the joining/reaching senses rather than as separate headwords.
وَصِيلَةٌ has a Quran-specific animal-custom sense, while the alternative senses of prosperity and expansive land are listed separately as broader classical uses. The relational reading of يَصِلُونَ إِلَى قَوْمٍ is also kept distinct from ordinary physical reaching.