Quranic root
وفد
w · f · d
A root oriented toward rising into view and coming forth, yielding meanings of arrival, delegated approach, precedence, and elevation.
From coming forth or appearing prominently, the root develops into approaching an authority as a delegation, arriving before others, and rising above or becoming elevated.
- Maqāyīs · row 5171
- 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.
وَفْد
wafd
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
A delegation or deputation arriving before an honored authority; in the Quran, the God-fearing are gathered before the Merciful as a delegation.
Used collectively for a group arriving in a deputed or honored capacity. The Quranic occurrence is وَفْدًا in 19:85.
- Mufradāt · row 1594
- Lane · entry 45509
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:85word 6
“(as) a delegation”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 19:85وَفْدًۭا(as) a delegation
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 20 Classical meanings
وَفَدَ
To come to a ruler, governor, or other great person as an ambassador, envoy, or messenger; also to go forth to him to convey gifts or seek aid.
Form I, commonly construed with عَلَيْهِ or إِلَيْهِ.
- Lane · entry 45501
أَوْفَدَ
To send someone to a ruler or governor as an envoy or messenger, including to convey gifts or seek assistance.
Form IV causative, construed with عَلَيْهِ or إِلَيْهِ.
- Lane · entry 45503
أَوْفَدَ
To cause someone to come; to bring someone to oneself.
Attested in idiomatic or figurative constructions such as asking what brought someone and saying that God brought a person to the speaker.
- Lane · entry 45503
أَوْفَدَ
To rise above, overtop, overlook, or overhang something; also to become elevated or to raise and elevate a thing, including raising the head or erecting the ears.
Form IV elevation usage, attested of a saddle, an animal's withers, an elevated object, and an animal raising its head and ears.
- Lane · entry 45503
أَوْفَدَ
To hasten or go quickly.
A Form IV usage attested in poetry.
- Lane · entry 45503
تَوَفَّدَ
To strive to outstrip or outgo one another.
Attested of camels and birds competing in speed.
- Lane · entry 45504
تَوَفَّدَ
To ascend.
Attested of mountain-goats ascending a mountain.
- Lane · entry 45504
تَوَافَدَ
To come together to someone as ambassadors or envoys.
Form VI reciprocal or collective approach to an authority.
- Lane · entry 45505
اِسْتَوْفَدَ
To ask or desire someone to come.
A rare, tentatively reported Form X usage.
- Lane · entry 45506
اِسْتَوْفَدَ
To raise oneself and sit erect rather than sitting at ease.
Form X elevation usage in the manner of sitting.
- Lane · entry 45506
وَفْد
An honorific designation for religious travelers—the warrior, pilgrim, or performer of ʿumrah—as the ambassadors or delegates of God.
A figurative religious expression.
- Lane · entry 45507
وَفْد
The upper part or crest of an elevated long tract of sand.
A geographical noun applied to a prominent sand formation.
- Lane · entry 45507
وَفَادَة
Coming to a ruler, governor, or other great person as an ambassador, envoy, or messenger.
Verbal noun of وَفَدَ; also used in the expression for having the honor of coming as an envoy to the Prophet.
- Lane · entry 45508
وَافِد
A person who comes before a ruler, governor, or other great person as an ambassador, envoy, or messenger.
Active participle used substantively for an arriving envoy or messenger.
- Lane · entry 45509
وَافِد
A party or company that comes to a country or town, approaches rulers for a visit, aid, benefit, conquest, or congratulation, or is chosen to interview great people; it may travel on foot or mounted.
The term can denote an arriving delegation or company whether or not it is formally selected for an embassy.
- Lane · entry 45509
وَافِد
A camel or bird that precedes the others in speed or in coming to water.
A specialized usage for an animal leading its companions.
- Lane · entry 45509
وَافِد
Either of the two projecting parts of the cheeks involved in chewing, which sink with old age.
Usually used in the dual وَافِدَانِ for the two cheek prominences.
- Lane · entry 45509
أَوْفَاد
A journey, in the phrase هُمْ عَلَى أَوْفَادٍ, ‘they are on a journey.’
A fixed or conventional expression.
- Lane · entry 45510
مُوفِد
Prominent or elevated.
Applied specifically in the cited usages to a camel's hump and to the pubes.
- Lane · entry 45511
مُسْتَوْفِد
Erecting oneself and sitting without ease.
An active participle describing an erect, restless manner of sitting.
- Lane · entry 45512
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The historical Quran citation associated with the وَافِد discussion is not converted into a modern surah:ayah location; the attested Quranic وَفْد occurrence is independently located by QAC at 19:85.