Quranic root
وفي
w · f · y
A root oriented toward completing, fulfilling, or making something whole, with related uses for rendering what is due in full and taking or receiving something completely.
The semantic range develops from completion and full attainment to keeping a covenant, giving or receiving a due amount in full, and, in تَوَفَّى, taking a soul fully in death or sleep.
- Maqāyīs · row 5178
- Mufradāt · row 1598
- 8
- Quran-attested forms
- 10
- Quran senses
- 66
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
وَفَّى
waffā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 18 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 fulfill or complete fully a required task, undertaking, or obligation.
Used for carrying out what has been required in full, including the comprehensive fulfillment associated with إبراهيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّى.
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 53:37word 3
“fulfilled”
To render, pay, give, or deliver something due in full.
Typically takes a person or beneficiary as well as the due, reward, account, or recompense being rendered; passive forms describe the due being fully paid or received.
- Lane · entry 30605
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:57word 6
“then He will grant them in full”
Quran 24:39word 18
“He will pay him in full”
أَوْفَى
ʾawfā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 18 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 fulfill or keep a covenant, promise, pledge, or other undertaking.
Used especially with بِـ for fulfilling a covenant or promise and for maintaining it without breach.
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 5:1word 4
“Fulfil”
Quran 16:91word 1
“And fulfil”
To give, supply, or make full the due measure, weight, amount, or payment.
Used for completing a measured or owed amount, including giving full measure and weight and paying an amount in full.
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:35word 1
“And give full”
تَوَفَّى
tawaffā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- Quran occurrences
- 24 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 take or receive a person or soul fully, especially by causing death; in sleep, to take the soul temporarily.
The Quran uses the form for taking souls in death and for the taking associated with sleep; active and passive constructions describe the taker and the person taken. The lexical sense is full taking, while the context determines whether death or sleep is intended.
- Lane · entry 30608
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
اِسْتَوْفَى
āistawfā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form X
- Form
- X
- 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.
To take, exact, or receive something fully or wholly.
The form emphasizes obtaining the entire amount or object without leaving anything outstanding.
- Lane · entry 30609
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 83:2word 6
“they take in full”
أَوْفَى
ʾawfā
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
More complete or faithful; fullest.
A comparative or superlative adjective, used of faithfulness to a covenant or of reaching the greatest degree of completeness.
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:111word 25
“(is) more faithful”
Quran 53:41word 4
“the fullest”
مُتَوَفٍّ
mutawaffin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
One who takes or receives a person or soul fully, especially one who causes death.
The Quranic form is an inflected active participle in مُتَوَفِّيكَ. In this expression, the taking is interpreted variously as death or as another complete taking associated with elevation or special selection.
- Lane · entry 30608
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:55word 6
“(will) take you”
مُوَفٍّ
muwaffin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
One who renders, pays, or gives something due in full.
The Quranic occurrence is a suffixed plural form referring to those who will fully render what is due.
- Lane · entry 30605
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:109word 17
“will surely pay them in full”
مُوفٍ
mūfin
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
One who fulfills or keeps a covenant or undertaking.
The Quranic occurrence is the masculine plural active participle, used of those who keep their covenant when they make one.
- Mufradāt · row 1598
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:177word 36
“and those who fulfill”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:40وَأَوْفُوا۟and fulfill
- 2:40أُوفِI will fulfill
- 2:177وَٱلْمُوفُونَand those who fulfill
- 2:234يُتَوَفَّوْنَpass away
- 2:240يُتَوَفَّوْنَdie
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 8 Classical meanings
وَفَى
To fulfill, keep, or remain faithful to a covenant, compact, or promise.
Form I, especially in the construction وَفَى بِالعَهْدِ or وَفَى بِالوَعْدِ.
- Lane · entry 30604
وَفَاء
Faithfulness to an engagement or promise.
A verbal noun denoting faithful adherence to an undertaking.
- Lane · entry 30604
وَفَى
To pay or deliver something owed.
Form I with a direct object, distinct from the covenant-keeping construction.
- Lane · entry 30604
وَافٍ
Complete, full, or reaching the required measure.
Used adjectivally of something whose amount or measure is complete, such as a full coin or full measure.
- Mufradāt · row 1598
وَفِيّ
A faithful person; a fulfiller or keeper of a covenant.
The adjective وَفِيُّ العَهْدِ denotes one faithful to a covenant.
- Lane · entry 30604
- Lane · entry 30610
وَافَى
To bring something.
Form III in the construction وَافَى بِهِ.
- Lane · entry 30606
أَوْفَى
To look upon, look down upon, or obtain a view of something.
A Classical construction such as أَوْفَى عَلَيْهِ or أَوْفَى فِيهِ; this is distinct from the Quran-attested covenant and full-payment uses of the same Form IV headword.
- Lane · entry 30607
اِسْتَوْفَى
To complete a specified number of years of one's age.
A Classical Form X construction used with a stated period of age.
- Lane · entry 30609
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The interpretation of مُتَوَفِّيكَ in 3:55 is disputed: it is understood by some as taking in death and by others as a non-death taking associated with elevation or special selection.
أَوْفَىٰ occurs in the Quran both as the Form IV verb and as a homographic comparative or superlative adjective; these are separate public forms here.