Quranic root
وكأ
w · k · ʾ
The root centers on securing or providing support: a fastening or tie, something used for support, and bodily reliance or reclining.
The lexical development runs from a cord or means of securing something to making or using a support, then to leaning, resting, and reclining. Related idiomatic extensions include eating while reclining and naming a repast by its association with that posture.
- Mufradāt · row 1607
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 11
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
تَوَكَّأَ
tawakkaʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- 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 support oneself or lean upon a staff or other object.
The Quranic occurrence is the first-person imperfect form in the construction “I lean upon it,” referring to a staff.
- Mufradāt · row 1607
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:18word 4
“I lean”
اِتَّكَأَ
āittakaʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- 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 lean, rest, or recline upon or against something; to sit in a settled, supported posture.
The verb may describe resting the back or side against a support or reclining upon a cushion or similar object. The Quranic occurrence has the contextual sense “recline.”
- Lane · entry 45636
Selected Quran examples
Quran 43:34word 5
“they recline”
مُتَّكَأٌ
muttakaʾun
- Part of speech
- Passive participle · substantivized 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 repast or banquet.
In the Quranic occurrence, the noun denotes food or a repast through its association with reclining during a meal; it is a conventional extension of the reclining-related noun.
- Lane · entry 45639
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:31word 8
“a banquet”
مُتَّكِئٌ
muttakiʾun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 8 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.
One who reclines or sits in a settled, supported posture.
The Quranic forms are plural and describe people reclining; the posture is not restricted to leaning on one side and may involve resting against a support.
- Lane · entry 45638
- Lane · entry 45636
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:31word 21
“reclining”
Quran 36:56word 7
“reclining”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 12:31مُتَّكَـًۭٔاa banquet
- 18:31مُّتَّكِـِٔينَreclining
- 20:18أَتَوَكَّؤُا۟I lean
- 36:56مُتَّكِـُٔونَreclining
- 38:51مُتَّكِـِٔينَReclining
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 11 Classical meanings
الوِكَاءُ
A fastening cord or tie; the means by which something is secured or closed.
A nominal lexical branch concerning securing or binding something.
- Mufradāt · row 1607
وَاكَأَ
To lean upon one’s hands or arms.
Used with عَلَى يَدَيْهِ to describe supporting the body on the hands or arms.
- Lane · entry 45633
أَوْكَأَ
To provide someone with something upon which to recline, or to prop someone up and make him recline upon a cushion or similar support.
A transitive causative construction involving furnishing or applying a support.
- Lane · entry 45634
أَوْكَأَ
To cause someone to fall into a reclining posture, including by striking or piercing so that he is thrown onto his side.
A figurative or extended causative use describing the result of an assault.
- Lane · entry 45634
اِتَّكَأَ
To make or provide for oneself something upon which to lean or recline.
A reported interpretation of the Form VIII entry; the source questions the reading or analysis of this causative-like use.
- Lane · entry 45636
اِتَّكَأَ
To eat a repast with someone or at someone’s abode.
A tropical or idiomatic use associated with the custom of reclining while eating.
- Lane · entry 45636
اِتَّكَأَ
Of a she-camel: to be seized by the pains of labor and cry out.
A specialized usage applied to a camel in labor.
- Lane · entry 45636
تُكَأَةٌ
A staff or stick used as a support in walking; anything upon which one leans or reclines.
A noun for a physical aid or support.
- Lane · entry 45637
تُكَأَةٌ
A person who reclines much.
A personal descriptive use of the noun.
- Lane · entry 45637
تُكَأَةٌ
A heavy person in disposition.
A figurative use.
- Lane · entry 45637
مُتَّكَأٌ
A place or object for reclining, such as a chamber, sitting-room, or support used while eating, drinking, or talking.
A broader Classical Arabic nominal use distinct from the Quranic repast sense.
- Lane · entry 45639
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic مُتَّكَأٌ in 12:31 is presented under the conventional repast/banquet sense; the related place and reclining-support senses are Classical Arabic meanings, not additional Quranic senses in this packet.
The plural Quranic active-participle forms are represented under the normalized singular headword مُتَّكِئٌ.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
The Mufradat entry also records أَوْكَيْتُ السِّقَاءَ and explicitly distinguishes it from أَوْكَأْتُ; because it is presented as a different form, it is not assigned as a direct Quranic Form IV meaning here.
The Mufradat hadith expression يُوكِي بين الصفا والمروة is accompanied by competing interpretations, and no independently supplied QAC location identifies a corresponding Quranic form; it is therefore not assigned as a separate form-level sense.