عكف

Core meaning

To keep beside a place or a thing without moving away from it: an assiduous and prolonged presence, whatever its object.

Uses

1. ٱلْعَٰكِف, عَٰكِفُونَ (a place) → "those who reside there", "in residence", "one who dwells there" : to remain in the House or in the places of prostration.

   • «وَأَنتُمْ عَٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَٰجِدِ» — "while you are in residence in the places of prostration" (2:187)
   • «سَوَآءً ٱلْعَٰكِفُ فِيهِ وَٱلْبَادِ» — "whether one dwells there or is passing through" (22:25)

2. يَعْكُفُونَ, عَٰكِفِينَ (an idol) → "posted" : to keep before idols, or before the Calf, without leaving them.

   • «فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍۢ لَّهُمْ» — "they came upon a people posted before idols of their own" (7:138)
   • «لَن نَّبْرَحَ عَلَيْهِ عَٰكِفِينَ» — "We shall not cease to remain posted by it" (20:91)

3. مَعْكُوفًا → "detained" : the passive: held in place, prevented from going on.

   • «وَٱلْهَدْىَ مَعْكُوفًا أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُۥ» — "the offering, detained, from reaching its place of delivery" (48:25)

Evidence from the text

The verb says nothing of the worth of what one keeps beside. The same word names those who are in the House (2:125) and those who stay before the Calf: "We shall not cease to remain posted by it until Moussa returns to us" (20:91). Ibrahim reproaches his people with it: "What are these statues before which you remain posted?" (21:52), and the people answer him with the same word (26:71).

It is therefore a physical and lasting presence, not an inner state: in 2:187, it governs the conduct of those in residence in the places of prostration; in 48:25, the same idea of being held in place applies to the detained offering.

Distinctions

• خلد — to abide: duration without end, whereas عكف names assiduous presence beside a place or an object

See also

صنم (the idols)