وقت

Core meaning

To fix a moment: the time set in advance at which a thing is to take place.

Uses

1. مِيقَٰت, مَوَٰقِيتُ → "appointed time" : the moment set by an authority, for a meeting or for all.

   • «فَتَمَّ مِيقَٰتُ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةًۭ» — "thus the appointed time set by his Guardian was completed, in forty nights" (7:142)
   • «هِىَ مَوَٰقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ» — "They are appointed times for mankind, and for the Hajj" (2:189)
   • «إِنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْفَصْلِ مِيقَٰتُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ» — "The Day of Separation is indeed the appointed time for them all" (44:40)

2. مَّوْقُوتًۭا → "at fixed times" : a prescription inscribed in time.

   • «كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا» — "a prescription at fixed times" (4:103)

3. ٱلْوَقْتِ, لِوَقْتِهَآ → "the moment" / "in its time" : the set moment, known to God.

   • «إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْوَقْتِ ٱلْمَعْلُومِ» — "until the day of the known moment" (15:38)
   • «لَا يُجَلِّيهَا لِوَقْتِهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ» — "none but Him will unveil it in its time" (7:187)

4. أُقِّتَتْ → "time is set" : the messengers to whom the moment is assigned.

   • «وَإِذَا ٱلرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ» — "and when the messengers' time is set" (77:11)

Evidence from the text

The moment is always set by an authority, and with precision. Moussa's appointment is counted: thirty nights completed by ten, "thus the appointed time set by his Guardian was completed, in forty nights" (7:142). The phases of the moon are "appointed times for mankind, and for the Hajj" (2:189), and the Contact "a prescription at fixed times" (4:103).

The same term designates the Day of Separation, "the appointed time for them all" (44:40, 78:17), and ٱلْوَقْت ٱلْمَعْلُوم, "the known moment", bounds the delay granted to the Diverter (15:38). Known to God alone or announced to all, the moment is set in advance.

Distinctions

• اجل — أَجَل is the term of a duration; وقت, the set moment at which one presents oneself.
• وعد — وعد is the promise; مِيقَٰت, the moment it fixes.