طوق

Core meaning

To encircle with one's strength: the capacity that embraces a burden, or the ring that grips the one who has held back.

Uses

1. يُطِيقُونَهُ → "to have the capacity for it" : to be able to take on an obligation.

   • «وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌۭ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۢ» — "and for those who have the capacity for it, a compensation, the feeding of a destitute person" (2:184)

2. طَاقَة → "strength" : what one can face or bear.

   • «لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا ٱلْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ» — "We have no strength today against Jalut and his armies" (2:249)
   • «وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ» — "and do not make us bear what we do not have the strength to bear" (2:286)

3. سَيُطَوَّقُونَ → "to be encircled" : to be gripped by what one has held back.

   • «سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ» — "They will be encircled by what they were stingy with, on the Day of Appearance" (3:180)

Evidence from the text

Strength is always measured against a burden: the fast one can or cannot take on (2:184), the army of Jalut one cannot face (2:249), the load one asks God not to impose (2:286). It is what one can embrace.

In 3:180, the word turns around: what the miser would not give encircles him in turn, on the Day of Appearance. What he did not carry toward others becomes a ring that grips him.

See also

بخل (stinginess)