وقف

Core meaning

To halt someone and hold him before an authority about to judge him.

Uses

1. وُقِفُوا۟ → "halted" : the passive: they are halted before the Fire, before their Guardian.

   • «إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ» — "when they will be halted before the Fire" (6:27)
   • «إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ» — "when they will be halted before their Guardian" (6:30)

2. مَوْقُوفُونَ, وَقِفُوهُمْ → "halted" / "halt them" : the halt that precedes the questioning.

   • «إِذِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ» — "when the wrongdoers are halted before their Guardian" (34:31)
   • «وَقِفُوهُمْ إِنَّهُم مَّسْـُٔولُونَ» — "and halt them: they are indeed to be questioned" (37:24)

Evidence from the text

The four occurrences are passive or imperative: the subject does not stop; he is stopped. Halted "before the Fire" (6:27), then "before their Guardian" (6:30), they hear: "Is this not the truth?".

34:31 shows the wrongdoers halted before their Guardian, returning the saying to one another; 37:24 gives the order: halt them, "they are indeed to be questioned". The halt precedes the questioning: it is the summons to appear.

Distinctions

• قوم — قوم is to stand up of oneself; وقف, to be halted and held by another.