مكن

Core meaning

To establish: to give someone a firm place, with the means to act in it.

Uses

1. مَكَّنَّا, مَّكَّنَّٰهُمْ, نُمَكِّن, مَكَّنِّى → "to establish" : giving a footing on the earth, to a man or to generations.

   • «وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ» — "And thus We established Youssof on that land" (12:21)
   • «مَّكَّنَّٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ» — "whom We had established on the earth as We have not established you" (6:6)
   • «ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ» — "those who, if We establish them in the land, maintain the Contact" (22:41)

2. وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ → "to establish firmly" : giving a Law its firm place.

   • «وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ» — "that He will surely establish firmly for them their Law" (24:55)

3. فَأَمْكَنَ → "to give power over" : Form IV: giving a hold over someone.

   • «فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمْ» — "and He has given you power over them" (8:71)

4. مَكِين, مَّكِينٍۢ → "in a position of authority", "secure" : one who, or what, holds a firm place.

   • «إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌۭ» — "You are, today, with us, in a position of authority, trustworthy" (12:54)
   • «نُطْفَةًۭ فِى قَرَارٍۢ مَّكِينٍۢ» — "a drop in a secure and stable place" (23:13)

Evidence from the text

The formula of establishment on the earth returns for Youssof (12:21, 12:56), for the Holder of the Two Acolytes, "We established him on the earth" (18:84), and for the annihilated generations (6:6, 46:26): each time, a firm place and the means to act. In 22:41, the text says what those whom God establishes do: they maintain the Contact and give pure liberality. In 18:95, the Holder of the Two Acolytes refuses the tribute: "That in which my Guardian has established me is better".

The adjective keeps the same firmness: Youssof is with the king "in a position of authority" (12:54), the messenger is "secure with the Holder of the Edifice" (81:20), the drop is placed "in a secure and stable place" (23:13).

Distinctions

• ثبت — to make firm what might waver; مكن gives the place itself
• جعل — to make, to institute, without the idea of footing