What does « To close / To weld » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To close / To weld (رتق) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

رتق

To close / To weld

Root: ر - ت - ق

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To close / To weld

Al-ratq: assembly and junction, whether natural or manufactured.

Allah says: 'The heavens and earth were a joined mass (ratqan)' (Al-Anbiyâ': 30).

Then Allah separated them.

Ratq is the universe's primordial state.

To close / To weld in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Al-Anbiya : 30 Meccan

﴿أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَٰهُمَا وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?