What does « To free / Ancient » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To free / Ancient (عتق) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

عتق

To free / Ancient

Root: ع - ت - ق

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To free / Ancient

Al-'atiq: the ancient in time, place or rank.

That is why the Ka'ba is called al-bayt al-'atiq.

The Almighty says: 'Let them make tawaf around the Ancient House' (Al-Hajj 29).

Freeing a slave is also called 'itq as it liberates him from former servitude.

To free / Ancient in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 2

Surah Al-Hajj : 29 Medinan

﴿ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا۟ تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا۟ نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا۟ بِٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ﴾

Then let them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows and perform Tawaf around the ancient House."

Surah Al-Hajj : 33 Medinan

﴿لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَٰفِعُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَى ٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ﴾

For you the animals marked for sacrifice are benefits for a specified term; then their place of sacrifice is at the ancient House.

Words from the same root as To free / Ancient

Piety / Fear of Allah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم