What does « To lean / Cushion » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To lean / Cushion (وكأ) in the Quran, with 11 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

وكأ

To lean / Cushion

Root: ك

Creed (aqida) 11 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To lean / Cushion

At-Tuk'a refers to support and something to lean on.

The Almighty says: 'And she prepared for them a support' (Yusuf 31), meaning cushions to recline on.

Muttaki' means one who is reclining or lounging comfortably.

To lean / Cushion in the Quran (11)

Meccan: 10 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Ar-Rahman 2

Yusuf 1

Al-Kahf 1

Ta-Ha 1

Ya-Sin 1

Sad 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

At-Tur 1

Al-Waqi'a 1

Al-Insan 1

Surah Yusuf : 31 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ﴾

So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allah! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel."

Surah Al-Kahf : 31 Meccan

﴿أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا﴾

Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.

Surah Ta-Ha : 18 Meccan

﴿قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ أَتَوَكَّؤُا۟ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَىٰ غَنَمِى وَلِىَ فِيهَا مَـَٔارِبُ أُخْرَىٰ﴾

He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses."

Surah Ya-Sin : 56 Meccan

﴿هُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُمْ فِى ظِلَٰلٍ عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ مُتَّكِـُٔونَ﴾

They and their spouses - in shade, reclining on adorned couches.

Surah Sad : 51 Meccan

﴿مُتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَشَرَابٍ﴾

Reclining within them, they will call therein for abundant fruit and drink.

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 34 Meccan

﴿وَلِبُيُوتِهِمْ أَبْوَٰبًا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيْهَا يَتَّكِـُٔونَ﴾

And for their houses - doors and couches [of silver] upon which to recline