What does « To understand / To memorize » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To understand / To memorize (وعى) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

وعى
To understand / To memorize
Root: ع
Quranic language 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To understand / To memorize

Al-Wa'y refers to consciousness and understanding.

The Almighty says: 'And that a conscious ear would be conscious of it' (Al-Haqqah 12).

Wa'ā means to retain and understand.

Al-wā'ī is the one who understands.

To understand / To memorize in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
Yusuf 1
Al-Haqqa 1
Al-Ma'arij 1
Al-Inshiqaq 1
Surah Yusuf : 76 Meccan
﴿فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِى دِينِ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَٰتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ
So he began [the search] with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he extracted it from the bag of his brother. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother within the religion of the king except that Allah willed. We raise in degrees whom We will, but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing.
Surah Al-Haqqa : 12 Meccan
﴿لِنَجْعَلَهَا لَكُمْ تَذْكِرَةً وَتَعِيَهَآ أُذُنٌ وَٰعِيَةٌ
That We might make it for you a reminder and [that] a conscious ear would be conscious of it.
Surah Al-Ma'arij : 18 Meccan
﴿وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ
And collected [wealth] and hoarded.
Surah Al-Inshiqaq : 23 Meccan
﴿وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ
And Allah is most knowing of what they keep within themselves.

Words from the same root as To understand / To memorize

Share

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم
هلال متناقص Waning Crescent Day 25.2 / 29.5
Illumination 20%
New moon in 4 days
سبحان الله وبحمده Glory and praise be to Allah