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

Discover the meaning of the word To untie / To free (فكك) 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.

فكك

To untie / To free

Root: ف - ك - ك

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To untie / To free

Al-Fakk refers to disassembling something complex.

The Almighty says: 'It is the freeing of a slave' (Al-Balad 13), meaning to untie and liberate them.

Fakk ar-rahn means to release a pledge.

Al-fakk also refers to the jaw.

To untie / To free in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Balad 1

Al-Bayyina 1

Surah Al-Balad : 13 Meccan

﴿فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ﴾

It is the freeing of a slave

Surah Al-Bayyina : 1 Medinan

﴿لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ﴾

Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists were not to be parted [from misbelief] until there came to them clear evidence -