What does Al-qṭr mean?

Islam > Glossary > Al-qṭr

Discover the meaning of the term Al-qṭr (قطر) in Islamic vocabulary.

Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition Al-qṭr

Al-qṭr according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

With a damma, it is the line that bisects the circle. It is also applied to the line passing through the center of the sphere. The difference between the diameter and the chord is a matter of perspective: the line passing through the center of the circle, by virtue of passing through it, is called the diameter. And by virtue of the circle being divided by it into two parts, it is called the chord.

Al-qṭr according to Maqalid al-'Ulum (As-Suyuti)

A line that starts from the extremity of an angle and ends at another.

Al-qṭr according to At-Ta'rifat al-Fiqhiyya (Al-Barkati)

With a damma, it is the straight line that bisects the circle.

Al-qṭr in the Quran

﴿سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍۢ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ

« Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire. »

Surah ابراهيم : 50

﴿ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًۭا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًۭا

« Bring me sheets of iron" - until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, "Blow [with bellows]," until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper." »

Surah الكهف : 96

﴿وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌۭ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌۭ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

« And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind - its morning [journey was that of] a month - and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command - We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze. »

Surah سبإ : 12

Related terms: Al-qṭr

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