Word of the Day
Ṭarīq
طريق
You will learn today the main meaning of the word طريق, its synonyms, collocations, and derivations.
You will also see the word used in different contexts and in many examples.
By the end of reading this blog, you will be able to use the word confidently in your everyday conversations.
Are you ready?
Main Meaning
This word essentially refers to a wide passage that connects one place to another.
It is a derivation of the root طَرَق /Ṭaraq/, which means ‘to knock’, and it has four main meanings.
Check the following meanings and examples of how to use them in context.
Road
The first meaning is commonly used to refer to a road leading from one place to another.
The government has developed (built) a main road between the two cities.
Ṭawwart aldawlah alṭṭarīq alʻāmm bayn almadīnatayn
طَوَّرت الدَوْلَة الطَّرِيق العَامّ بَيْن المَدِينَتَين
The government has developed (built) a main road between the two cities.
Approach
The word طريق is also used to talk about an approach or methodology to doing something.
He follows the approach of Andalusian literature in poetry.
Yaslik ṭarīq alʼadbi alʼndalusī fī alshiʻri
يَسْلِك طَرِيق الأَدبِ الأندَلُسِيّ في الشِّعرِ
Method
The third meaning indicates a method or a way to achieve something
Studying is the best method (way) to (achieve) success.
Alddirāstu afḍalu ṭaryqin llnaajāḥ
الدِّراسةُ أَفضَلُ طَريقٍ للنَّجاح
Path
This fourth meaning is translated to “path.”
“Do not be discouraged from taking the path of righteousness because few people follow it.” Imam Ali
Lā tastawḥishwā ṭarīqa alḥaqq liqillati sālikyh
”لَا تَسْتَوحِشوا طَرِيقَ الحَقّ لِقِلَّةِ سالِكيه” – الإمام علي رضي الله عنه
Collocations
The word طَرِيق /Ṭarīq/ is often paired with other words to create structures with various meanings.
Check the following examples:
Qāriʻatu alṭṭarīq
قَارِعَةُ الطَّرِيق
It is an expression that refers to an area on a road. It could mean “side of the road” or “the middle of the road.” Let’s look at this example:
I saw the man sitting by the side of the road.
Raʼytu alraajula jālisan ʻalá qāriʻti alṭaaryqi
رَأيتُ الرَّجُلَ جالِسًا على قارِعةِ الطَّريقِ
Qaṭaʻa alṭṭarīq
قَطَعَ الطَّرِيق
The verb قَطَع /Qaṭaʻa/, which means “to cut” or “to block” is commonly used with the word طريق to refer to the action of blocking a road.
It snowed so heavily that it blocked the road.
Haṭala althaalju bikthratin ḥttá qaṭaʻa alṭaaryqa
هَطَلَ الثَّلجُ بِكثرَةٍ حتَّى قَطَعَ الطَّريقَ
Ṭarīqun mashrūʻ
طَرِيقٌ مَشْرُوع
The word مَشْروع /Mashrwʻ/, which means “legitimate” can also be used with the word طريق to mean “a lawful way that does not violate the law to obtain something.”
Earning money from work is a legitimate way (of earning money).
Kasbu almāli mina alʻmali ṭaryqun mashrwʻ
كَسبُ المَالِ مِنَ العمَلِ طَريقٌ مَشروع
Shaqaa ṭaryqahu
شَقَّ طَريقَهُ
This expression means “to make your way” towards something, especially when there is difficulty involved.
It usually implies hard work leading to achieving a goal.
The player plowed his way (through difficulties) until he reached the top.
Shaqaa allaaāʻibu ṭaryqahu ḥttá waṣla ilá alqimaati
شَقَّ اللَّاعِبُ طَريقَهُ حتّى وَصلَ إلى القِمَّةِ
Derivations
Among the words derived from the same root of /Taraqa/ طَرَقَ are four related words:
Word Root ط – ر – ق
Hammer
Mitraqa
مِطرقة
Roads or ways
Turuq
طُرُق
Beater
Ṭāriq
طَارِق
Way or method
Tarīqah
طَرِيقَة
Synonyms
The word /Ṭarīq/ طَرِيق has three main synonyms in the Arabic language:
Track, path
Darb
دَرب
Way, method
Sabīl
سَبِيل
Method, way
Wasīlah
وَسِيلَة
These three words convey the same meaning. Let’s take a look at the following examples:
Example 1
I saw the teacher driving the car
Ysyru almuujtahidu fī ṭaryqi alnaajāḥi
يسيرُ المُجتَهِدُ في طَريقِ النَّجاحِ
The hardworking man walks on the road/path of success.
Ysyru almuujtahidu fī darbi alnaajāḥi
يسيرُ المُجتَهِدُ في دَربِ النَّجاحِ
Example 2
The man went (in) his way.
Dhahaba alraajulu fī ṭaryqih
ذَهَبَ الرَّجُلُ فِي طَريقِه
The man went (in) his way.
Dhahaba alraajulu fī sabylih
ذَهَبَ الرَّجُلُ فِي سَبيلِه
Example 3
He traveled by (method of) air.
Sāfara baṭaryq aljaw
سَافَرَ بَطَريق الجَو
He traveled by (an) airlines (way).
Sāfar biwsylh jawiyaiyah
سَافَر بِوسيلة جَوِيَّة
Word in Hadith
Examples of the word طريق can be found in the Holy Hadith.
1. In the first Hadith, Prophet Muhammad teaches his companions the etiquette of interacting in society and behaving outdoors.
He instructs them to avoid sitting on the roads or alleyways.
Beware of sitting on the roads (alleyways)
Iyyākum wāljulwsu ʻalá alṭṭuruqāti
إيّاكُم والجُلوسُ في الطُّرُقاتِ
The word طُرُقات /ṭuruqāt/ is the plural form of the word طريق.
2. Another Hadith uses the word طريق in a different context to emphasize the importance of seeking knowledge and its connection to attaining Paradise.
Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him.
man salaka ṭarīqan yabtaghī fīih ʻilman sahhal Allāh lahu ṭarīqan ilá aljannah
مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَبْتَغِي فِيِه عِلْمًا سَهَّل الله لَهُ طَرِيقًا إلى الجَنَّة
The hadith states that whoever embarks on a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make their path to Paradise easy. This highlights the value placed on education and learning in Islam, as it is considered a means of drawing closer to God and gaining His favor.
Conclusion
We hope you liked the word for today, and we wish you the best in your path or طريق learning Arabic. You can learn other Arabic words in our Word of the Day page.
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