Word of the Day: طريق

 Word of the Day – طريق (Ṭarīq)

Welcome back to our Arabic word of the day series.

Our word for today is /Ṭarīq/ طَرِيق.

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.

1. Road 

The first meaning is commonly used to refer to a road leading from one place to another.

طَوَّرت الدَوْلَة الطَّرِيق العَامّ بَيْن المَدِينَتَين

/Ṭawwart aldawlah alṭṭarīq alʻāmm bayn almadīnatayn/

The government has developed (built) a main road between the two cities.

 2. Approach 

The word طريق is also used to talk about an approach or methodology to doing something.

يَسْلِك طَرِيق الأَدبِ الأندَلُسِيّ في الشِّعرِ

/Yaslik ṭarīq alʼadbi alʼndalusī fī alshiʻri/

He follows the approach of Andalusian literature in poetry.

3. Method 

The third meaning indicates a method or a way to achieve something

الدِّراسةُ أَفضَلُ طَريقٍ للنَّجاح

/Alddirāstu afḍalu ṭaryqin llnaajāḥ/

Studying is the best method (way) to (achieve) success.

4. Path

This fourth meaning is translated to “path.”

لَا تَسْتَوحِشوا طَرِيقَ الحَقّ لِقِلَّةِ سالِكيه” – الإمام علي رضي الله عنه”

/Lā tastawḥishwā ṭarīqa alḥaqq liqillati sālikyh/

“Do not be discouraged from taking the path of righteousness because few people follow it.”

Imam Ali

Plural Form

There are two plural forms for the word طريق

1. طُرُق  /Ṭuruq/ 

2. طُرُقات /Ṭuruqāt/

Collocations

The word طَرِيق /Ṭarīq/ is often paired with other words to create structures with various meanings.

Check the following examples:

1. قَارِعَةُ الطَّرِيق /Qāriʻatu alṭṭarīq/

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:

رَأيتُ الرَّجُلَ جالِسًا على قارِعةِ الطَّريقِ

/Raʼytu alraajula jālisan ʻalá qāriʻti alṭaaryqi/

I saw the man sitting by the side of the road.

2. قَطَعَ الطَّرِيق /Qaṭaʻa alṭṭarīq/

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.

For example:

هَطَلَ الثَّلجُ بِكثرَةٍ حتَّى قَطَعَ الطَّريقَ

/Haṭala althaalju bikthratin ḥttá qaṭaʻa alṭaaryqa/

It snowed so heavily that it blocked the road.

3. طَرِيقٌ مَشْرُوع /Ṭarīqun mashrūʻ/

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.”

كَسبُ المَالِ مِنَ العمَلِ طَريقٌ مَشروع

/Kasbu almāli mina alʻmali ṭaryqun mashrwʻ/

Earning money from work is a legitimate way (of earning money).

4. شَقَّ طَريقَهُ /Shaqaa ṭaryqahu/

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.

شَقَّ اللَّاعِبُ طَريقَهُ حتّى وَصلَ إلى القِمَّةِ

/ Shaqaa allaaāʻibu ṭaryqahu ḥttá waṣla ilá alqimaati/

“The player plowed his way (through difficulties) until he reached the top.”

Derivations

Among the words derived from the same root of /Taraqa/ طَرَقَ are four related words:

Synonyms

The word /Ṭarīq/ طَرِيق has three main synonyms in the Arabic language:

1. دَرب /Darb/ Track, path

2. سَبِيل /Sabīl/ Way, method

3. وَسِيلَة /Wasīlah/ Method, way

These three words convey the same meaning. Let’s take a look at the following examples:

Example 1

A. يسيرُ المُجتَهِدُ في طَريقِ النَّجاحِ

/Ysyru almuujtahidu fī ṭaryqi alnaajāḥi/

The hardworking man walks on the road of success.

B. يسيرُ المُجتَهِدُ في دَربِ النَّجاحِ

/Ysyru almuujtahidu fī darbi alnaajāḥi/

The hardworking man walks on the road/path of success.

 Example 2

A. ذَهَبَ الرَّجُلُ فِي طَريقِه

/Dhahaba alraajulu fī ṭaryqih /

The man went (in) his way.

B. ذَهَبَ الرَّجُلُ فِي سَبيلِه

/Dhahaba alraajulu fī sabylih/

The man went (in) his way.

Example 3

A. سَافَرَ بَطَريق الجَو

/Sāfara baṭaryq aljaw/

He traveled by (method of) air.

B. سَافَر بِوسيلة جَوِيَّة

/Sāfar biwsylh jawiyaiyah/

He traveled by (an) airlines (way).

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.

“إيّاكُم والجُلوسُ في الطُّرُقاتِ” /Iyyākum wāljulwsu ʻalá alṭṭuruqāti/

“Beware of sitting on the roads (alleyways).”

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.

“مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَبْتَغِي فِيِه عِلْمًا سَهَّل الله لَهُ طَرِيقًا إلى الجَنَّة”

/man salaka ṭarīqan yabtaghī fīih ʻilman sahhal Allāh lahu ṭarīqan ilá aljannah/

“Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him.”

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.

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