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Quranic root

بعد

b · ʿ · d

The root expresses remoteness as the opposite of nearness, and succession as the counterpart of what comes before.

Its meanings extend from physical distance to conceptual remoteness, separation and estrangement, temporal succession, alienation, and—in particular constructions—perishing or imprecation.

  • Maqāyīs · row 793
  • Mufradāt · row 138
6
Quran-attested forms
11
Quran senses
235
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

بَعُدَ / بَعِدَ

baʿuda / baʿida

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
Quran occurrences
2 occurrences

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. to become distant, remote, or far away

    The Quranic group contains the surface forms بَعُدَتْ and بَعِدَتْ; the sense denotes becoming distant or removed.

    • Lane · entry 36712
    • Mufradāt · row 138
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 9:42word 9

    was long

  2. to perish or die

    A distinct Quranic use, especially associated with the بَعِدَ form and the expression concerning Thamud; the lexical sources also report disagreement about using بَعُدَ in this sense.

    • Lane · entry 36712
    • Mufradāt · row 138
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 11:95word 9

    was taken away

بَاعَدَ

bāʿada

Part of speech
Verb · Form III
Form
III
Quran occurrences
1 occurrence

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. to make distant, put far apart, or widen the separation between

    Used transitively for extending the distance or separation between persons, places, or journeys; the Quranic construction is an imperative request to make the spaces between journeys far apart.

    • Lane · entry 36714
    • Lane · entry 36715
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 34:19word 3

    lengthen (the distance)

بَعِيد

baʿīd

Part of speech
Adjective
Quran occurrences
25 occurrences

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. far, distant, remote, or extended in spatial or temporal distance

    Used of physical distance and, by extension, of an extended interval, range, or remoteness from something.

    • Lane · entry 36728
    • Mufradāt · row 138
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 11:83word 8

    far

  2. far removed in an abstract or evaluative sense; far astray, remote from truth, or far-fetched

    May describe conceptual or moral remoteness, including a state from which return to guidance is difficult, or a saying far from what is correct.

    • Lane · entry 36728
    • Mufradāt · row 138
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 4:167word 11

    far away

بَعْد

baʿd

Part of speech
Noun / adverbial noun
Quran occurrences
199 occurrences

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. after; subsequently; thereafter

    A temporal noun or adverb, often governing a following genitive complement or occurring with an understood complement, including after a person, event, statement, or action.

    • Lane · entry 36720
    • Lane · entry 36721
    • Mufradāt · row 138
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 10:32word 6

    after

    Quran 2:51word 10

    after him

  2. after that in the sense of despite or notwithstanding that

    A reported Quranic construction in which بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ is interpreted as meaning مع ذلك, “notwithstanding that.”

    • Lane · entry 36721
  3. before, in a reported contrary interpretation of after

    A disputed interpretation reported for Quranic expressions in 79:30 and 21:105; it is not the ordinary temporal sense and is attributed to a minority reading or explanation.

    • Lane · entry 36721
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 79:30word 2

    after

بُعْد

buʿd

Part of speech
Noun
Quran occurrences
7 occurrences

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. distance or remoteness

    The noun denotes distance itself, whether literal or relational; in Quranic usage it may occur as an expression of separation or distance.

    • Lane · entry 36722
    • Mufradāt · row 138
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 43:38word 8

    (were the) distance

  2. away with; an imprecation of removal, alienation, or perdition

    Used in an imprecatory formula wishing a people removal from good or prosperity, and by extension expressing their perdition or destruction.

    • Lane · entry 36712
    • Lane · entry 36722
    • Mufradāt · row 138
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 11:44word 15

    Away

مُبْعَد

mubʿad

Part of speech
Passive participle
Quran occurrences
1 occurrence

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. removed far away; kept at a distance

    Passive result of causing someone or something to be distant, remote, or removed.

    • Lane · entry 36715
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 21:101word 9

    (will be) removed far

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 2:27بَعْدِafter
  • 2:51بَعْدِهِۦafter him
  • 2:52بَعْدِafter
  • 2:56بَعْدِafter
  • 2:64بَعْدِafter
View all 235 occurrences

Broader Classical Arabic meanings

Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.

Show 22 Classical meanings
  • بَعُدَ

    to be far from probability or correctness; to be improbable, extraordinary, or strange

    Used of a saying, event, or matter judged remote from what is probable or correct.

    • Lane · entry 36712
  • أَبْعَدَ

    to exceed the proper bounds in bargaining or in demanding a price

    A specialized use in offering or negotiating a sale.

    • Lane · entry 36712
  • بَعُدَ

    In the expression أَخَذَهُ مَا قَرُبَ وَمَا بَعُدَ: to be overtaken by both recent and old griefs

    An idiomatic construction contrasting what is near or recent with what is distant or old.

    • Lane · entry 36712
  • بَعِدَ / بَعُدَ

    to become far removed from one's home or native country; to become a stranger or estranged there

    A Classical branch distinct from merely being physically distant and from the Quranic perishing use.

    • Lane · entry 36712
  • بَعَّدَ

    to declare someone or something far removed, especially from evil

    A causative Form II construction; the supplied entry also cross-references the broader causative usage.

    • Lane · entry 36713
  • بَاعَدَ

    to become distant from another or to be in a different part, quarter, or tract

    A Form III use describing separation or occupying a different region, rather than the Quranic causative command to widen distances.

    • Lane · entry 36714
  • أَبْعَدَ

    to make or cause distant; to remove, send away, alienate, or estrange

    A transitive Form IV branch, including imprecatory language wishing someone alienation from good or prosperity.

    • Lane · entry 36715
  • أَبْعَدَ

    How far it is from what is right or correct!

    Used in an exclamatory construction about a saying or judgment.

    • Lane · entry 36715
  • تَبَاعَدَ

    to become mutually distant, remote, or estranged; to withdraw from one another

    The Form VI reciprocal or reflexive branch, including estrangement from family or friends and mutual withdrawal.

    • Lane · entry 36717
  • بَعْد

    behind in place; beyond; with nothing further or no higher degree beyond it

    A less common spatial or limiting use of the adverbial noun, distinct from its ordinary temporal sense.

    • Lane · entry 36720
  • أَمَّا بَعْدُ

    now then; a formula marking transition in an address or discourse

    A conventional expression used after introductory praise, prayer, or preliminary remarks.

    • Lane · entry 36721
  • بُعَيْد

    a little after; shortly after

    The diminutive form denotes a time near to the preceding event or time.

    • Lane · entry 36721
  • بَعْدُ

    yet or as yet

    Especially common in negative expressions such as “he has not died yet.”

    • Lane · entry 36721
  • بُعْد

    remoteness from probability or correctness; improbability or strangeness

    A figurative noun use describing a matter as extraordinary or unlikely.

    • Lane · entry 36722
  • بُعْد

    penetrating, profound, or far-reaching judgment and prudence

    Used in expressions describing a person as possessing depth or effectiveness of judgment; it may also describe going far in hostility.

    • Lane · entry 36722
  • بَعِيد

    far-reaching in purpose, ambition, or design; long-standing in time or acquaintance; extraordinary in its kind

    Classical extensions concerning an intention, a long interval, or an unusual affair, not treated as separate Quranic senses here.

    • Lane · entry 36728
  • بَعِيد

    distant in kinship or relationship; a stranger or remote dependent

    In this relational sense the adjective may describe persons who are not close relations or immediate companions.

    • Lane · entry 36728
  • بَاعِدُ

    perishing, or far removed from one's home and native country in estrangement

    A separate unclassified lexical headword, not simply an inflectional form of the Quranic بَعِيد entry.

    • Lane · entry 36730
  • أَبْعَدُ

    more distant, most distant, or farther removed, including in relationship

    The comparative and superlative form may describe spatial distance, remote sources, or a more distant relation.

    • Lane · entry 36731
  • أَبْعَدُ

    more or most extreme, excessive, egregious, or extraordinary in its kind

    Used of an unusual degree or of a person lacking excellence, power, or anything of value.

    • Lane · entry 36731
  • الأَبْعَد

    the remote one, especially one remote from good, continence, intelligence, or faithfulness

    A euphemistic or indirect epithet in malediction and dispraise; the evidence reports senses including foolishness and treachery.

    • Lane · entry 36731
  • مِبْعَد

    a man who makes far journeys

    A specialized nominal use for a person characterized by undertaking distant travel.

    • Lane · entry 36732

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • The Form I Quran group contains both بَعُدَتْ and بَعِدَتْ; the perishing sense is especially associated with the latter and is subject to classical disagreement about the two vocalisms.

  • The interpretation of بَعْدَ as “before” in the cited Quran passages is explicitly disputed and should not be treated as its ordinary meaning.

  • The public مُبْعَد citation is normalized to the singular passive participle although the supplied Quran occurrence is plural.