Quranic root
بدع
b · d · ʿ
The root centers on beginning or bringing something into existence without a preceding model, alongside a distinct branch of breakdown, fatigue, and interruption.
The first principle develops into meanings of originating, novelty, invention, and innovation; the second into the failure of a mount, being left stranded, and related figurative senses of thwarting or ineffectuality.
- Maqāyīs · row 714
- Mufradāt · row 103
- Lane · entry 35796
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
اِبْتَدَعَ
āibtadaʿa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- 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.
To originate, institute, or innovate something newly, bringing it into being without an earlier precedent.
In the attested Quranic construction, the object is a practice newly instituted or introduced.
- Lane · entry 35796
- Mufradāt · row 103
Selected Quran examples
Quran 57:27word 20
“they innovated”
بَدِيع
badīʿ
- Part of speech
- Noun · divine epithet
- 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.
The Originator: the one who brings the heavens and earth into existence without a pre-existing model.
Used in the Quran as a divine epithet in the construction بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ.
- Lane · entry 35803
- Mufradāt · row 103
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:117word 1
“(The) Originator”
Quran 6:101word 1
“Originator”
بِدْع
bidʿ
- Part of speech
- Noun · epithet
- 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.
A first or unprecedented one; one who is the first to do something in a matter.
In قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِنَ الرُّسُلِ, this reading means that the speaker is not the first messenger sent.
- Lane · entry 35800
- Mufradāt · row 103
Selected Quran examples
Quran 46:9word 4
“a new (one)”
An innovator who introduces a teaching, practice, or claim without precedent among those of the established tradition.
The same Quranic construction is also explained as denying that the speaker is an innovator among the messengers, inviting people to something unlike their message.
- Lane · entry 35800
- Mufradāt · row 103
Selected Quran examples
Quran 46:9word 4
“a new (one)”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:117بَدِيعُ(The) Originator
- 6:101بَدِيعُOriginator
- 46:9بِدْعًۭاa new (one)
- 57:27ٱبْتَدَعُوهَاthey innovated
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 20 Classical meanings
بَدُعَ
To become outstanding or superlative in one's kind, whether in good or in evil.
- Lane · entry 35794
بَدِعَ
To become fat.
- Lane · entry 35794
بَدَّعَهُ
To attribute innovation to someone; to charge or accuse that person with introducing a bidʿah.
- Lane · entry 35795
أَبْدَعَ
To originate, invent, devise, or produce something newly, without a preceding model; also, to bring out well water by digging or to produce novel speech or poetry.
A transitive Form IV verb; the well and speech uses are conventional applications of newly bringing something forth.
- Lane · entry 35796
أَبْدَعَ
Of a ridden or travelling camel, to become fatigued, lame, halted, or broken down; of its rider, to be left stranded because the mount can no longer continue.
Also occurs in the passive construction أُبْدِعَ بِفُلَانٍ, with the person stranded by the failure of his mount.
- Lane · entry 35796
أَبْدَعَ بِفُلَانٍ
To prevent someone from attaining a wish, withhold assistance, or fail to undertake the accomplishment of his need.
A figurative construction with بِـ.
- Lane · entry 35796
أَبْدَعَتْ حُجَّتُهُ
Of an argument or plea, to be or become vain, weak, false, or ineffectual; figuratively, to leave another's capacity for thanking or describing inadequate.
The passive may mean that an argument was rendered ineffectual; the inability to thank or describe is an idiomatic figurative extension.
- Lane · entry 35796
أَبْدَعَ بِالْحَجِّ
To determine, resolve, or decide upon pilgrimage or travel.
Used with a prepositional complement such as بِالْحَجِّ or بِالسَّفَرِ.
- Lane · entry 35796
أَبْدَعَ يَمِينًا
To make an oath binding or obligatory.
- Lane · entry 35796
أَبْدَعُوا بِهِ
To beat or strike someone.
- Lane · entry 35796
تَبَدَّعَ
To turn innovator or adopt an innovation.
Used of a person who becomes associated with a newly introduced religious or doctrinal position.
- Lane · entry 35797
اِسْتَبْدَعَهُ
To reckon or deem something new, wonderful, or previously unknown.
- Lane · entry 35799
بِدْعٌ
An epithet for someone outstanding or superlative in his kind, in good or in evil.
The evidence particularly applies it to a person; knowledge, courage, and nobility are given as examples of the areas in which someone may be outstanding.
- Lane · entry 35800
بِدْعٌ
A person liberal or generous in disposition.
- Lane · entry 35800
بِدْعٌ
Full-bodied or stout in body.
- Lane · entry 35800
بِدْعَةٌ
A religious innovation: a newly introduced doctrine, practice, or condition, commonly understood as an addition, impairment, or departure from established religious precedent.
Often used negatively for an opinion or action at variance with the Sunnah or the established way; the lexical tradition also recognizes an allowable innovation when supported by a legal principle or required to prevent harm.
- Lane · entry 35802
- Mufradāt · row 103
بَدِيعٌ
New, wonderful, unprecedented, or previously unknown; also a novel thing, saying, poem, rope, nose-rein, or newly dug well.
May describe an object or a striking verbal or poetic production; the examples do not restrict the meaning to any one object class.
- Lane · entry 35803
بَدِيعٌ
A skin or skin-container for wine, water, or milk, especially a new one.
A substantivized use of the epithet.
- Lane · entry 35803
بَدِيعٌ
Fat, used as an epithet.
- Lane · entry 35803
بَدِيعَةٌ
A new and admirable or wonderful thing, especially a striking expression, poem, or reply.
- Lane · entry 35804
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's printed citation for بِدْعٌ appears as [xlvi. 8]; it is not converted into a modern verse location. The Quran example here uses the independently supplied QAC occurrence 46:9.
The Quranic occurrence بِدْعًا مِنَ الرُّسُلِ carries two explicitly reported interpretations, represented as separate senses rather than treated as a single unqualified gloss.