Quranic root
دأب
d · ʾ · b
The root centers on persistent adherence, sustained effort, and continuing in a course.
Its lexical development runs from striving and maintaining continuous activity to an established custom, manner, or state of affairs. The active participle describes what continually pursues a course, while Form IV causatively makes another or something persist or exert itself.
- Maqāyīs · row 1687
- Lane · entry 10
- Lane · entry 11
- Lane · entry 12
- Lane · entry 16
- Mufradāt · row 451
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 5
- Quran senses
- 6
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
دَأَبٌ
daʾabun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- 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.
Sustained and regular continuance; carrying on a course persistently.
Used as a verbal noun in the Quranic expression of maintaining an activity continuously and regularly; in 12:47 it conveys carrying on a prescribed course as usual.
- Lane · entry 10
- Mufradāt · row 451
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:47word 5
“as usual”
دَأْبٌ
daʾbun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
An established custom, habitual course, or manner of conduct.
In كَدَأْبِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ and related comparative constructions, it denotes the continuing course or customary behavior of the people being compared.
- Lane · entry 12
- Mufradāt · row 451
Selected Quran examples
A case, state, condition, or situation.
The same comparative construction may refer to the situation or plight of those being compared.
- Lane · entry 12
Selected Quran examples
Quran 40:31word 2
“(the) plight”
Persistent striving, laboring, or toiling in a continuing course.
An explicitly attested Quranic interpretation of كَدَأْبِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ understands the expression as referring to their sustained exertion in unbelief and their concerted opposition and mutual support against Moses. Lane’s historical citation notation is not used as a modern verse location.
- Lane · entry 10
- Lane · entry 12
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:11word 1
“Like behavior”
Quran 8:54word 1
“Like (the) way”
دَائِبٌ
dāʾibun
- Part of speech
- Active 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.
Continuously pursuing or maintaining a course; unceasing in its movement.
In the Quranic dual دَائِبَيْنِ, it describes the sun and moon as continually pursuing their respective courses.
- Lane · entry 16
- Mufradāt · row 451
Selected Quran examples
Quran 14:33word 5
“both constantly pursuing their courses”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:11كَدَأْبِLike behavior
- 8:52كَدَأْبِLike (the) way
- 8:54كَدَأْبِLike (the) way
- 12:47دَأَبًۭاas usual
- 14:33دَآئِبَيْنِ ۖboth constantly pursuing their courses
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 7 Classical meanings
دَأَبَ
To strive, labor, toil, or exert oneself, becoming weary; to persist or continue in work, a journey, or another undertaking.
A Form I verb and its ordinary verbal usage; the subject is not restricted to a particular type of person or creature.
- Lane · entry 10
دَأْبٌ، دُؤُوبٌ
The act of driving vehemently; driving away, pursuing, or hunting.
A specialized verbal-noun usage distinct from the meanings of custom and persistent continuance.
- Lane · entry 10
أَدْأَبَ
To cause another or something to strive, labor, toil, or become weary; to make it persist or continue, or to put it in need of sustained effort.
Form IV causative construction, including causing someone or something to pursue a journey laboriously or with energy.
- Lane · entry 11
دَأْبٌ
An affair, business, or concern; a case, state, condition, deed, or work.
Broader Classical Arabic uses of the noun beyond the Quranic comparative interpretations listed under the Quranic form.
- Lane · entry 12
دَؤُوبٌ
Persistent, energetic, and laborious in doing a thing.
An adjectival description of sustained effort or energetic persistence.
- Lane · entry 15
دَائِبٌ
Striving, laboring, toiling, or exerting oneself, with associated weariness, in work or an undertaking.
Also used in the expression لَيْلَةٌ دَائِبَةٌ for a hard, fatiguing, or continuous night journey.
- Lane · entry 16
الدَّائِبَانِ
A conventional dual epithet for the night and day as the pair that continually follows its alternating course.
A tropical Classical Arabic expression; it is distinct from the Quranic dual in 14:33, which refers to the sun and moon.
- Lane · entry 16
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic comparative phrase كَدَأْبِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ supports more than one lexically attested interpretation: established custom or course, case or state, and persistent striving. Contextual English glosses alone do not resolve among these readings.
The Classical expression الدَّائِبَانِ for night and day is distinct from the Quranic دَائِبَيْنِ in 14:33, where the supplied Quran-focused evidence identifies the sun and moon as continually pursuing their courses.
Lane’s historical Quran citation conventions have not been converted into modern verse keys; modern examples use only the independently supplied QAC locations.