Quranic root
نبأ
n · b · ʾ
The root centers on something coming from one place to another: a person, sound, report, or information arriving from elsewhere.
The movement principle extends to reports as information that reaches a hearer, to the informer, and to the prophet as one who conveys knowledge of God and the unseen. Related classical branches also describe sound, emergence, elevation, and arrival from another place.
- Maqāyīs · row 4513
- 6
- Quran-attested forms
- 7
- Quran senses
- 160
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نَبَّأَ
nabbaʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 46 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.
To inform, tell, or make someone know something.
The Quranic form is used for conveying information to a recipient, including information about deeds, events, or previously unknown matters. It is presented in the lexical discussion as more emphatic than أَنْبَأَ, especially where the information is strongly established or confirmed.
- Mufradāt · row 1404
- Lane · entry 43004
Selected Quran examples
Quran 66:3word 20
“he informed her”
Quran 39:7word 24
“then He will inform you”
Quran 12:36word 22
“Inform us”
أَنْبَأَ
ʾanbaʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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.
To inform someone of something, tell it to them, or make it known to them.
The Quranic construction presents a recipient together with the information disclosed. It overlaps in meaning with نَبَّأَ, while the latter is described as the more emphatic form in some usages.
- Mufradāt · row 1404
- Lane · entry 43004
Selected Quran examples
اِسْتَنْبَأَ
āistanbaʾa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form X
- Form
- X
- 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 seek information or ask to be informed.
In its Quranic occurrence, the verb describes asking for information about whether something is true.
- Lane · entry 43006
- Mufradāt · row 1404
Selected Quran examples
Quran 10:53word 1
“And they ask you to inform”
نَبَأٌ
nabaʾun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 29 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.
A significant report, piece of news, account, or narrative.
The term may denote information or a reported account; in its more specific characterization, it is a report of consequence from which knowledge or a strong probability results and which is not false. In النَّبَأُ الْعَظِيمُ, the report is described in interpretation as the Qur'an, the resurrection, or the Prophet's case, without those being separate lexical meanings.
- Lane · entry 43007
- Mufradāt · row 1404
Selected Quran examples
Quran 49:6word 7
“with information”
Quran 78:2word 2
“the News”
An allegation, plea, or excuse offered in response to a matter.
This Quran-attested contextual use occurs in the plural الْأَنْبَاءُ in the expression describing people who have no answer, allegation, or excuse available to them.
- Lane · entry 43007
Selected Quran examples
Quran 28:66word 3
“the information”
نَبِيٌّ
nabiyyun
- Part of speech
- Noun · Prophet
- Quran occurrences
- 75 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.
A prophet: a person who conveys divine guidance and is informed concerning God and matters of the unseen.
The Quranic noun is the unhamzated form نَبِيّ. In the lexical distinction recorded here, every رسول is a نبيّ, but not every نبيّ is necessarily a رسول.
- Mufradāt · row 1410
- Lane · entry 43009
Selected Quran examples
نُبُوَّةٌ
nubuwwahun
- Part of speech
- Noun · Prophethood
- Quran occurrences
- 5 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.
Prophethood: the prophetic office or function, understood as a divinely instituted connection conveying guidance between God and human beings.
The noun denotes the office or gift of being a prophet rather than an individual prophet.
- Mufradāt · row 1404
- Lane · entry 43010
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:79word 9
“and the Prophethood”
Quran 29:27word 8
“the Prophethood”
Quran 57:26word 8
“Prophethood”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:31أَنۢبِـُٔونِىInform Me
- 2:33أَنۢبِئْهُمInform them
- 2:33أَنۢبَأَهُمhe had informed them
- 2:61ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَthe Prophets
- 2:91أَنۢبِيَآءَ(the) Prophets
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 18 Classical meanings
نَبَأَ
To utter a low voice or sound; of a dog, to cry or bark.
A classical Form I verbal use, distinct from the reporting sense of the noun نَبَأٌ.
- Lane · entry 43001
نَبَأَ
To become exalted or elevated.
Classical Form I use.
- Lane · entry 43001
نَبَأَ عَلَيْهِمْ
To come upon or assault a group; to come forth against them.
Used with عَلَيْهِمْ or a similar construction.
- Lane · entry 43001
نَبَأَ
To go forth from one land to another.
Describes departure or movement between territories.
- Lane · entry 43001
نَبَأَتْ بِهِ الأَرْضُ
For the land to bring or lead a person to a place.
A conventional expression in which the land or fate brings someone to the place where he is destined to arrive.
- Lane · entry 43001
نَابَأَهُ
To inform or acquaint one another, or to inform someone.
The Form III expression may convey reciprocal informing, and is also recorded in a simple one-sided informing use.
- Lane · entry 43003
نَابَأَهُمْ
To withdraw from their neighborhood or distance oneself from them.
A distinct Form III branch describing separation or withdrawal.
- Lane · entry 43003
أَنْبَأَ
To cast or shoot without splitting, cutting, scratching, or penetrating the target.
A specialized Form IV use of throwing or shooting.
- Lane · entry 43004
تَنَبَّأَ
To claim or arrogate to oneself the office or gift of prophecy.
In established usage this generally refers to a pretender or false claimant, rather than simply to a genuine prophet.
- Lane · entry 43005
- Mufradāt · row 1404
نَبْأَةٌ
An eminence, protuberance, or raised place in the earth.
A nominal use distinct from the sound-related sense of نَبْأَةٌ.
- Lane · entry 43008
نَبْأَةٌ
A low or faint sound; the cry or barking of dogs.
A nominal sound-related use.
- Lane · entry 43008
نَبِىْءٌ
An emigrant or one who has departed from one place.
Reported in an anecdotal explanation of the hamzated form; this is distinct from the Quranic title نَبِيٌّ.
- Lane · entry 43009
نَبِىْءٌ
A conspicuous, evident, or clear way.
A classical lexical use of the hamzated headword, also offered as an explanation for the prophetic designation.
- Lane · entry 43009
نَبِىْءٌ
An elevated, protuberant, or gibbous place.
A topographical use of the hamzated headword, including the expression referring to an elevated place.
- Lane · entry 43009
نَابِئٌ
A bull that goes forth from one land or country to another.
A specialized active-participial noun use.
- Lane · entry 43011
نَابِئٌ
A torrent coming forth from another land or tract.
A specialized active-participial noun use.
- Lane · entry 43011
نَابِئٌ
A man who comes forth unexpectedly from an unknown quarter.
A specialized active-participial noun use describing unexpected arrival.
- Lane · entry 43011
نَابِئَةُ خَبَرٍ
News arriving from elsewhere; current or distant news.
A conventional expression for news from a remote or external source.
- Lane · entry 43012
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form نَبِيٌّ is unhamzated. Classical sources discuss نَبِىْءٌ as a hamzated variant or related headword and also record competing derivations from informing and elevation; these etymological and pronunciation discussions should not be treated as separate Quranic senses.
نَبَّأَ and أَنْبَأَ both mean to inform in Quranic usage, while the lexical discussion presents نَبَّأَ as more emphatic in some constructions; the distinction is one of force and usage, not a wholly separate reporting domain.