Quranic root
قبل
q · b · l
The root centers on one thing facing, turning toward, or standing opposite another.
From the basic notion of facing or orientation develop meanings of front, direction, approach, reciprocal encounter, acceptance, social grouping, and—more distantly—the temporal relation expressed by قَبْلُ, before.
- Maqāyīs · row 3705
- 13
- Quran-attested forms
- 17
- Quran senses
- 294
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
- قَبِلَVerb · Form I I · 9
- أَقْبَلَVerb · Form IV IV · 9
- تَقَبَّلَVerb · Form V V · 10
- مُسْتَقْبِلActive participle · 1
- مُتَقَابِلActive participle · 4
- قَابِلActive participle · 1
- قَبِيلَةNoun · 1
- قَبِيلNoun · 2
- قَبْلAdverbial noun / preposition · 242
- قَبُولNoun · 1
- قِبَلNoun / locative expression · 4
- قِبْلَةNoun · 7
- قُبُلNoun · 3
قَبِلَ
qabila
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 9 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 accept, receive, admit, or approve
Used actively or passively for accepting a thing, act, repentance, or other offering; voice and tense vary across the Quranic occurrences.
- Lane · entry 20801
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:104word 6
“(Who) accepts”
Quran 2:48word 10
“will be accepted”
أَقْبَلَ
ʾaqbala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 9 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 come forward, approach, advance, or turn toward
Describes movement or orientation toward a person or thing; the Quran also uses it for coming forward or advancing after turning toward.
- Lane · entry 20803
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
تَقَبَّلَ
taqabbala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- Quran occurrences
- 10 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 accept and receive favorably
In the Quran this form is especially used for accepting a deed, offering, prayer, or person in a manner implying approval and, in the relevant religious contexts, recompense or favor.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
- Lane · entry 20801
Selected Quran examples
مُسْتَقْبِل
mustaqbil
- 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.
approaching or coming toward
An active participle of Form X; the Quranic occurrence describes something advancing toward its object.
- Lane · entry 20806
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 46:24word 4
“approaching”
مُتَقَابِل
mutaqābil
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
facing one another; mutually turned toward one another
A reciprocal active participle of Form VI, used of persons seated or positioned face-to-face.
- Lane · entry 20804
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 15:47word 10
“facing each other”
Quran 56:16word 3
“facing each other”
قَابِل
qābil
- 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.
accepting; receiving favorably
In the Quranic occurrence it is used of accepting repentance.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 40:3word 3
“and (the) Acceptor”
قَبِيلَة
qabīlah
- Part of speech
- 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.
tribe; an organized social group or body of people
The supplied Quranic form is the plural قَبَائِل, presented here under the singular citation form قَبِيلَة.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
- Lane · entry 20818
Selected Quran examples
Quran 49:13word 10
“and tribes”
قَبِيل
qabīl
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
a group, collective, or body, including a tribe or retinue
The Quranic occurrences support both a group associated with a person and a collective presentation; the exact contextual rendering may vary.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:27word 19
“and his tribe”
visibly, in person, or face-to-face
An interpretation recorded for the Quranic use in 17:92; it treats the form as referring to direct, visible encounter rather than merely an unseen or reported presence.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:92word 12
“before (us)”
قَبْل
qabl
- Part of speech
- Adverbial noun / preposition
- Quran occurrences
- 242 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.
before; earlier than; prior to
Used independently or with a complement, pronoun, or attached preposition to express temporal precedence and, more generally, precedence in an ordered sequence.
- Lane · entry 20807
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
قَبُول
qabūl
- Part of speech
- 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.
acceptance, favorable reception, or approval
The Quranic occurrence expresses favorable reception of a person or thing, with the associated sense of approval and favor.
- Lane · entry 20814
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:37word 3
“with acceptance”
قِبَل
qibal
- Part of speech
- Noun / locative expression
- 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.
toward; in the direction of
Used as a directional or locative expression for orientation toward a place or object.
- Lane · entry 20809
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:177word 6
“towards”
before, in front of, or in the presence of
Used for a person or thing positioned before or facing the speaker or addressee; this includes the Quranic construction قِبَلَكَ.
- Lane · entry 20809
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 70:36word 4
“before you”
قِبْلَة
qiblah
- 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.
the direction or place toward which one turns in prayer
Originally a state or position of facing; in established usage, the direction or place faced for prayer.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:142word 8
“their direction of prayer”
Quran 2:144word 8
“(to the) direction of prayer”
Quran 10:87word 12
“(as) places of worship”
قُبُل
qubul
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 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 front or forepart
Used for the part lying before or in front of something; the Quranic occurrence in the Joseph narrative has this concrete sense.
- Lane · entry 20810
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:26word 15
“the front”
face-to-face, visibly, or in person
A Quranic interpretive use for direct appearance or confrontation, as opposed to an unseen or merely reported occurrence.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:111word 12
“face to face”
Quran 18:55word 19
“before (them)”
in groups or group by group
An alternative interpretation recorded for the plural form in the Quranic passages concerning direct appearance.
- Mufradāt · row 1156
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:55word 19
“before (them)”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:4قَبْلِكَbefore you
- 2:21قَبْلِكُمْbefore you
- 2:25قَبْلُ ۖbefore
- 2:48يُقْبَلُwill be accepted
- 2:89قَبْلُbefore
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 43 Classical meanings
قَبَلَ
to face or turn toward, opposite to turning away
A Classical verb distinct in vocalization and lexical identity from قَبِلَ, to accept.
- Lane · entry 20801
قَابَلَ
to requite, return, or compensate one thing with another
May describe good for good, evil for evil, or another reciprocal exchange.
- Lane · entry 20802
قَابَلَ
to compare one thing with another
A comparative or contrastive use, distinct from returning or compensating one thing with another.
- Lane · entry 20802
قُوبِلَ
said of a horse, generous or excellent on both sides of its parentage
A specialized description of a horse considered good with respect to both parents.
- Lane · entry 20802
أَقْبَلَ
to make something face or be turned toward something
Transitive Form IV construction.
- Lane · entry 20803
إِقْبَال
advancing fortune, prosperity, favor, or increasing might
Used figuratively of worldly circumstances or good fortune, as opposed to decline or turning away.
- Lane · entry 20803
أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ
to favor someone or present a favorable aspect to him
A conventional interpersonal use implying kind reception or favorable attention.
- Lane · entry 20803
أَقْبَلَ عَلَى
to set about, take up, or commence an activity
Constructed with the object or activity toward which one turns one’s attention.
- Lane · entry 20803
أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ
to advance against or set upon someone with a weapon or implement
The instrument may be expressed with بِـ, as in advancing with a sword, staff, or whip.
- Lane · entry 20803
أَقْبِلْ عَلَى
to apply or betake oneself to a person, matter, or one’s own affairs
An imperative or directive use of turning one’s attention toward something.
- Lane · entry 20803
أَقْبَلَ
to recover or regain health after emaciation
A specialized Classical use describing renewed bodily strength.
- Lane · entry 20803
اِقْتَبَلَ
to begin or commence an affair
The object is an affair or undertaking; this is the Form VIII verb, not the Form IV verb.
- Lane · entry 20805
اِسْتَقْبَلَ
to face or turn one’s face toward someone or something
Includes coming before the face or positioning oneself toward an object.
- Lane · entry 20806
اِسْتَقْبَلَ
to go to meet, encounter, or receive someone or something
May take a person, affair, action, or circumstance as its object.
- Lane · entry 20806
اِسْتَقْبَلَ
to anticipate, look forward to, or know beforehand
Includes anticipating a time or event before its commencement.
- Lane · entry 20806
اِسْتَقْبَلَ بِـ
to confront someone with something, including an accusation or harsh speech
The construction بِـ introduces what is presented directly to the person.
- Lane · entry 20806
قَبْل
before in place, rank, station, or ordered precedence
A broader Classical extension beyond simple temporal precedence.
- Lane · entry 20807
قَبَل
bringing water over camels’ mouths while they drink
A specialized watering practice in which water is drawn over the animals while they are drinking.
- Lane · entry 20808
بِقَبَل
manifest, plainly visible, or immediately apparent
Used in the expression for truth that is evident to one who sees it.
- Lane · entry 20808
قِبَلًا
face-to-face or directly encountered
A construction describing meeting someone directly.
- Lane · entry 20809
ذُو قِبَل
a time newly begun or a future time about to commence
Used in temporal expressions for what is now beginning or is next.
- Lane · entry 20809
قِبَل
the part next to or adjoining a thing
A spatial use distinct from directional towardness.
- Lane · entry 20809
قِبَل
property or a claim held by or owing from someone
The expression لِي قِبَلَهُ مَالٌ means that property is due to or held with him.
- Lane · entry 20809
مِنْ قِبَل
from the side, agency, or source of someone or something
May mean from someone’s direction or provenance, or through a bodily side such as the nose.
- Lane · entry 20809
قُبُل
the anterior pudendum or front sexual organ
An anatomical term, opposite دُبُر, the posterior part.
- Lane · entry 20810
قِبَال
the strap or front fastening of a sandal
Also used for the corresponding strap of a shoe or related fastening.
- Lane · entry 20801
- Lane · entry 20813
قَبُول
beauty, grace, comeliness, or pleasing appearance
Describes an attractive aspect, appearance, or garment rather than acceptance as an act.
- Lane · entry 20814
قَبِيل
kind, species, class, or race
A classificatory noun distinct from the Quranic social-group use.
- Lane · entry 20815
قُبَيْل
a little while ago; shortly before
A diminutive temporal expression meaning recently or just previously.
- Lane · entry 20816
قُبَالَة
opposite, facing, or in the direction directly before something
Includes the place, point, or tract in front of an object.
- Lane · entry 20817
قَبِيلَة
a mass of stone or rock at the mouth of a well
A specialized nominal use unrelated to the social-group sense.
- Lane · entry 20818
قَابِل
nextcoming or following
Used of the coming year or the coming night.
- Lane · entry 20819
قَابِل
susceptible to or capable of receiving something
The complement introduced by لِـ specifies what can be received or admitted.
- Lane · entry 20819
قَابِل
an arrow that wins in the game of maysir
A technical gaming term contrasted with the corresponding losing or rearward designation.
- Lane · entry 20819
قَابِلَة
wife
A specialized feminine nominal use.
- Lane · entry 20819
قَابِلِيَّة
the quality of admitting, receiving, or being susceptible
An abstract noun for receptivity or capacity to receive an effect.
- Lane · entry 20820
أَقْبَل
more or most inclined to accept admonition
A comparative or superlative adjective with لِـ introducing what is accepted.
- Lane · entry 20821
مُقْبِل
in the fresh or advancing period of youth
Describes a person or youth not yet marked by the effects of old age.
- Lane · entry 20823
مُقَبَّل
the part of the mouth or front teeth that is kissed
A specialized description of the front of the mouth or teeth.
- Lane · entry 20824
مُقَابَل
opposite or facing, as of houses or dwellings
Used of things positioned front-to-front rather than back-to-back.
- Lane · entry 20825
مُقَابَل
noble on both the father’s and mother’s side
A genealogical or evaluative description of excellence from both parental lines.
- Lane · entry 20825
مُقَابَلَة
comparison with or juxtaposition against something
The phrase فِي مُقَابَلَةِ كَذَا means in comparison with or in relation to such a thing.
- Lane · entry 20825
مُسْتَقْبَل
anticipated, looked forward to, or begun
A distinct nominal/adjectival form with fatḥ on the ب, not the active participle مُسْتَقْبِل.
- Lane · entry 20826
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
قَبْل and قِبَل are distinct vocalized lexical items: the former primarily expresses precedence, while the latter expresses direction, position, or provenance.
The supplied discussion of قُبُل records more than one interpretation in some Quranic passages, including front, direct visibility or encounter, and group-by-group appearance; these are kept as distinct documented senses rather than treated as interchangeable glosses.