Quranic root
ربح
r · b · ḥ
The root centers on gain or surplus realized in an exchange, especially commercial profit.
The commercial notion extends to profitable transactions and, figuratively, to the beneficial return of an action. The lexica also preserve several specialized and divergent uses in derived forms and nouns.
- Maqāyīs · row 1944
- Mufradāt · row 522
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
رَبِحَ
rabiḥa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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 gain or make a profit; of a trade or transaction, to yield gain.
In the Quranic usage, the trade itself is presented as the subject that either yielded profit or failed to do so. The same lexical notion can also be attributed to the person conducting the trade.
- Lane · entry 22132
- Mufradāt · row 522
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:16word 7
“profited”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:16رَبِحَتprofited
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 23 Classical meanings
رَبَّحَ
To take an ape or keep one in one's place of abode.
A specialized Form II usage.
- Lane · entry 22133
مُرَابَحَةٌ
A sale or financing arrangement in which a specified gain is named and received, or shared between the parties.
The gain is explicitly stated, such as a specified amount for each portion of the price; the term also applies to buying or selling in this manner.
- Lane · entry 22134
أَرْبَحَ
To find a profitable market or obtain gain in one's trade.
A Form IV commercial usage.
- Lane · entry 22135
أَرْبَحَ
To give another person gain or profit, or make someone gain by a commodity.
The classical usage is reported with a person and a commodity or sale as the relevant complements.
- Lane · entry 22135
أَرْبَحَ
To slaughter young weaned camels for one's guests.
A specialized Form IV usage unrelated to commercial profit.
- Lane · entry 22135
أَرْبَحَ
To milk a she-camel at specified early-morning and midday times.
The reported times are between the dawn prayer and sunrise, and at midday.
- Lane · entry 22135
تَرَبَّحَ
To seek gains or profits.
A Form V usage expressing pursuit of profit.
- Lane · entry 22136
تَرَبَّحَ
To become confounded or perplexed and unable to see the right course.
A specialized Form V usage.
- Lane · entry 22136
رِبْحٌ
Gain or profit; an increase in a transaction, especially surplus above the capital expended, and by extension a beneficial return from an action.
A noun of commercial gain; the figurative extension applies to what is obtained as the fruit of work.
- Lane · entry 22137
- Mufradāt · row 522
رَبَحٌ
Horses and camels brought from one place to another for sale.
A specialized noun for animals being transported for commerce.
- Lane · entry 22138
رَبَحٌ
Fat, used substantively.
In the cited poetic passage, this interpretation competes with readings referring to young camels or gain from the game of maysir.
- Lane · entry 22138
رَبَحٌ
A young weaned camel, or young weaned camels.
Reported as an alternative interpretation of the cited poetic usage.
- Lane · entry 22138
رَبَحٌ
The gain or profit obtained through maysir, the game of gambling by lots.
Reported as an interpretation of the cited poetic passage.
- Lane · entry 22138
رُبَحٌ
A young weaned camel.
Reported as an apparent dialectal variant of a related camel term.
- Lane · entry 22139
رُبَحٌ
A lamb or kid.
The sources differ over whether the word denotes a lamb generally or specifically a kid.
- Lane · entry 22139
رُبَحٌ
A bird resembling an owl-like bird used for catching hawks, or, in another account, a rook.
The identification varies between authorities.
- Lane · entry 22139
رَبَاحٌ
A small animal resembling a cat.
The transmitted text contains extensive discussion of variant readings, but the animal sense is directly reported.
- Lane · entry 22140
رَبَاحٌ
A place or town from which camphor is brought.
A possible reading or textual interpretation in the lexical discussion, not a secure identification of the animal entry.
- Lane · entry 22140
رَبَاحِيٌّ
A kind of camphor.
The name is explained as relating either to a place or to a person named رَبَاحٌ associated with its discovery or production.
- Lane · entry 22143
رُبَّاحٌ
A male ape; also a young ape or, collectively, apes.
The noun has related dialectal and collective uses; its plural is also reported.
- Lane · entry 22144
رُبَّاحٌ
A kind of dates from al-Basrah.
A specialized regional noun.
- Lane · entry 22144
رُبَّاحٌ
A small young weaned camel, or small young camels.
The reported animals are described as slender in bone and meagre in body.
- Lane · entry 22144
رَابِحٌ
Profitable or yielding gain; describing traffic, a sale, or property associated with profit.
An active participial adjective used in expressions such as profitable trade or a gainful sale.
- Lane · entry 22145
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Several rare noun entries preserve competing lexical or textual interpretations, especially رَبَاحٌ as a cat-like animal versus a possible camphor-associated place-name, and رُبَحٌ in its animal identifications.