Quranic root
سبب
s · b · b
The evidence presents two related semantic strands: cutting or severing, from which wounding and reviling are developed; and a strand of length and extension associated with a rope, a means of access, and a route.
Classical analysis treats reviling as developed from cutting or severance, while the rope-and-route branch may represent a distinct root development based on length and extension.
- Maqāyīs · row 2340
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 11
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
سَبَّ
sabba
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To revile, insult, vilify, or speak abusively against someone.
In the Quranic construction, the prohibition against reviling those worshipped besides God is linked to the danger that they will respond by reviling God; the imperfect forms represent the ongoing or prospective action.
- Lane · entry 39909
- Mufradāt · row 650
Selected Quran examples
Quran 6:108word 2
“insult”
Quran 6:108word 8
“lest they insult”
سَبَبٌ
sababun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- 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.
A rope or cord, especially one used for climbing, descending, or gaining access.
The Quranic literal image is a rope extended upward; the plural may refer to ropes or means of ascent.
- Lane · entry 39922
- Mufradāt · row 650
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:15word 12
“a rope”
A means, avenue, or route by which one reaches or attains something; a way or course of access.
In Quranic usage, the word can denote a means of access or an avenue followed toward an objective, including ways or routes associated with ascent to the heavens.
- Lane · entry 39922
- Mufradāt · row 650
Selected Quran examples
A tie or connection, especially a bond of relationship by marriage; a bond or attachment between people.
In the Quranic plural expression, the severing of such ties is associated with the dissolution of bonds and affections.
- Lane · entry 39922
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:166word 12
“the relations”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:166ٱلْأَسْبَابُthe relations
- 6:108تَسُبُّوا۟insult
- 6:108فَيَسُبُّوا۟lest they insult
- 18:84سَبَبًۭاa means
- 18:85سَبَبًاa course
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
سَبَّهُ
To cut; by extension, to wound, hock, hamstring, or otherwise sever the flesh of someone or an animal.
- Lane · entry 39909
سَبَّهُ
To penetrate the anus.
A rare anatomical usage marked as figurative or transferred in the lexical source.
- Lane · entry 39909
سَبَّبَ
To make, appoint, or prepare a means or cause; to cause or occasion something.
May be followed by لِـ to indicate preparing a means for an affair or objective.
- Lane · entry 39910
سَابَّهُ
To revile, reproach, or defame one another; to exchange abusive speech.
The corresponding verbal noun denotes mutual reviling between two parties.
- Lane · entry 39911
تَسَبَّبَ
To become a means or cause, or to use something as a means of access or attainment.
The form may be used in a quasi-passive sense for something becoming causally effective, or with بِهِ إِلَى to express using something as a means to an end.
- Lane · entry 39912
تَسَبَّبَ
To engage in trade or trafficking.
A later usage explained as treating commerce as a means of obtaining subsistence.
- Lane · entry 39912
تَسَابَّا
To cut or wound one another.
Reciprocal Form VI usage; the plural subject may be more than two people.
- Lane · entry 39913
تَسَابَّا
To revile, vilify, reproach, or defame one another.
Reciprocal usage; the related noun may denote abusive speech exchanged between the parties.
- Lane · entry 39913
اِسْتَسَبَّ
To invite, attract, or expose someone to reviling.
The construction may describe provoking retaliatory abuse against another person, especially a parent or protector.
- Lane · entry 39915
اِسْتَسَبَّ
To become caused or prepared for someone.
A transferred causative usage describing an affair or event as becoming arranged or occasioned for a person.
- Lane · entry 39915
سَبْسَبَ
To sever one's ties of relationship through unkind treatment of one's kindred.
- Lane · entry 39916
سَبْسَبَ
To go at a gentle or easy pace.
- Lane · entry 39916
سَبْسَبَ
To emit or detect a foul smell.
- Lane · entry 39916
سَبْسَبَ
To discharge urine; to make water flow.
- Lane · entry 39916
تَسَبْسَبَ
For water to run or flow.
- Lane · entry 39917
سِبٌّ
A person who reviles much, or one who mutually reviles another.
The word can denote either a habitual or intense reviler or a party in mutual abuse.
- Lane · entry 39918
سِبٌّ
A covering or elongated piece of cloth, including a veil, head-covering, turban, or thin cloth strip.
The usages are connected with a long or extended piece of textile.
- Lane · entry 39918
سَبَّةٌ
The anus.
A euphemistic anatomical usage.
- Lane · entry 39919
سَبَّةٌ
A space or period of time, especially a prolonged interval.
Also used of a period of several days characterized by weather or other prevailing conditions.
- Lane · entry 39919
سُبَّةٌ
A disgrace, shame, or thing that occasions someone being reviled.
- Lane · entry 39920
سُبَّةٌ
A person whom people revile much.
- Lane · entry 39920
سَبَبٌ
A cause, occasion, reason, or motive by which something comes about.
This is the broader abstract causal usage, distinct from the Quranic noun senses of a physical rope, route, or interpersonal tie.
- Lane · entry 39922
سَبَبٌ
A prosodic unit consisting either of a consonant with a following quiescent letter or of two successive movent letters.
Technical terminology in Arabic prosody; the light and heavy types are distinguished by their structure.
- Lane · entry 39922
سُبَبَةٌ
One who reviles people, or one who is habitually reviled.
- Lane · entry 39923
سَبَبِيٌّ
Causative; relating to a cause.
Technical relational adjective.
- Lane · entry 39924
سَبَبِيَّةٌ
Causality or the relation of cause and effect.
Technical abstract noun.
- Lane · entry 39925
سَبِيبٌ
The hair of a horse's forelock, tail, or mane; also a lock or plait of hair.
The plural may denote pendent locks or plaits of hair.
- Lane · entry 39926
سَبِيبَةٌ
A streak or strip of blood.
Usually encountered in the plural expression for streaks of blood upon someone.
- Lane · entry 39927
سَبِيبَةٌ
A place abounding in trees of the ʿiḍāh kind.
- Lane · entry 39927
سَبَّابٌ
A sword that cuts sharply, especially one that cuts the hock tendons.
An epithet of the sword based on its cutting force.
- Lane · entry 39928
سَبَّابٌ
One who reviles much or frequently; a great reviler.
- Lane · entry 39928
السَّبَّابَةُ
The index finger, the finger between the thumb and middle finger.
The name is associated with pointing during reviling; it is also called the finger raised in affirming God's unity.
- Lane · entry 39929
سَبْسَبٌ
A desert or far-extending tract of barren land, especially one lacking water, herbage, or settlement.
The word may be used adjectivally of a level or otherwise extensive desolate land.
- Lane · entry 39930
سَبْسَبٌ
A tree from which arrows or camel saddles are made.
A lexical identification also associated with a dialectal or variant tree name.
- Lane · entry 39930
السَّبَاسِبُ
A Christian festival, identified with Palm Sunday or the days of the palms.
A conventional cultural designation rather than a general plural of the desert noun.
- Lane · entry 39930
أُسْبُوبَةٌ
A form or piece of reviling speech used by people against one another.
The plural may denote abusive expressions exchanged between parties.
- Lane · entry 39933
أَسَابِيبُ
The beauties or attractive features of the face.
A specialized plural usage.
- Lane · entry 39934
مُسَبَّبٌ
Much reviled.
Passive participial usage derived from the reviling sense.
- Lane · entry 39937
مُسَبَّبَةٌ
Goodly or excellent, especially as an admiring epithet for camels, horses, or wild asses.
The expression is based on a non-literal admiring invocation rather than an intended curse.
- Lane · entry 39937
مُسَبَّبٌ
Caused or occasioned; an effect or result arising from something else.
Used in the construction مُسَبَّبٌ عَنْ to express an effect arising from a cause.
- Lane · entry 39937
مُسَبِّبٌ
One who reviles much.
Active participial usage derived from the reviling sense.
- Lane · entry 39938
مُسَبِّبٌ
One who makes or prepares a means or cause; a causer or occasioner.
Also used as an epithet of God, the maker or disposer of causes and means.
- Lane · entry 39938
مُسْتَبٌّ
One who mutually reviles another; a participant in reciprocal abuse.
The form may function as an active or passive participle in the cited usage.
- Lane · entry 39939
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's printed Quran references for the road or way usage use historical citation notation and are not reproduced as modern verse locations; the Quran examples here use only the independently supplied QAC locations.
The Quranic noun senses are kept distinct from the broader classical abstract sense of cause or occasion and from technical prosodic terminology.