Quranic root
تبع
t · b · ʿ
The root centers on following, coming after, pursuing, or tracing something or someone.
The basic orientation is physical following or pursuit; related formations distinguish catching up or causing something to follow, adherence to a path or instruction, succession, followers, and claims pursued against another.
- Maqāyīs · row 903
- Mufradāt · row 174
- 9
- Quran-attested forms
- 15
- Quran senses
- 172
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
تَبِعَ
tabiʿa
- 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 follow, go behind or after, pursue, or overtake someone or something.
Used for physical following or pursuit and for coming after another; the precise result may range from trailing behind to catching up.
- Lane · entry 16454
- Maqāyīs · row 903
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 79:7word 1
“Follows it”
To follow a person, model, path, teaching, or command in conduct; to imitate or act according to it.
A figurative extension of physical following, including adherence to guidance and acting in accordance with what another has done or prescribed.
- Lane · entry 16454
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:38word 10
“follows”
أَتْبَعَ
ʾatbaʿa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 15 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 follow after, pursue, or catch up with someone or something.
Used where the subject comes after or reaches what has gone before; passive forms describe being followed or pursued.
- Lane · entry 16457
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:85word 1
“So he followed”
To make someone or something follow, overtake, or come after another; to cause one thing to follow another.
A causative construction may take a person or thing as the one made to follow, and may express successive placement or pursuit.
- Lane · entry 16457
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 23:44word 11
“so We made (them) follow”
اِتَّبَعَ
āittabaʿa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- Quran occurrences
- 136 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 follow, pursue, or go after a person, thing, course, or report.
The following may be physical or figurative; the form is also used for pursuing desires, conjectures, or a chosen course.
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 10:36word 2
“follow”
To adhere to, obey, or follow a person, guidance, teaching, path, or instruction.
A figurative use in which following means adopting a direction, belief, example, or command and acting in accordance with it.
- Lane · entry 16454
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:31word 6
“then follow me”
مُتَتَابِعٌ
mutatābiʿun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
Following one another consecutively; successive and uninterrupted.
In the Quranic dual expression, two items occur in immediate succession.
- Lane · entry 16477
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:92word 53
“consecutively”
Quran 58:4word 6
“consecutively”
مُتَّبَعٌ
muttabaʿun
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- 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.
Followed by others; one whom others pursue or follow.
Used of a person or thing that is the object of following or pursuit.
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 26:52word 8
“(will be) followed”
Quran 44:23word 5
“(will be) followed”
تَابِعٌ
tābiʿun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- 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.
A follower; one who comes after or follows another.
May describe a person or thing following in another's track and may function as a collective or quasi-plural expression.
- Lane · entry 16472
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:145word 13
“a follower”
A servant or attendant.
In the Quranic construction concerning those without sexual interest, the word is explained as an attendant of the household.
- Lane · entry 16472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 24:31word 49
“the attendants”
تَبَعٌ
tabaʿun
- 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.
Followers; those who follow another.
A collective or quasi-plural noun denoting people who are subordinate followers of someone else.
- Lane · entry 16472
Selected Quran examples
Quran 14:21word 11
“followers”
Quran 40:47word 12
“followers”
تَبِيعٌ
tabīʿun
- 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.
A claimant or avenger who pursues a right, blood-revenge, or redress against another.
In the Quranic construction, the word can denote one who prosecutes or sues for what has been denied or withheld.
- Lane · entry 16467
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:69word 22
“an avenger”
An aider or supporter against an enemy.
This is an alternative interpretation of the Quranic expression, emphasizing one who can pursue or assist against an adversary.
- Lane · entry 16467
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:69word 22
“an avenger”
اِتِّبَاعٌ
āittibāʿun
- Part of speech
- Verbal 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.
Following or pursuing a person, thing, course, or opinion.
A verbal noun of following, including adherence to a view or reliance on conjecture.
- Mufradāt · row 174
Selected Quran examples
Quran 4:157word 30
“(the) following”
Pursuing a claim for bloodwit after remission, with fair conduct.
In the construction اتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ, it denotes orderly prosecution or follow-up of the bloodwit claim rather than retaliation.
- Lane · entry 16454
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:178word 21
“then follows up”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:38تَبِعَfollows
- 2:102وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟And they followed
- 2:120تَتَّبِعَyou follow
- 2:120ٱتَّبَعْتَyou follow
- 2:143يَتَّبِعُfollows
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 34 Classical meanings
تَبِعَ / أَتْبَعَ
To refer a creditor to another person for payment, or accept such a transfer to a solvent debtor.
A financial and legal construction used with the relevant prepositions for referral of a debt.
- Lane · entry 16454
- Lane · entry 16457
تَبَّعَ
To cause one thing to follow another, whether for good or evil.
A Form II causative expression concerning the succession of an event or thing after another.
- Lane · entry 16455
تِبَاعٌ
Consecution or succession: making two actions, affairs, or performances follow one another.
Used of consecutive performance, uninterrupted continuation, or carrying an activity forward in sequence.
- Lane · entry 16456
تِبَاعٌ
Uniformly trimming or paring a bow, part after part.
A technical description of executing each successive portion evenly.
- Lane · entry 16456
تِبَاعٌ
To make an action, work, or speech sound, complete, and free from defect.
A figurative Form III use applied to work, language, or performance.
- Lane · entry 16456
تِبَاعٌ
For pasture to fatten and improve cattle thoroughly.
A specialized use with pasture as the subject and camels or cattle as the affected animals.
- Lane · entry 16456
تِبَاعٌ
To aid, assist, or help someone in carrying out an affair.
A figurative Form III construction with a person as the one assisted.
- Lane · entry 16456
تَتَبَّعَ
To pursue, investigate, examine, or search for something repeatedly and step by step.
The search may proceed successively, gradually, or by following traces and details.
- Lane · entry 16458
تَتَابَعَ
To become consecutive, successive, or uninterrupted; for people or things to follow one another.
Used of events, rains, years, people, or objects occurring in succession.
- Lane · entry 16459
تَتَابَعَ
For a horse to run evenly and continuously without uneven lifting of its limbs.
A specialized description of a horse's regular movement.
- Lane · entry 16459
تَتَابَعَ
For camels to become fat and goodly.
A specialized use concerning the condition of camels.
- Lane · entry 16459
اِسْتَتْبَعَ
To desire, demand, or cause someone to follow.
The Form X construction may express a request for following or the resulting causation.
- Lane · entry 16461
تِبْعٌ
A follower or persistent pursuer, especially a passionate lover or sedulous seeker of women.
A specialized nominal use describing persistent attachment or pursuit.
- Lane · entry 16462
تُبَعٌ
A person whose speech proceeds consecutively, one part following another.
A specialized description of connected and orderly discourse.
- Lane · entry 16464
تَبْعَى
A cow that desires and follows the bull.
A specialized feminine animal adjective.
- Lane · entry 16465
تَبِعَةٌ
The consequence or result of an action.
Often used of an adverse or consequential result for which someone may be held responsible.
- Lane · entry 16466
تَبِعَةٌ
A claim or due pursued because of injury, wrongdoing, or property-related liability.
The claim may be a right attached to property or a demand for redress against the person responsible.
- Lane · entry 16466
تَبِيعٌ
A debtor who is prosecuted or sued for property or a right owed to another.
The form is passive in force: the person is one pursued by a creditor.
- Lane · entry 16467
تَبِيعٌ
A young cow or calf in its first year, named because it follows its mother.
The term is also associated with the animal's early age; later juristic explanations about its horns and ears are not the lexical basis of the word.
- Lane · entry 16467
تُبَّعٌ
A title for the kings of Yemen who ruled Himyar and Hadramawt; by extension, a particular king of that line.
The name is explained through the succession of rulers; it is also used in Quranic discussion of the people or king of Tubbaʿ.
- Lane · entry 16469
- Mufradāt · row 174
تُبَّعٌ
The chief or largest bee, whom the other bees follow.
A specialized collective-animal term, with a plural referring to such leaders.
- Lane · entry 16469
تُبَّعٌ
A species of flying creature or bird.
The source gives the term as a bird name without further zoological specification.
- Lane · entry 16469
تُبَّعٌ
The shade or shadow that follows the sun or a person; in one interpretation, the asterism Aldebaran.
The poetic interpretation is disputed: some authorities understand shade, while another explanation identifies Aldebaran.
- Lane · entry 16469
تَبُّوعُ الشَّمْسِ
A disliked wind that begins near sunrise, veers through the directions, and returns to its starting direction.
A technical name for a recurring early-morning wind.
- Lane · entry 16471
تَابِعٌ
The legs of a beast, understood as parts that follow one another in sequence.
A substantivized or epithet-like use applied specifically to an animal's legs.
- Lane · entry 16472
تَابِعٌ
A male genie that accompanies and follows a woman; تَابِعَةٌ is the corresponding female genie associated with a man.
A folkloric usage also extended to female associates or attendants.
- Lane · entry 16472
تَابِعٌ
A member of the generation following the Companions.
A technical religious-historical designation based on chronological succession.
- Lane · entry 16472
تَابِعُ النَّجْمِ
The follower of the Pleiades, namely Aldebaran or the Hyades asterism.
The name is explained by the star's following position relative to the Pleiades; variant identifications are reported.
- Lane · entry 16472
إِتْبَاعٌ
The rhetorical addition of an imitative or echoing word after another for emphasis, fullness, or corroboration.
The second word may be meaningless on its own or may retain an independent meaning; the construction includes expressions such as حَسَنٌ بَسَنٌ and هَنِيئًا مَرِيئًا.
- Lane · entry 16474
إِتْبَاعٌ
Assimilation of one word or vowel to another in form or pronunciation.
A technical grammatical and phonological extension of the rhetorical notion of making one element follow another.
- Lane · entry 16474
مُتْبِعٌ
A female animal or servant that has offspring following her.
Used of a ewe, she-goat, cow, or female servant accompanied by its or her young.
- Lane · entry 16475
مُتَابَعٌ
Anything made or executed soundly, thoroughly, and free from defect.
A figurative passive-participial use describing a completed or well-executed result.
- Lane · entry 16476
مُتَتَابِعٌ
Even, uniform, or consistently ordered in its parts; symmetrical or internally consistent.
Applied figuratively to a branch without knots, a well-proportioned horse, or consistent knowledge.
- Lane · entry 16477
تِبْعٌ
A thing that follows another.
A generic nominal use for what comes after or follows something else.
- Lane · entry 16462
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane's Quran references use historical citation conventions and are not independently treated as modern verse locations; Quran examples here use only QAC-supplied locations.
تَبِيعٌ at 17:69 carries overlapping classical interpretations—claimant or avenger, and aider against an enemy—which are retained as separate senses.