Quranic root
وهب
w · h · b
The clearest semantic orientation is voluntary bestowal: giving something freely and without compensation. The lexical tradition also records associated branches for accepting, requesting, exchanging, and intensifying gifts.
The root's recorded branches are not all reducible to one semantic development. Alongside gift vocabulary, Classical Arabic preserves usages for readiness, availability, abundance, lasting provision, and water-holding hollows.
- Maqāyīs · row 5228
- Mufradāt · row 1615
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 25
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
وَهَبَ
wahaba
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 22 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 give or bestow something freely, as a gift and without compensation.
Used for the bestowal of persons, family, wisdom, kingdom, mercy, and other benefits. The Quran may attribute the giving to an intermediary as the immediate cause, while also treating God as the true giver.
- Lane · entry 45759
- Mufradāt · row 1615
Selected Quran examples
Quran 14:39word 4
“has granted”
Quran 19:19word 6
“that I (may) bestow”
To offer or yield oneself to another.
A distinct self-offering construction in which the self is what is given; it is exemplified by the Quranic expression for a woman offering herself to the Prophet.
- Mufradāt · row 1615
Selected Quran examples
Quran 33:50word 31
“she gives”
وَهَّابٌ
wahhābun
- Part of speech
- Intensive epithet / 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.
One who bestows abundantly, freely, and continually; the Bestower.
In Quranic usage, a divine epithet emphasizing unrestricted and abundant bestowal.
- Lane · entry 45769
- Mufradāt · row 1615
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:8word 15
“(are) the Bestower”
Quran 38:9word 7
“the Bestower”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:8وَهَبْand grant
- 3:8ٱلْوَهَّابُ(are) the Bestower
- 3:38هَبْgrant
- 6:84وَوَهَبْنَاAnd We bestowed
- 14:39وَهَبَhas granted
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 21 Classical meanings
وَهَبَ
To make or be made someone's ransom; to be given as a substitute for another.
An idiomatic use attested in expressions such as وَهَبَنِيَ اللهُ فِدَاكَ, with the sense of being made or given as another's ransom; reported as rare by some authorities.
- Lane · entry 45759
هَبْ
To suppose, reckon, or count someone or something as being in a stated condition.
Restricted to the imperative هَبْ in this meaning and used with two objects; it is not used here in the past or imperfect.
- Lane · entry 45759
وَاهَبَ
To compete in generosity, striving to surpass another in giving.
Form III usage describing reciprocal or competitive generosity.
- Lane · entry 45760
أَوْهَبَ
To prepare or make a thing ready for someone.
Form IV transitive usage; food and drink may be specifically prepared and made ready in abundance.
- Lane · entry 45761
أَوْهَبَ
Of food, grain, or similar produce, to become abundant enough for some of it to be given away.
An intransitive Form IV usage applied to provisions or produce.
- Lane · entry 45761
أَوْهَبَ
To become capable of something; of a thing, to become available or within someone's reach so that it can be taken.
Form IV usage extended from a person's ability to the availability or accessibility of a thing.
- Lane · entry 45761
أَوْهَبَ
To last or serve as a continuing provision for someone.
A reported Form IV reading applied to provisions; the reading and interpretation are disputed in the lexical discussion.
- Lane · entry 45761
تَوَاهَبَ
To give gifts to one another; to engage in mutual gifting.
Form VI usage, ordinarily describing voluntary exchange rather than giving under compulsion.
- Lane · entry 45762
اِتَّهَبَ
To accept a gift.
Form VIII usage, including accepting something from another as a gift.
- Lane · entry 45763
اِسْتَوْهَبَ
To ask for a gift or ask someone to give something.
Form X usage; the requested gift may be a person or servant as well as an inanimate thing.
- Lane · entry 45764
هِبَةٌ
A gift or thing bestowed freely and without compensation.
In legal usage, a free gift may be distinguished from a gift given in expectation of requital or compensation.
- Lane · entry 45765
مَوْهِب
A free gift or an act of giving freely.
A substantive associated with the Form I gift meaning.
- Lane · entry 45770
مُوهَبٌ
A thing prepared and ready at hand.
A passive-form lexical usage describing something made ready for immediate use.
- Lane · entry 45771
مُوهِبُ الحَطَبِ
A valley abounding in firewood.
A figurative or transferred usage describing a place rich in a resource.
- Lane · entry 45772
مُوهِبٌ
Of a person, prepared, ready, and able.
A participial usage describing readiness and capability.
- Lane · entry 45772
مَوْهَبَةٌ
A cloud that drops rain in a place; by extension, abundant rain over the land.
A figurative or specialized natural phenomenon usage.
- Lane · entry 45773
مَوْهَبَةٌ
A small pool or hollow in rock or mountain where water stagnates, including one left by a torrent.
The exact form and lexical assignment are disputed in the cited discussion.
- Lane · entry 45773
وَاهِبٌ
One who gives freely; a giver or donor.
The ordinary active-participial sense is distinct from the intensive epithet وَهَّابٌ.
- Lane · entry 45769
مَوْهُوبٌ
A thing given freely as a gift.
Passive-participial usage referring to the thing bestowed.
- Lane · entry 45775
مَوْهُوبٌ لَهُ
One to whom something has been given freely.
A passive construction identifying the recipient of a gift.
- Lane · entry 45775
مَوْهُوبٌ
A son, child, or offspring; also something bestowed by God.
A substantivized passive participle, especially for offspring or a divine bestowal.
- Lane · entry 45775
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic Form I group is normalized to وَهَبَ although its occurrences include inflected forms such as هَبْ and لِأَهَبَ.
The self-offering construction in 33:50 is kept distinct from ordinary bestowal because it involves yielding the self as what is given.
The Form IV meaning 'to last as provision' and the water-pool meaning of مَوْهَبَةٌ are reported with lexical or reading disagreement in the evidence.