Quranic root
خيب
kh · y · b
A root orientation of lack of benefit and deprivation: an effort or undertaking yields no useful result and the desired outcome is withheld.
The development runs from a non-producing fire-making draw to an undertaking that fails because it brings no benefit, and hence to disappointment, frustrated attainment, and loss.
- Maqāyīs · row 1679
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 5
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
خَابَ
khāba
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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.
To fail to attain what one seeks; to be disappointed, frustrated, or deprived of the desired outcome.
Used of a person or undertaking whose sought-for goal is not attained; the result may be expressed as failure, disappointment, or deprivation.
- Lane · entry 20378
- Mufradāt · row 381
Selected Quran examples
خَائِبٌ
khāʾibun
- 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.
One who is disappointed or unsuccessful in attaining what is sought.
Active participle of خَابَ; the Quranic occurrence is plural in form, خَائِبِينَ.
- Lane · entry 20382
- Lane · entry 20378
Selected Quran examples
Quran 3:127word 9
“disappointed”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 3:127خَآئِبِينَdisappointed
- 14:15وَخَابَand disappointed
- 20:61خَابَhe failed
- 20:111خَابَwill have failed
- 91:10خَابَhe fails
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 8 Classical meanings
خَابَ
To disbelieve or become an unbeliever.
A separately reported Classical Arabic use of the Form I verb.
- Lane · entry 20378
خَيَّبَهُ
To cause someone to fail to attain what he seeks; to disappoint, frustrate, refuse, or debar him from it.
Causative Form II construction with the disappointed person expressed as object.
- Lane · entry 20379
خَيْبَةٌ
Disappointment or failure to attain what is sought; in imprecatory expressions, a wish or declaration that disappointment befall someone.
Verbal noun of خَابَ; the imprecation may appear in accusative or nominative form according to the construction.
- Lane · entry 20380
خَيَّابٌ
An unsuccessful fire-making draw or fire-drill—one that fails to produce fire.
Used as an epithet of a fire-making implement or endeavour that produces no fire.
- Lane · entry 20381
خَيَّابٌ
An epithet for one habitually unsuccessful.
In the cited poetic expression it may be understood literally from خَيْبَةٌ or by comparison with a fire-making implement that produces no fire.
- Lane · entry 20381
خَيَّابٌ
Failure or loss as the result of an undertaking; an effort that ends in loss.
Occurs in the idiomatic expression سَعْيُهُ فِي خَيَّابِ بْنِ هَيَّابٍ.
- Lane · entry 20381
أَخْيَبُ
An arrow in the game of maysir to which no lot or portion is assigned.
A technical term for one of the three non-winning arrows in this game.
- Lane · entry 20383
تُخُيِّبَ
Futility, unreality, or a state of things devoid of useful result, in the expression وُقُوعٌ فِي وَادِي تُخُيِّبَ.
The expression describes falling into what is vain or futile and consequently into disappointment; the variant تُخَيِّبَ is also reported.
- Lane · entry 20384
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The classical epithet خَيَّابٌ is reported with two interpretations: habitual unsuccessfulness or comparison to a fire-making implement that produces no fire.
The Quranic nominal occurrence is plural خَائِبِينَ; the displayed singular خَائِبٌ is the normalized active-participle citation form.