Mashrabaمشربة

سبحIbn Fāris gives two roots: a kind of worship and a kind of going or exertion, as in … (root sbh)

السين والباء والحاء أصلان أحدهما جنس من العبادة والآخر جنس من السعي

Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-lugha · English rendering

سبح
Patterns computed · our data

The words of س ب ح that our sources attest: the root's letters in green, the added letters in gold.

25 words4 verbs4 verbal nouns3 participles1 place or instrument3 intensives and elatives6 other nouns4 plurals

  • سُبْحَانpraise
  • سَبَّحَglorify; praise
  • سَبَحَswim
  • تَسْبِيحhymn
  • سُبْحَةrosary beads
The whole family7 groups, by pattern; tap a pattern to see what it does
Verbs4سَبَحَ · سَبَّحَ · سَابَحَ

The root as an action: the bare Form I, and the Forms made by adding letters before, inside or after the root.grammar →

Form I vowels: فَعَلَ يَفْعَلُ (a – a; the imperfect from Lane's “aor.”)

Verbal nouns4تَسْبِيح · سَبْح · سُبْحَان

The action itself, named as a noun (maṣdar).grammar →

Participles3سَابِح · مُسَبَّح · مُسَبِّح

The one who does it, and the one it is done to.grammar →

  • سَابِحswimmerautoactive, Form Ilibrary ×1LaneIbn Fāris
  • مُسَبَّحpassive, Form IILane
  • مُسَبِّحactive, Form IILane
Place, time and instrument1مَسْبَح

Where or when it happens, and what it is done with: the m- nouns.grammar →

  • مَسْبَحswimming poolautonoun of place or timelibrary ×3Lane
Intensives, qualities and the elative3سُبْحَان · سَبُوح · سَبَّاح

The quality carried far, held as a trait, or compared.grammar →

Other nouns6سُبْحَة · سَبَّاحَة · سَبْحَة

Nouns on other patterns; their meaning is learned word by word.grammar →

Plurals4سُبْحات · مُسَبِّحُون · سَابِحَات

Broken plurals rebuild the word on a new pattern; sound plurals add an ending.grammar →

  • سُبْحاتsound plural of سُبْحَةlibrary ×5Ibn Fāris
  • مُسَبِّحُونsound plural of مُسَبِّحQurʾān ×2
  • سَابِحَاتsound plural of سَابِحَةQurʾān ×1
  • مَسَابِحplural of swimming poolfrom the singularbroken plural of مَسْبَحLane
Why this shape?What each of the 16 patterns does

What each pattern does. The pattern gives a tendency, not a rule: many words have drifted into meanings of their own.

The pattern machinePour the root into a pattern; see whether the word exists

Choose a pattern; the root's letters pour into it. Then see whether the word exists in our sources. The machine makes shapes; only usage makes words.

مَفْعَلَةس ب حمَسْبَحَة

Not in our sources. A possible shape, not a word we can show: the Quran, the library and Lane do not have it for this root.

Place noun with -a. The place noun with the feminine -a. Sometimes it is only a variant of mafʿal; often it names the place where a thing is found in abundance (maʾsada, 'a place full of lions'). So maktab is the place of writing, and maktaba, where writings are gathered: a library, a bookshop. Our summary

But: maktaba is not in our classical dictionaries for k-t-b: Lane and al-Jawharī give maktab ('a school'), none gives maktaba. Its sense of 'library, bookshop' fits the pattern of abundance, but that is our reading of the pattern, not a classical entry. Many mafʿala words are single items of usage (maqbara 'cemetery'), which the grammarians call heard, not formed by rule.

The grammarians on this pattern (4)
  • ما يكون مفعلة لازمة لها الهاء والفتحة … وذلك إذا أردت أن تكثر الشيء بالمكان، وذلك قولك: أرض مسبعة، ومأسدة

    Chapter on what is mafʿala, with the -a and the a-vowel always: that is when you mean that a thing abounds in a place, as you say 'a land of many beasts of prey (masbaʿa), of many lions (maʾsada)'

    Sībawayh (d. c. 180/796), al-Kitāb, ed. ʿAbd al-Salām Hārūn, 3rd ed. (Cairo: al-Khānjī, 1988), 4:94 · OpenITI line 21027–21028 ↗ · on this site · OpenITI RELEASE v2025.1.9, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

  • و نحو المظنة و المقبرة فتحا و ضما ليس بقياس

    and words like maẓinna and maqbara (with a or u) are not by rule

    Ibn al-Ḥājib (d. 646/1249), al-Shāfiya fī ʿilm al-taṣrīf, ed. Ḥasan Aḥmad al-ʿUthmān (Mecca: al-Maktaba al-Makkiyya, 1995), 1:30 · OpenITI line 223 ↗ · on this site · OpenITI RELEASE v2025.1.9, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

  • “designate the place where the object signified by the noun from which they are formed, is found in large numbers or quantities” Wright, Grammar I, §247, p. 148 ↗ · on nouns of abundance, maf'ala · 3rd ed. (Cambridge, 1896) · public domain
  • “Nouns of time and place not unfrequently take the feminine form” Wright, Grammar I, §225, p. 128 ↗ · on maf'ala as a variant of maf'al · 3rd ed. (Cambridge, 1896) · public domain
About thisWhat “attested” means here; the sources

Attested means found in our data: the Quranic Arabic Corpus (lemmas, verb Forms, participles, verbal nouns, plurals), the library's words (automatic analysis), Lane's Lexicon (his headwords, the Forms he numbers, the verbal nouns and plurals he names) and Ibn Fāris's entry. Nothing is generated for this list. Meanings are Lane's first gloss in his entry, or else the analyser's gloss (“auto”). Vowelling follows the corpus, then Lane, then the analyser; verbs are given in the regular perfect. Lane's Lexicon thins out after qāf, and a few of his entries cover several roots at once: those roots show no Lane. The patterns, written with ف ع ل, are computed by us.

English: AI translation
  • al-Khalīl · 170His saying — Exalted is He — 'Indeed you have in the day a long sabḥ (سبحا طويلا)' [Q.

    al-Khalīl b. Aḥmad (d. c. 170/786), Kitāb al-ʿAyn. The first Arabic dictionary, arranged by permutations of the root letters.

    His saying — Exalted is He — 'Indeed you have in the day a long sabḥ (سبحا طويلا)' [Q. 73:7], means: leisure/free time for sleep, according to Abū al-Duqaysh. Al-sabḥ (السبح) can also mean leisure/free time by night as well. Subḥāna Allāh (سبحان الله): a declaration of God's transcendence above everything that ought not to be attributed to Him. Its being in the accusative (naṣb) is in the position of a verb, with the meaning 'tasbīḥan lillāh' (تسبيحا لله — 'glorification to God'), as if you meant 'sabbaḥtu tasbīḥan lillāh' [i.e., I declared Him transcendent in a declaration of transcendence]. It is also said that subḥāna Allāh is in the accusative because of ṣarf (diversion from its normal case), but that is not correct — the first explanation is better. Al-subbūḥ (السبوح) means al-quddūs (القدوس — the Holy), i.e., God. There is no other word of the pattern faʿūl (فعول) in the language except these two [subbūḥ and quddūs]. Al-subḥa (السبحة) is a string of beads by whose number one performs tasbīḥ (glorification). In the ḥadīth, Jibrīl said to the Prophet — peace and blessings be upon him — that God has, beneath the Throne, seventy veils; were we to draw near to one of them, the subuḥāt (سبحات) of our Lord's face would burn us up — meaning by al-subḥa His majesty, His grandeur, and His light. Al-tasbīḥ (التسبيح) can carry the meaning of prayer (al-ṣalāh), and by this is explained His saying — Exalted and Mighty is He — 'Fa-subḥāna Allāhi ḥīna tumsūna wa-ḥīna tuṣbiḥūn' (فسبحان الله حين تمسون وحين تصبحون) [Q. 30:17] — the verse commands prayer at its appointed times. Al-Aʿshā said: "And perform tasbīḥ (سبح) at the time of the evenings and the forenoon… and do not worship Satan, but worship God!" meaning: prayer. And His saying, Exalted is He: 'fa-lawlā annahu kāna min al-musabbiḥīn' (فلولا أنه كان من المسبحين) [Q. 37:143] means: of those who pray. Al-sabḥ (السبح) is a verbal noun like al-sibāḥa (السباحة): 'sabaḥa al-sābiḥ fī al-māʾ' (the swimmer swam in the water). Al-sābiḥ (السابح) among horses is the one good at extending its forelegs while running. The stars 'yasbaḥūn' (تسبح) in the celestial sphere (al-falak): they move/course in its rotation. Al-subḥa (السبحة) from prayer means the supererogatory (voluntary) prayer.

    AI translation of the Arabic below

    قوله- عز وجل- إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا «4» ، أي: فراغا للنوم عن أبي الدقيش، ويكون السبح فراغا بالليل أيضا. سبحان الله: تنزيه لله عن كل ما لا ينبغي أن يوصف به، ونصبه في موضع فعل على معنى: تسبيحا لله، تريد: سبحت تسبيحا لله [أي: نزهته تنزيها] «5» . ويقال: نصب سبحان الله على الصرف، وليس بذاك، والأول أجود. والسبوح: القدوس، هو الله، وليس في الكلام فعول غير هذين. والسبحة: خرزات يسبح بعددها. وفي الحديث أن جبريل؟ قال للنبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم-: إن لله دون العرش سبعين حجابا لو دنونا من أحدها لأحرقتنا سبحات وجه ربنا يعني بالسبحة جلاله وعظمته ونوره. والتسبيح يكون في معنى الصلاة وبه يفسر قوله- عز وجل- فسبحان الله حين تمسون وحين تصبحون «1» ، الآية تأمر بالصلاة في أوقاتها، قال الأعشى: وسبح على حين العشيات والضحى ... ولا تعبد الشيطان والله فاعبدا «2» يعني الصلاة. وقوله تعالى: فلولا أنه كان من المسبحين «3» يعني المصلين. والسبح مصدر كالسباحة، سبح السابح في الماء. والسابح من الخيل: الحسن مد اليدين في الجري. والنجوم تسبح في الفلك: تجري في دورانه. والسبحة من الصلاة: التطوع.

  • al-Jawharī · 393Al-sibāḥa (السباحة): swimming (al-ʿawm).

    al-Jawharī (d. c. 393/1003), al-Ṣiḥāḥ. Admits only usage he judged sound.

    Al-sibāḥa (السباحة): swimming (al-ʿawm). Al-sabḥ (السبح): free time/leisure. Al-sabḥ: also engaging in the pursuit of livelihood. Qatāda said, regarding His saying, Exalted is He: '(inna laka fī al-nahāri sabḥan ṭawīlan)' [Q. 73:7]: meaning a long period of leisure. Abū ʿUbayda said: a long period of turning about/going to and fro (munqalaban ṭawīlan). Al-Muʾarrij said: it is leisure, and coming and going. 'Sabaḥa al-farasu' (سبح الفرس): the horse's running/galloping. He is 'farasun sābiḥ' (a swimming/galloping horse). Al-subḥa (السبحة), with ḍamma: beads with which one performs tasbīḥ. Al-subḥa also: supererogatory acts of remembrance (dhikr) and prayer. You say: 'qaḍaytu subḥatī' (I have completed my voluntary devotions). It is related that ʿUmar — God be pleased with him — flogged two men who performed subḥ (سبحا) after the ʿAṣr prayer, meaning: they prayed [voluntarily at a disliked time]. Al-tasbīḥ (التسبيح): declaring transcendence (al-tanzīh). 'Subḥāna Allāh' (سبحان الله) means declaring God transcendent; it is in the accusative as a verbal noun (maṣdar), as though one said: 'I declare God free of evil, a [complete] freeing.' The Arabs say 'subḥāna man kadhā' (سبحان من كذا) when expressing astonishment at something. Al-Aʿshā said: "I say, when his boasting came to me… 'Glory be to him' from ʿAlqama the boaster…" He means: what astonishment at him, that he boasts! It is not declined (lā yunawwan) because it is definite (maʿrifa) in their usage, and it has a resemblance to feminine forms. Their saying 'subuḥātu wajhi rabbinā' (سبحات وجه ربنا) — with ḍamma on the sīn and the bāʾ — means His majesty. Subbūḥ (سبوح) is among the attributes of God. Thaʿlab said: every noun of the pattern 'faʿūl' has its first letter with fatḥa, except al-subbūḥ and al-quddūs, where ḍamma is more common. Likewise al-dharrūḥ. Sībawayh said: there is no word of the pattern 'faʿūl' [vocalized this way] attested by a single instance. Subūḥa (سبوحة), with ḍamma on the sīn and a light bāʾ: the Sacred City [Mecca], and it is also said to be a valley at ʿArafāt. He said, describing the pilgrims' she-camels: "Setting out from Nuʿmān or from Subūḥa… towards the House, or emerging from Najd, Kabkab"

    AI translation of the Arabic below

    السباحة: العوم (1) . والسبح: الفراغ. والسبح: التصرف في المعاش. قال قتادة في قوله تعالى: (إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا) : أي فراغا طويلا. وقال أبو عبيدة: منقلبا طويلا. وقال المؤرج: هو الفراغ، والجيئة والذهاب. وسبح الفرس: جريه. وهو فرس سابح. والسبحة بالضم: خرزات يسبح بها. والسبحة أيضا: التطوع من الذكر والصلاة. تقول: قضيت سبحتي. روي أن عمر رضي الله عنه جلد رجلين سبحا بعد العصر، أي صليا. والتسبيح: التنزيه. وسبحان الله، معناه التنزيه لله، نصب على المصدر كأنه قال: أبرئ الله من السوء براءة. والعرب تقول: سبحان من كذا، إذا تعجبت منه. قال الاعشى: أقول لما جاءني فخره * سبحان من علقمة الفاخر يقول: العجب منه إذ يفخر. وإنما لم ينون لانه معرفة عندهم، وفيه شبه التأنيث، وقولهم: سبحات وجه ربنا، بضم السين والباء، أي جلالته. وسبوح من صفات الله، قال ثعلب: كل اسم على " فعول " فهو مفتوح الاول، إلا السبوح والقدوس، فإن الضم فيهما أكثر. وكذلك الذروح. وقال سيبويه: ليس في الكلام فعول بواحدة. وسبوحة، بضم السين مخففة الباء: البلد الحرام، ويقال واد بعرفات. وقال يصف نوق الحجيج: خوارج من نعمان أو من سبوحة * إلى البيت أو يخرجن من نجد كبكب

  • Ibn Fāris · 395The letters sīn, bāʾ, and ḥāʾ (س ب ح) form two roots: one is a type of worship, and the other is a type of exertion/striving.

    Ibn Fāris (d. 395/1004), Maqāyīs al-Lugha. Seeks each root's original sense (aṣl).

    The letters sīn, bāʾ, and ḥāʾ (س ب ح) form two roots: one is a type of worship, and the other is a type of exertion/striving. The first is al-subḥa (السبحة), which is prayer (al-ṣalāh), and this term is specific to what is supererogatory (nafl), not obligatory. The jurists say: 'The traveler combines the two prayers and does not perform subḥa (يسبح) between them,' meaning he does not perform a voluntary prayer between them. From this same category is al-tasbīḥ (التسبيح), which is declaring God — exalted be His praise — free from every imperfection. Al-tanzīh (التنزيه) means 'removing to a distance' (al-tabʿīd). The Arabs say: 'subḥāna man kadhā' (سبحان من كذا), meaning 'how far removed he is!' Al-Aʿshā said: "I say, when his boasting came to me… 'Glory be to him' from ʿAlqama the boaster…" Some said its interpretation is 'What a wonder, that he boasts!' This is close to the former meaning, because it distances him from boasting. Among the attributes of God, exalted and mighty, is subbūḥ (سبوح), and its derivation is from what we have mentioned: that He is free (tanazzaha) from everything unbefitting Him. Al-subuḥāt (السبحات) which occurs in the ḥadīth means the majesty of God — exalted be His praise — and His grandeur. The other root is al-sabḥ (السبح) and al-sibāḥa (السباحة), meaning swimming in water. Al-sābiḥ (السابح) of horses is the one that extends its forelegs well while running. It is said: "So I turned away from him, a swimmer (sābiḥ) carrying you at a run… your ears having become level with your jugular veins" He means: you used to turn your head, fearing a thrust/spear-strike, so your jugular vein came to be level with your horse's ear.

    AI translation of the Arabic below

    السين والباء والحاء أصلان أحدهما جنس من العبادة والآخر جنس من السعي فالأول السبحة وهي الصلاة ويختص بذلك ما كان نفلا غير فرض يقول الفقهاء يجمع المسافر بين الصلاتين ولا يسبح بينهما أي لا يتنفل بينهما بصلاة ومن الباب التسبيح وهو تنزيه الله جل ثناؤه من كل سوء والتنزيه التبعيد والعرب تقول سبحان من كذا أي ما أبعده قال الأعشى : — أقول لما جاءني فخره … سبحان من علقمة الفاخر … وقال قوم تأويله عجبا له إذا يفخر وهذا قريب من ذاك لأنه تبعيد له من الفخر وفي صفات الله جل وعز سبوح واشتقاقه من الذي ذكرناه أنه تنزه من كل شيء لا ينبغي له والسبحات الذي جاء في الحديث جلال الله جل ثناؤه وعظمته والأصل الآخر السبح والسباحة العوم في الماء والسابح من الخيل الحسن مد اليدين في الجري قال : — فوليت عنه يرتمي بك سابح … وقد قابلت أذنيه منك الأخادع … يقول إنك كنت تلتفت تخاف الطعن فصار أخدعك بحذاء أذن فرسك

  • al-Rāghib · 502Al-sabḥ (السبح): swift movement/passage in water and in the air.

    al-Rāghib al-Iṣfahānī (d. c. 502/1108), al-Mufradāt. Quranic vocabulary, from core sense to Quranic usage.

    Al-sabḥ (السبح): swift movement/passage in water and in the air. One says 'sabaḥa sabḥan wa-sibāḥatan' (سبح سبحا وسباحة). It is used metaphorically for the movement of the stars in their orbits (al-falak), as in: 'wa-kullun fī falakin yasbaḥūn' (وكل في فلك يسبحون) [Q. 21:33]; and for the running of a horse, as in: 'wa-al-sābiḥāti sabḥan' (والسابحات سبحا) [Q. 79:3]; and for the swiftness of engaging in [worldly] activity/work, as in: 'inna laka fī al-nahāri sabḥan ṭawīlan' (إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا) [Q. 73:7]. Al-tasbīḥ (التسبيح): declaring God, exalted is He, transcendent. Its origin is swift movement in the worship of God, exalted is He; this [meaning of swift movement] was applied to the doing of good, just as 'distancing' (al-ibʿād) was applied to evil — one says 'abʿadahu Allāh' (may God distance him/remove him far, i.e., a curse). Tasbīḥ was made general, covering all acts of worship — whether speech, action, or intention. He said: 'fa-lawlā annahu kāna min al-musabbiḥīn' (فلولا أنه كان من المسبحين) [Q. 37:143]; it is said [this means] 'of those who pray,' but it is preferable to understand it as encompassing all three [speech, action, intention]. He said: 'wa-naḥnu nusabbiḥu bi-ḥamdika' (ونحن نسبح بحمدك) [Q. 2:30]; 'wa-sabbiḥ bi-ḥamdi rabbika bi-al-ʿashiyyi' (وسبح بحمد ربك بالعشي) [Q. 40:55]; 'fa-sabbiḥhu wa-adbāra al-sujūd' (فسبحه وأدبار السجود) [Q. 50:40]. He said: 'qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn' (قال أوسطهم ألم أقل لكم لولا تسبحون) [Q. 68:28], meaning: why do you not worship and thank Him? — This is interpreted in connection with the exception (istithnāʾ), i.e., saying 'in shāʾa Allāh' (if God wills). This is indicated by His saying: 'idh aqsamū la-yaṣrimunnahā muṣbiḥīn wa-lā yastathnūn' (إذ أقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين ولا يستثنون) [Q. 68:17]. He said: 'tusabbiḥu lahu al-samāwātu al-sabʿu wa-al-arḍu wa-man fīhinna wa-in min shayʾin illā yusabbiḥu bi-ḥamdihi wa-lākin lā tafqahūna tasbīḥahum' (تسبح له السماوات السبع والأرض ومن فيهن وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمده ولكن لا تفقهون تسبيحهم) [Q. 17:44]. This is comparable to His saying: 'wa-lillāhi yasjudu man fī al-samāwāti wa-al-arḍi ṭawʿan wa-karhan' (ولله يسجد من في السماوات والأرض طوعا وكرها) [Q. 13:15]; and 'wa-lillāhi yasjudu mā fī al-samāwāti wa-mā fī al-arḍi' (ولله يسجد ما في السماوات وما في الأرض) [Q. 16:49]. This requires that it be a real tasbīḥ, and a real sujūd (prostration) to Him, in a manner we do not comprehend, as indicated by His saying 'wa-lākin lā tafqahūna tasbīḥahum' (but you do not understand their tasbīḥ), and by His saying 'wa-man fīhinna' (and whoever is in them) following the mention of the heavens and the earth. It cannot correctly be interpreted as meaning: whoever is in the heavens performs tasbīḥ for Him, and whoever is in the earth performs sujūd for Him — because this would be something we do comprehend, and because it would be impossible for this to be its intended meaning, followed then by conjoining 'wa-man fīhinna' [and whoever is within them] to it. Rather, all things perform tasbīḥ and sujūd for Him — some by compulsion (taskhīr) and some by choice (ikhtiyār). There is no disagreement that the heavens, the earth, and the animals perform tasbīḥ by compulsion, inasmuch as their states indicate the wisdom of God, exalted is He. The disagreement is only regarding the heavens and the earth: do they perform tasbīḥ by choice? The verse requires this, based on the indication I have mentioned. 'Subḥāna' (سبحان) is originally a verbal noun (maṣdar) like 'ghufrān' (غفران — forgiveness). He said: 'fa-subḥāna Allāhi ḥīna tumsūna' (فسبحان الله حين تمسون) [Q. 30:17]; 'subḥānaka lā ʿilma lanā' (سبحانك لا علم لنا) [Q. 2:32]; and the poet's saying: [entry continues]

    AI translation of the Arabic below

    السبح: المر السريع في الماء، وفي الهواء، يقال: سبح سبحا وسباحة، واستعير لمر النجوم في الفلك نحو: وكل في فلك يسبحون [الأنبياء/ 33] ، ولجري الفرس نحو: والسابحات سبحا [النازعات/ 3] ، ولسرعة الذهاب في العمل نحو: إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا [المزمل/ 7] ، والتسبيح: تنزيه الله تعالى. وأصله: المر السريع في عبادة الله تعالى، وجعل ذلك في فعل الخير كما جعل الإبعاد في الشر، فقيل: أبعده الله، وجعل التسبيح عاما في العبادات قولا كان، أو فعلا، أو نية، قال: فلولا أنه كان من المسبحين [الصافات/ 143] ، قيل: من المصلين «3» ، والأولى أن يحمل على ثلاثتها، قال: ونحن نسبح بحمدك [البقرة/ 30] ، وسبح بحمد ربك بالعشي [غافر/ 55] ، فسبحه وأدبار السجود [ق/ 40] ، قال أوسطهم ألم أقل لكم لولا تسبحون [القلم/ 28] ، أي: هلا تعبدونه وتشكرونه، وحمل ذلك على الاستثناء، وهو أن يقول: إن شاء الله، ويدل على ذلك قوله: إذ أقسموا ليصرمنها مصبحين ولا يستثنون [القلم/ 17] ، وقال: تسبح له السماوات السبع والأرض ومن فيهن وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمده ولكن لا تفقهون تسبيحهم [الإسراء/ 44] ، فذلك نحو قوله: ولله يسجد من في السماوات والأرض طوعا وكرها [الرعد/ 15] ، ولله يسجد ما في السماوات وما في الأرض [النحل/ 49] ، فذلك يقتضي أن يكون تسبيحا على الحقيقة، وسجودا له على وجه لا نفقهه، بدلالة قوله: ولكن لا تفقهون تسبيحهم [الإسراء/ 44] ، ودلالة قوله: ومن فيهن [الإسراء/ 44] ، بعد ذكر السموات والأرض، ولا يصح أن يكون تقديره: يسبح له من في السموات، ويسجد له من في الأرض، لأن هذا مما نفقهه، ولأنه محال أن يكون ذلك تقديره، ثم يعطف عليه بقوله: ومن فيهن والأشياء كلها تسبح له وتسجد، بعضها بالتسخير وبعضها بالاختيار، ولا خلاف أن السموات والأرض والدواب مسبحات بالتسخير، من حيث إن أحوالها تدل على حكمة الله تعالى، وإنما الخلاف في السموات والأرض هل تسبح باختيار؟ والآية تقتضي ذلك بما ذكرت من الدلالة، و (سبحان) أصله مصدر نحو: غفران، قال فسبحان الله حين تمسون [الروم/ 17] ، وسبحانك لا علم لنا [البقرة/ 32] ، وقول الشاعر:

  • Lisān · 711Al-sabḥ (السبح) and al-sibāḥa (السباحة): swimming (al-ʿawm).

    Ibn Manẓūr (d. 711/1311), Lisān al-ʿArab. The great compendium of the earlier dictionaries (entry shortened).

    Al-sabḥ (السبح) and al-sibāḥa (السباحة): swimming (al-ʿawm). 'Sabaḥa bi-al-nahri wa-fīhi yasbaḥu sabḥan wa-sibāḥatan' (he swam in the river and within it). A man is 'sābiḥ' (سابح) and 'sabūḥ' (سبوح), from a people [described as] 'subaḥāʾ' (سبحاء); and 'sabbāḥ' (سباح), from a people [described as] 'sabbāḥīn' (سباحين). As for Ibn al-Aʿrābī, he made 'al-subaḥāʾ' (السبحاء) the plural of 'sābiḥ' (سابح); and by this he explained the poet's line: "And water that drowns the swimmers (al-subaḥāʾ)… in it, its swift, galloping ship" He said: al-subaḥāʾ is the plural of sābiḥ. By 'water' here he means mirage (al-sarāb). Al-mūwāshika (المواشكة): swift/direct in its course. Al-khabūb (الخبوب): from al-khabab, a [swift] gait; he likened the she-camel to a ship when he likened the mirage to water. 'Asbaḥa al-rajulu fī al-māʾ' (أسبح الرجل في الماء): he made him/it swim in the water. Umayya said: "And the swimming timber (al-musabbiḥ al-khashab), atop the water, they set it going… in the sea, they made it flow, as though it were swimming" 'Sabaḥa al-farasu' (سبح الفرس): his running. A horse [is termed] 'sabūḥ' (سبوح) and 'sābiḥ' (سابح): it swims with its forelegs (extends them) in its running. Al-sawābiḥ (السوابح): horses, because they perform sabḥ — it is a descriptive term used absolutely [as a substantive]. In the ḥadīth about al-Miqdād: that on the Day of Badr he was upon a horse called Subḥa (سبحة). Ibn al-Athīr said: this is from their saying 'farasun sābiḥ' (a horse is sābiḥ) when it is good at extending its forelegs in running. And his saying, as related by Thaʿlab: "Indeed there was in her [a place] for trust/security… and for the eye a delight, and for the hand a masbaḥ (مسبح)" He explained it, saying: its meaning is that when the hand touches her [the mare/woman], one finds in her everything one desires. The stars perform tasbīḥ (تسبح) in the celestial sphere (al-falak), sabḥan, when they move/run in their circuit. Al-sabḥ (السبح): leisure/free time (al-farāgh). His saying, Exalted is He: 'inna laka fī al-nahāri sabḥan ṭawīlan' — he means by it a long period of leisure and disposal/activity (taṣarruf). Al-Layth said: its meaning is leisure for sleep. Abū ʿUbayda said: a long period of turning about (munqalaban ṭawīlan). Al-Muʾarrij said: it is leisure, and coming and going. Abū al-Duqaysh said: al-sabḥ can also be leisure by night. Al-Farrāʾ said: it means, 'you have in the daytime [time in which] to fulfill your needs.' Abū Isḥāq said: whoever reads it as 'sabkhan' (سبخا) [instead of sabḥan], its meaning is close to that of sabḥ. Ibn al-Aʿrābī said: whoever reads it 'sabḥan' means by it exertion/activity and livelihood (iḍṭirāban wa-maʿāshan); and whoever reads it 'sabkhan' intends rest and relief for the body. Ibn al-Faraj said: I heard Abū al-Jahm al-Jaʿfarī say: 'sabaḥtu fī al-arḍ' and 'sabakhtu fīhā' [both mean] I went far/distant in the land. From this comes His saying, Exalted is He: 'wa-kullun fī falakin yasbaḥūn' (وكل في فلك يسبحون) — meaning: they run/move (yajrūn); He did not say 'tasbaḥu' [feminine form] because He described them with the action proper to rational/intelligent beings. Likewise His saying: 'wa-al-sābiḥāti sabḥan' (والسابحات سبحا) — these are the stars, which perform tasbīḥ in the celestial sphere, i.e., move within it in a spread/extended manner (basṭan), just as the swimmer performs sabḥ in the water. Likewise the sābiḥ among horses extends its forelegs in running — sabḥan. Al-Aʿshā said: "How many among them — of a slender, swift-legged one… and of a swimming/galloping one (sābiḥ), full of vigor, lean…" Al-Azharī said, regarding His saying, Mighty and Exalted is He: 'wa-al-sābiḥāti sabḥan fa-al-sābiqāti sabqan' (والسابحات سبحا فالسابقات سبقا): it is said: al-sābiḥāt are the ships, and al-sābiqāt are the horses; and it is also said: they are the souls of the believers [entry continues]

    AI translation of the Arabic below

    السبح والسباحة: العوم. سبح بالنهر وفيه يسبح سبحا وسباحة، ورجل سابح وسبوح من قوم سبحاء، وسباح من قوم سباحين؛ وأما ابن الأعرابي فجعل السبحاء جمع سابح؛ وبه فسر قول الشاعر: وماء يغرق السبحاء ... فيه، سفينته المواشكة الخبوب قال: السبحاء جمع سابح. ويعني بالماء هنا السراب. والمواشكة: الجادة في سيرها. والخبوب، من الخبب في السير؛ جعل الناقة مثل السفينة حين جعل السراب كالماء. وأسبح الرجل في الماء: عومه؛ قال أمية: والمسبح الخشب، فوق الماء سخرها، ... في اليم جريتها، كأنها عوم وسبح الفرس: جريه. وفرس سبوح وسابح: يسبح بيديه في سيره. والسوابح: الخيل لأنها تسبح، وهي صفة غالبة. وفي حديث المقداد: أنه كان يوم بدر على فرس يقال له سبحة ؛ قال ابن الأثير: هو من قولهم فرس سابح إذا كان حسن مد اليدين في الجري؛ وقوله أنشده ثعلب: لقد كان فيها للأمانة موضع، ... وللعين ملتذ، وللكف مسبح فسره فقال: معناه إذا لمستها الكف وجدت فيها جميع ما تريد. والنجوم تسبح في الفلك سبحا إذا جرت في دورانها. والسبح: الفراغ. وقوله تعالى: إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا ؛ إنما يعني به فراغا طويلا وتصرفا؛ وقال الليث: معناه فراغا للنوم؛ وقال أبو عبيدة: منقلبا طويلا؛ وقال المؤرج: هو الفراغ والجيئة والذهاب؛ قال أبو الدقيش: ويكون السبح أيضا فراغا بالليل؛ وقال الفراء: يقول لك في النهار ما تقضي حوائجك؛ قال أبو إسحاق: من قرأ سبخا فمعناه قريب من السبح، وقال ابن الأعرابي: من قرأ سبحا فمعناه اضطرابا ومعاشا، ومن قرأ سبخا أراد راحة وتخفيفا للأبدان. قال ابن الفرج: سمعت أبا الجهم الجعفري يقول: سبحت في الأرض وسبخت فيها إذا تباعدت فيها؛ ومنه قوله تعالى: وكل في فلك يسبحون أي يجرون، ولم يقل تسبح لأنه وصفها بفعل من يعقل؛ وكذلك قوله: والسابحات سبحا ؛ هي النجوم تسبح في الفلك أي تذهب فيها بسطا كما يسبح السابح في الماء سبحا؛ وكذلك السابح من الخيل يمد يديه في الجري سبحا؛ وقال الأعشى: كم فيهم من شطبة خيفق، ... وسابح ذي ميعة ضامر وقال الأزهري في قوله عز وجل: والسابحات سبحا فالسابقات سبقا ؛ قيل: السابحات السفن، والسابقات الخيل، وقيل: إنها أرواح المؤمنين تخرج بسهولة؛ وقيل: الملائكة تسبح بين السماء والأرض. وسبح اليربوع في الأرض إذا حفر فيها، وسبح في الكلام إذا أكثر فيه. والتسبيح: التنزيه. وسبحان الله: معناه تنزيها لله من الصاحبة والولد، وقيل: تنزيه الله تعالى عن كل ما لا ينبغي له أن يوصف، قال: ونصبه أنه في موضع فعل على معنى تسبيحا له، تقول: سبحت الله تسبيحا له أي نزهته تنزيها، قال: وكذلك روي عن النبي، صلى الله عليه وسلم؛ وقال الزجاج في قوله تعالى: سبحان الذي أسرى بعبده ليلا ؛ قال: منصوب على المصدر؛ المعنى أسبح الله تسبيحا. قال: وسبحان في اللغة تنزيه الله، عز وجل، عن السوء؛ قال ابن شميل: رأيت في المنام كأن إنسانا فسر لي سبحان الله، فقال: أما ترى الفرس يسبح في سرعته؟ وقال: سبحان الله السرعة إليه والخفة في طاعته، وجماع معناه بعده، تبارك وتعالى، عن أن يكون له مثل أو شريك أو ند أو ضد؛ قال سيبويه: زعم أبو الخطاب أن سبحان الله كقولك براءة الله أي أبرئ الله من السوء براءة؛ وقيل: قوله سبحانك أي أنزهك يا رب من كل سوء وأبرئك. وروى الأزهري بإسناده أن ابن الكوا سأل عليا، رضوان الله تعالى عليه، عن سبحان الله، فقال: كلمة رضيها الله لنفسه فأوصى بها. والعرب تقول: سبحان من كذا إذا تعجبت منه؛ وزعم أن قول الأعشى في معنى البراءة أيضا: أقول لما جاءني فخره: ... سبحان من علقمة الفاخر أي براءة منه؛ وكذلك تسبيحه: تبعيده؛ وبهذا استدل على أن سبحان معرفة إذ لو كان نكرة لانصرف. ومعنى هذا البيت أيضا: العجب منه إذ يفخر، قال: وإنما لم ينون لأنه معرفة وفيه شبه التأنيث؛ وقال ابن بري: إنما امتنع صرفه للتعريف وزيادة الألف والنون، وتعريفه كونه اسما علما للبراءة، كما أن نزال اسم علم للنزول، وشتان اسم علم للتفرق؛ قال: وقد جاء في الشعر سبحان منونة نكرة؛ قال أمية: سبحانه ثم سبحانا يعود له، ... وقبلنا سبح الجودي والجمد وقال ابن جني: سبحان اسم علم لمعنى البراءة والتنزيه بمنزلة عثمان وعمران، اجتمع في سبحان التعريف والألف والنون، وكلاهما علة تمنع من الصرف. وسبح الرجل: قال سبحان الله؛ وفي التنزيل: كل قد علم صلاته وتسبيحه ؛ قال رؤبة: سبحن واسترجعن من تأله وسبح: لغة، حكى ثعلب سبح تسبيحا وسبحانا، وعندي أن سبحانا ليس بمصدر سبح، إنما هو مصدر سبح، وفي التهذيب: سبحت الله تسبيحا وسبحانا بمعنى واحد، فالمصدر تسبيح، والاسم سبحان يقوم مقام المصدر. وأما قوله تعالى: تسبح له السماوات السبع والأرض ومن فيهن وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمده ولكن لا تفقهون تسبيحهم ؛ قال أبو إسحاق: قيل إن كل ما خلق الله يسبح بحمده، وإن صرير السقف وصرير الباب من التسبيح، فيكون على هذا الخطاب للمشركين وحد …

  • Lane · 1876English, synthesising the classical dictionaries.

    E. W. Lane (d. 1876), An Arabic-English Lexicon. English, synthesising the classical dictionaries.

    سَبَحَ

    1. سَبَحَ, aor. سَبَحَ , inf. n. سَبْحٌ (Msb, K) and سِبَاحَةٌ, (S, * K,) or the latter is a simple subst., (Msb,) He swam, syn. عَامَ, (S, * K,) بِالنَّهْرِ and فِيهِ [in the river], (K,) or rather بِالمَآءِ (MF, TA) or فى المَآءِ (Msb) [i. e. in the water], for it is likewise in the sea, and in a pool, and also in any expanse: (MF, TA:) [or he swam upon the surface, without immersing himself; for,] accord. to Z, there is a difference between عَوْمٌ and سِبَاحَةٌ; the former signifying the “ coursing along in water with immersion of oneself; ” and the latter, the coursing along upon water without immersion of oneself. (MF, TA.) [Hence,] النُّجُومُ تَسْبَحُ فِى الفَلَكِ (A, TA) (tropical:) The stars [swim, or glide along, or] pass along, in the firmament, with a spreading forth. (TA.) It is said in the Kur xxi. 34 and xxxvi. 40, with reference to the sun and the moon, (Bd and Jel in xxi. 34,) with which the stars are meant to be included, (Jel ibid.,) كُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ, i. e. (assumed tropical:) All [glide or] travel along swiftly, [in a firmament,] like the swimmer (Bd and Jel ibid.) upon the surface of the water, (Bd ibid.,) or in the water; (Jel ibid.;) wherefore the form of the verb used is that which is appropriate to rational beings, (Bd and Jel ibid.,) swimming being the act of such beings. (Bd ibid.) And [hence] one says, سَبَحَ ذِكْرُكَ الشَّمْسِ وَ القَمَرِ مَسَابِحَ (tropical:) [Thy fame has travelled as far as the sun and the moon; lit., swum along the tracts along which swim the sun and the moon]. (A, TA.) [Hence, likewise, as inf. n. of سَبَحَ, aor. as above,] سَبْحٌ also signifies (tropical:) The running of a horse (S, L, K, * TA) in which the fore legs are stretched forth well [like as are the arms of a man in swimming]. (L, K, * TA.) And (assumed tropical:) The being quick, or swift. (MF.) And (assumed tropical:) The being, or becoming, remote. (MF.) And (assumed tropical:) The travelling far. (K.) You say, سَبَحَ فِى الأَرْضِ (assumed tropical:) He went, or travelled, far, in, or into, the land, or country: (O, TA:) and سَبَخَ: both thus expl. by Abu-l-Jahm El-Jaafaree. (TA.) And (assumed tropical:) The journeying for the purpose of traffic (تَقَلُّب [q. v.]); and [a people's] becoming scattered, or dispersed, in the land, or earth. (K.) And (assumed tropical:) The busying oneself in going to and fro, or seeking gain, (IAar, TA,) and occupying oneself according to his own judgment or discretion, in the disposal or management of affairs, in respect of the means of subsistence. (IAar, S, K, TA.) You say, فُلَانٌ يَسْبَحُ النَّهَارَ كُلَّهُ فِى طَلَبِ المَعَاشِ (tropical:) [Such a one busies himself in going to and fro, or occupies himself according to his own judgment or discretion, in seeking the means of subsistence]. (A, TA.) And سَبَحَ فِى حَوَائِجِهِ (assumed tropical:) He occupied himself according to his own judgment or discretion in the accomplishment of his needful affairs. (Msb.) As used in the Kur [lxxiii. 7], where it is said, إِنَّ لَكَ فِى النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا, it is variously explained: (S, TA:) accord. to Katádeh (S) and El-Muärrij, (S, TA,) the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) [Verily thou hast in the day-time] long freedom from occupation; (S, K, * TA;) and in this sense, also, its verb is سَبَحَ, aor. سَبَحَ : (JM:) [thus it has two contr. significations:] or, accord. to Lth, (assumed tropical:) leisure for sleep: (TA:) accord. to AO, the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) long-continued scope, or room, for free action; syn. مُتَقَلَّبًا طَوِيلًا: and accord. to ElMuärrij, it means also (assumed tropical:) coming and going: (S, TA:) accord. to Fr, the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) thou hast in the day-time the accomplishment of thy needful affairs: (TA:) or the meaning is, (assumed tropical:) [long] occupation of thyself in thy affairs of business; not being free from occupation therein for the reciting of the Kur-án. (Jel.) Some read سَبْخًا, which has nearly the same meaning as سَبْحًا. (Zj, TA.) As inf. n. of سَبَحَ, (TK,) it signifies also (assumed tropical:) The state of sleeping. (K.) And as such also, (TK,) (assumed tropical:) The being still, quiet, or motionless. (K.) [Also (assumed tropical:) The glistening of the mirage.] You say, سَبَحَ السَّرَابُ, or الآلُ, meaning لَمَعَ [i. e. (assumed tropical:) The mirage glistened]. (O.) And (assumed tropical:) The digging, or burrowing, in the earth, or ground. (K, * TA.) You say of the jerboa, سَبَحَ فِى الأَرْضِ (assumed tropical:) He dug, or burrowed, in the earth, or ground. (O, TA.) And (assumed tropical:) The being profuse in speech. (K.) You say, سَبَحَ فِى الكَلَامِ (assumed tropical:) He was profuse in speech. (O, TA.) See also the next paragraph. in two places.

    تَسْبِيحٌ

    2. تَسْبِيحٌ signifies The declaring [God] to be far removed, or free, from every imperfection or impurity, or from everything derogatory from [his] glory; syn. تَنْزِيهٌ, (S, O, Msb, TA,) and تَقْدِيسٌ: (Msb:) the magnifying, celebrating, lauding, or praising, and glorifying, God; and declaring Him to be far removed, or free, from everything evil. (TA.) You say, سَبَّحَ ٱللّٰهَ, (T, A, Mgh, Msb, TA,) and سبّح لِلّٰهِ, (Kur lvii. 1 &c., and A,) in which the ل is redundant, (Jel in lvii. 1 &c.,) inf. n. تَسْبِيحٌ, and سُبْحَانٌ is a subst. that [sometimes] stands in the place of the inf. n., (T, TA,) or it is an inf. n. of which the verb is سَبَحَ, (K, TA,) He declared God to be far removed, or free, from every imperfection or impurity &c., (A, Mgh, TA,) or from what they say [of Him] who disacknowledge [his attributes]; (Msb;) [i. e. he declared, or celebrated, or extolled, the perfection or purity, or absolute glory, of God;] and he magnified, celebrated, lauded, or praised, God, by the mention of his names, saying سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ and the like: (Msb:) and سبّح [alone], (Mgh, K,) inf. n. تَسْبِيحٌ, (K,) he said سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ; (Mgh, K;) as also سَبَحَ, inf. n. سُبْحَانٌ; (K, TA;) the latter, which is like شَكَرَ, inf. n. شُكْرَانٌ, a dial. var. mentioned by ISd; and no regard should be paid to the saying of Ibn-Ya'eesh and others, that سبحان is an inf. n. of which the verb is obsolete: accord to El-Mufaddal, سُبْحَانٌ is the inf. n. of سَبَحَ signifying he raised his voice with supplication, or prayer, and magnification or celebration or praise [of God, as when one says سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ or the like]; and he cites as an ex., [May God remove far from good, or prosperity, or success, the persons (وُجُوهَ here meaning نُفُوسَ) of the tribe of Teghlib, whenever the pilgrims raise their voices with supplication, &c., and say اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرْ, ejaculating لَبَّيْكَ]. (MF, TA.) وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ, in the Kur ii. 28, is a phrase denotative of state, (Ksh, Bd, Jel,) meaning While we declare thy remoteness from evil [of every kind], (Ksh, Bd,) or while we say سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ, (Jel,) praising Thee, (Ksh,) [or with the praising of Thee, i. e.] making the praising of Thee to be an accompaniment, or adjunct, to our doing that: (Ksh, Bd, Jel:) so that we are the more worthy to be appointed thy vice-agents. (Ksh, * Bd, * Jel.) فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ العَظِيمِ, in the Kur lvi. 73 and last verse, means Therefore declare thou the remoteness from what is unsuitable to his majesty by mentioning the name of thy Lord, or by mentioning the Lord, for the pronouncing of the name of a thing is the mentioning of it, [i. e., of the thing itself,] the great name, or the great Lord: (Bd:) or it means therefore pray thou commencing with, or uttering, the name of thy Lord [the great name or Lord]: (Kull p. 211:) [for] تَسْبِيحٌ also signfies The act of praying. (K, Msb.) You say, سَبَّحَ meaning He prayed. (A, Mgh.) And [particularly] He performed the [supererogatory] prayer of [the period termed] الضُّحَى. (TA.) And فُلَانٌ يُسَبِّحُ ٱللّٰهَ, i. e. يُصَلِّى السَّبْحَةَ, meaning Such a one performs prayer to God, either obligatory or supererogatory: [but generally the latter: (see سُبْحَةٌ:)] and يُسَبِّحُ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ performs supererogatory prayer [upon his camel that he is riding]. (Msb.) It is said in the Kur [iii. 36], وَسَبِّحْ بِٱلْعَشِىِّ وَٱلْإِبْكَارَ, i. e. And pray thou [in the evening, or the afternoon, and the early morning]. (TA.) And it is related of 'Omar, أَنَّهُ جَلَدَ رَجُلَيْنِ سَبَّحَا بَعْدَ العَصْرِ, meaning [That he flogged two men] who prayed [after the prescribed time of the afternoon-prayer]. (S, TA.) You say also, بِيَدِهِ يُسَبِّحُ بِهَا سُبْحَةٌ [i. e. In his hand is a string of beads by the help of which he repeats the praises of God: see سُبْحَةٌ, below]. (A, Msb. *) Also The making an exception, by saying إِنْ شَآءَ ٱللّٰهُ [If God will]: because, by so saying, one magnifies God, and acknowledges that one should not will unless God will: and thus is expl. the saying in the Kur [lxviii. 28], أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ لَوْ لَا تُسَبِّحُونَ [Did I not say to you, Wherefore will ye not make an exception? addressed to the owners of a garden, who “ swore that they would certainly cut its fruit when they should be entering upon the time of morning, they not making an exception ”]. (TA.)

    سابحهُ

    3. سابحهُ, [inf. n. مُسَابَحَةٌ,] i. q. رَاسَاهُ, (T and K in art. رسو,) i. e. He swam with him. (TK in that art.) [And app. also He vied, or contended, with him in swimming.]

    اسبحهُ

    4. اسبحهُ He made him to swim (K, TA) فِى المَآءِ [in the water] or فَوْقَ المَآءِ [upon the water]. (TA.)

    سَبْحَةٌ

    سَبْحَةٌ Garments of skins: (K:) or, accord. to Sh, سِبَاحٌ, which is the pl., signifies shirts of skins, for boys: AO corrupted the word, relating it as written سُبْجَةٌ, with ج, and with damm to the س; whereas this signifies “ a black [garment of the kind called] كِسَآء: ” and a verse cited by him as presenting an ex. of its pl., in its last word, is from a poem of which each verse has for its fundamental rhyme-letter the unpointed ح: ISd, in art. سبج, mentions سِبَاجٌ as signifying “ garments of skin, ” and having سبجة for its sing.; but says that the word with the unpointed ح is of higher authority; though he also states it, in the same art., to have been corrupted by AO. (TA.) [A meaning belonging to سُبْحَةٌ (q. v.) is assigned in some copies of the K to سَبْحَةٌ.] السَّبْحَةُ, (K,) or سَبْحَةُ, from سَابِحٌ as an epithet applied to a horse, or mare, (IAth, TA,) is a proper name of A horse, or mare, belonging to the Prophet: (IAth, K, TA:) and of another belonging to Jaafar the son of Aboo- Tálib; (K;) or this was a mare named سَمْحَةُ: (O:) and of another belonging to another. (K.)

    سُبْحَةٌ

    سُبْحَةٌ Beads (S, Msb, K, TA) strung (Msb, TA) upon a string or thread, (TA,) [ninety-nine in number, and having a mark after each thirtythree,] with which (by counting them, K) one performs the act termed التَّسْبِيح [meaning the repetition of the praises of God, generally consisting in repeating the words سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهْ thirtythree times, الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهْ thirty-three times, and اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرْ thirty-three times, which is done by many persons after the ordinary prayers, as a supererogatory act]: (S, A, Msb, K:) its appellation implies that it is an Arabic word; but Az says that it is post-classical: its pl. is سُبَحٌ (Msb) and سُبُحَاتٌ also. (Har p. 133.) See 2, last sentence but one. Also Invocation of God; or supplication: (K:) and prayer, (A, Msb,) whether obligatory or supererogatory: (Msb:) or supererogatory praise; (S;) and supererogatory prayer; (S, A, Mgh, K;) because of the تَسْبِيحٌ therein. (Mgh.) You say, فُلَانٌ يُصَلِّى السُّبْحَةَ, expl. above; see 2, in the latter part of the paragraph. (Msb.) And قَضَىسُبْحَتَهُ He performed, or finished, his prayer: (A:) or قَضَيْتُ سُبْحَتِى means I performed, or finished, my supererogatory praise and such prayer. (S.) And صَلَّى السُّبْحَةَ He performed the supererogatory prayer: (A:) and سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى [the supererogatory prayer of the period termed الضُّحَى]. (Msb.) سُبْحَةُ ٱللّٰهِ, (IAth, K, TA,) with damm, (TA, [but in my MS. copy of the K written سَبْحَة, and so in the CK,]) means (assumed tropical:) The greatness, or majesty, of God: (IAth, K, TA:) or [the pl.] السُّبُحَاتُ, occurring in a trad., means (assumed tropical:) the greatness, or majesty, and the light [or splendour], of God: (Msb:) or by the saying سُبُحَاتُ وَجْهِ رَبِّنَا, with damm to the س and ب, is meant (assumed tropical:) the greatness, or majesty, of the face of our Lord: (S:) or سُبُحَاتُ وَجْهِ ٱللّٰهِ means (assumed tropical:) the lights [or splendours], (K,) or, accord. to ISh, the light [or splendour], (TA,) of the face of God: (ISh, K, TA:) some say that سُبُحَاتُ الوَجْهِ means (assumed tropical:) the beauties of the face; because, when you see a person of beautiful face, you say, سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ [to express your admiration]: and some, that [when it relates to God] it denotes a declaration of his being far removed from every imperfection; meaning سُبْحَانَ وَجْهِهِ. (TA. [See سُبْحَان.]) One says, [addressing God,] أَسْأَلُكَ بِسُبُحَاتِ وَجْهِكَ الكَرِيمِ, with two dammehs, meaning (tropical:) [I ask Thee] by the evidences of thy greatness, or majesty, [or of the greatness, or majesty, of thy glorious face,] by the acknowledgement whereof thy praise is celebrated. (A.) السُّبُحَاتُ also signifies (assumed tropical:) The places of prostration [probably meaning in the reciting of the Kur-án]. (K.) Also, i. e. [the sing.,] سُبْحَةٌ, A piece of cotton. (TA.)

    سُبْحَانٌ

    سُبْحَانٌ is the inf. n. of سَبَحَ as syn. with سَبَّحَ [q. v.]; (K, TA;) and is a subst. that [sometimes] stands in the place of the inf. n. of the latter of these verbs, i. e. in the sense of تَسْبِيحٌ. (T, TA.) سُبْحَانَ is a proper name in the sense of التَّسْبِيح, and [for this reason, and also because it ends with ا and ن,] it is imperfectly decl., and is also invariable; being put in the accus. case in the manner of an inf. n. (Mgh.) You say سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ, meaning I declare [or celebrate or extol] the remoteness, or freedom, of God [from every imperfection or impurity, or from everything derogatory from his glory, i. e.] from the imputation of there being any equal to Him, or any companion, or anything like unto Him, or anything contrary to Him; or from everything that should not be imputed to Him: (L:) [I declare, or celebrate, or extol, his absolute perfection or glory or purity: or extolled be his absolute perfection &c.:] or I declare the remoteness of God, or his freedom (بَرَآءَة), from evil, (Zj, * S, K, TA,) or from every evil; (TA;) and [especially] from the imputation of his having a female companion, and offspring: (K:) or I declare God's being very far removed from all the foul imputations of those who assert a plurality of gods: (MF:) [it sometimes implies wonder, and may well be rendered how far is God from every imperfection! &c.:] in this case, سبحان is a determinate noun; (K;) i. e., a generic proper name, for التَّسْبِيح, like as بَرَّةُ is for البِرُّ. (MF:) Zj says, (TA,) it is put in the accus. case in the manner of an inf. n.; (S, K;) i. e., as the absolute complement of a verb understood; the phrase with the verb supplied being أُسَبِّحُ ٱللّٰهَ سُبْحَانَهُ; (MF;) meaning أُبَرِّئُ ٱللّٰهَ مِنَ السُّوْءِ بَرَآءَةً; (S, K, MF;) سبحان thus supplying the place of the verb: accord. to Ibn-El-Hájib and others, when it is prefixed to another noun or pronoun, governing it in the gen. case, it is a quasi-inf. n.; and when not so prefixed, it is a proper name, imperfectly decl.: but to this it is objected that a proper name may be thus prefixed for the purpose of distinction, as in the instances of حَاتِمُ طَيِّئٍ and زَيْدُ الفَوَارِسِ: some say that it is an inf. n. of an obsolete verb; but this assertion is not to be regarded; for, as an inf. n., its verb is سَبَحَ, like شَكَرَ of which the inf. n. is شُكْرَانٌ: others say that it may be an inf. n. of سَبَّحَ, though far from being agreeable with analogy: and some derive it from السَّبْحُ as signifying “ the act of swimming, ” or “ the being quick, or swift, ” or “ the being, or becoming, remote, ” &c.: (MF:) [hence F adds,] or the phrase above-mentioned denotes quickness in betaking oneself to God, and agility in serving, or obeying, Him; [and therefore may be rendered I betake myself quickly to the service of God, and am prompt in obeying Him;] (K;) so accord. to ISh, to whom a man presented himself in a dream, and indicated this explanation of the phrase, deriving it from سَبَحَ الفَرَسُ [“ the horse ran stretching forth his fore legs, as one does with his arms in swimming ”]. (L.) فَسُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونُ, [in which سبحان is used in the place of the inf. n. of سَبَّحَ, and سَبِّحُوا is understood before it,] in the Kur [xxx. 16], means Therefore perform ye prayer to God [or declare ye the remoteness of God from every imperfection &c.] when ye enter upon the time of evening and when ye enter upon the time of daybreak. (Fr, TA.) And سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ عَمَّا يَصِفْونَ, in the Kur xxiii. 93, means Far [or how far] is God from that by which they describe Him! (Jel.) One says also, سُبْحَانَكَ ٱللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ, meaning سَبَّحْتُكَ بِجَمِيعِ آلَائِكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ سَبَّحْتُكَ [i. e. I glorify Thee by enumerating all thy benefits, and by the praising of Thee I glorify Thee]. (Mgh. [See also the prep. بِ.]) سُبْحَانَ مِنْ كَذَا, (Msb, K,) or سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ مِنْ كَذَا, (S,) and سُبْحَانَ مِنْ فُلَانٍ, (A,) are (tropical:) phrases expressive of wonder (S, A, Msb, K) at a thing (S, Msb, K) and a person; (A;) originating from God's being glorified (أَنْ يُسَبَّحَ ٱللّٰهُ) at the sight of what is wonderful of his works, and afterwards, by reason of its being frequently said, employed in relation to anything at which one wonders; (Er-Radee, TA;) meaning (assumed tropical:) [I wonder greatly (lit., with wondering) at such a thing and such a person; as is shown by what follows; or] how extraordinary, or strange, is such a thing [and such a person!]. (Msb.) El-Aashà says, (S, Msb *) (assumed tropical:) [I saying, when his boasting reached me, I wonder greatly at' Alkameh the boasting]; i. e. العَجَبُ مِنْهُ, (S,) or [rather] عَجَبًا لَهُ [for أَعْجَبُ عَحَبًا لَهُ], lit. I wonder with wondering at him; (Msb;) [or how extraordinary a person is 'Alkameh the boasting!:] سبحان being without tenween because it is regarded by them as a determinate noun, and having a resemblance to a fem. noun: (S:) [though in what quality it resembles a fem. noun, except in its being of one of the measures of broken pls., I do not know:] or it is imperfectly decl. because it is a determinate noun, being a proper name for البَرَآءَة (IJ, IB) and التَّنْزِيه, (IJ,) and because of the addition of the ا and ن: (IJ, IB:) this is the true reason: but some hold that it is rendered determinate by its being prefixed to a noun understood, governing it in the gen. case; the complete phrase being سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ مِنْ عَلْقَمَةَ. (MF.) سُبْحَانًا, thus with tenween, as an indeterminate noun, occurs in the phrase سُبْحَانَهُ ثُمَّ سُبْحَانًا, in a poem of Umeiyeh. (IB.) سُبْحَان is also used in the sense of نَفْس, in the saying أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِى سُبْحَانِكَ [Thou art possessed of more, or most, knowledge of that which is in thine own mind]. (K.)

    سَبُوحٌ

    سَبُوحٌ: see سَابِحٌ, in three places.

    سِبَاحَةٌ

    سِبَاحَةٌ an inf. n., (K,) or a simple subst., (Msb,) from سَبَحَ; (Msb, K;) Natation; or the act [or art] of swimming: (S, A, Msb, * K:) or the coursing along upon water without immersion of oneself. (MF, TA. [See 1, first sentence.])

    سَبَّاحٌ

    سَبَّاحٌ: see سَابِحٌ, in two places.

    سُبُّوحٌ

    سُبُّوحٌ, also pronounced سَبُّوحٌ, (T, S, Msb, K, &c.,) the latter the more agreeable with analogy, but the former the more common, (Th, T, S, Msb, *) one of the epithets applied to God, (T, S, A, Msb, * K,) because He is an object of تَسْبِيح, (K,) and [often] immediately followed by قُدُّوسٌ, (A, Msb, K,) which is likewise also pronounced قَدُّوسٌ, though the former pronunciation is the more common: (Th, T, S, Msb: *) it signifies [All-perfect, all-pure, or all-glorious; i. e.] far removed, or free, from everything evil, (Zj, Mgh, Msb, TA,) and from every imperfection [and the like]. (Msb. [See 2, and see also سُبْحَانَ ٱللّٰهِ.]) It is said (S, Msb) by Th (S) that there is no word like the two epithets above, of the measure فعُّول with damm as well as with fet-h to the first letter, except ذرّوح: (S, Msb:) but the following similar instances have been pointed out: ستّوق among epithets, and ذرّوح and شبّوط and فرّوج and سفّود and كلّوب among substs. (TA.) Sb says, لَيْسَ فِى الكَلَامِ فُعَّوْلٌ بِوَاحِدَةٍ [expl. voce ذُرَّاحٌ]: (S:) [or] accord. to AHei, Sb said that there is no epithet of the measure فُعُّولٌ except سُبُّوحٌ and قُدُّوسٌ: Lh mentions سُتُّوقٌ also, as an epithet applied to a دِرْهَم, as well as سَتُّوقٌ. (TA.)

    السَّبَّاحَةُ

    السَّبَّاحَةُ: see المُسَبِّحَةُ, in two places.

    Lane, Arabic-English Lexiconread Lane's entry online ↗
Technical definitions1 · Ibn ʿArabī’s Iṣṭilāḥ, al-Jurjānī’s Taʿrīfāt
  • التسبيح

    تنزيه الحق عن نقائض الإمكان والحدوث.

    Al-tasbīḥ: declaring the Real (al-Ḥaqq) transcendent above the concomitants of contingency (imkān) and temporal origination (ḥudūth).

    al-Jurjānī, al-Taʿrīfāt, line 1156 ↗

The same three letters in all six orders. Choose one.

س ب ح

السين والباء والحاء أصلان أحدهما جنس من العبادة والآخر جنس من السعي

s-b-ḥ: two roots, one a kind of worship and the other a kind of striving.

Ibn Fāris ↗Lisān ↗Lane ↗al-Khalīl: used ↗Quran ×92

an entry in Ibn Fārislater sources onlyin none of them

Do these six share one core meaning?

About thisal-Khalīl, Ibn Jinnī, Ibn Fāris; the counts across the dictionary

al-Khalīl (d. c. 170/786), Kitāb al-ʿAyn, as transmitted by al-Layth: a two-letter word “turns in two ways”, a three-letter word “in six ways” (masdūsa), four letters in 24, five in 120; “its used forms are written down and its unused ones dropped” (line 975 ↗). The dictionary is built on this: each chapter takes a set of letters and names which orders are used (mustaʿmal) and which unused (muhmal). The ring shows that verdict, from the chapter heading as edited (documented in the text; how much of the book is al-Khalīl's own is disputed).

A reported total. al-Suyūṭī transmits, from Ḥamza al-Iṣfahānī, that al-Khalīl put the possible forms, used and unused, of two to five letters at 12,305,412 (al-Muzhir, line 1347 ↗). It is reported, not found in the ʿAyn. It equals exactly the arrangements of 2 to 5 different letters out of 28 (756 + 19,656 + 491,400 + 11,793,600); the breakdown printed beside it is corrupt, and al-Zubaydī's count, given next, differs (6,659,400).

Ibn Jinnī (d. 392/1002), al-Khaṣāʾiṣ, names the greater derivation (al-ishtiqāq al-akbar): bind a three-letter root and its six orders to one meaning, and bring stray members back “by the subtlety of the craft and interpretation” (line 7536 ↗). He says himself that it does not hold for every root (line 167 ↗; line 7603 ↗).

Ibn Fāris (d. 395/1004) gives each root its own aṣl and treats a rearranged word as maqlūb, “turned round”, and so not a root of its own: “j-b-dh is not a root, because it is a single word, turned round” (Maqāyīs, line 6147 ↗). The ring sets his aṣl for each order side by side; whether they meet is the question.

Neighbours on the ring differ by one swap of two letters.

The critique. A source quoted by al-Suyūṭī calls the greater derivation Ibn Jinnī's innovation, “not relied on in the language” (al-Muzhir, line 6159 ↗).

The other axis. The root's letters also go into patterns that keep their order and change the frame: the patterns (awzān) and the verb Forms I–X.

Across Ibn Fāris's dictionary. Of the 2,300 possible sets of three different sound letters (no hamza, w or y), 1,021 have at least one order as an entry. How many of their six orders are entries:

Ibn Fāris, entries found (1,021 letter-sets)
  1. 1 of 6319
  2. 2 of 6218
  3. 3 of 6164
  4. 4 of 6155
  5. 5 of 6107
  6. 6 of 658
al-Khalīl, orders his headings call used (746 letter-sets)
  1. 1 of 6148
  2. 2 of 6108
  3. 3 of 6157
  4. 4 of 6179
  5. 5 of 6111
  6. 6 of 643

Of the orders al-Khalīl calls used, 2,097 are entries in Ibn Fāris and 267 are not; 17 that he calls unused are entries in Ibn Fāris.

Our computation from the OpenITI texts; heading detection can miss entries

Attested here means found in our digital texts (Ibn Fāris, Lisān al-ʿArab, Lane, the Quranic Arabic Corpus), with w and y kept apart and hamza spellings merged; it is our data, not a classical verdict. English beside the Arabic is AI translation. Sources and grades: docs/research/root-permutations.md.

How each letter is made, in brief, from Sībawayh's and Ibn Jinnī's own sentences (linked); their words are under Reference.

Sharing two of its three letters (computed; kinship of form, not of meaning)

16 more
How it is madeSībawayh and Ibn Jinnī · phonetics

English throughout: AI translation of the Arabic

س

ومما بين طرف اللسان وفويق الثنايا مخرج الزاي، والسين، والصاد

From between the tip of the tongue and just above the front teeth is the place of the zāy, the sīn and the ṣād. Sībawayh, line 26560 ↗

ومما بين الثنايا وطرف اللسان، مخرج الصاد والزاي والسين

From between the front teeth and the tip of the tongue is the place of the ṣād, the zāy and the sīn. Ibn Jinnī, line 983 ↗

ب

ومما بين الشفتين مخرج الباء، والميم، والواو

From between the two lips is the place of the bāʾ, the mīm and the wāw. Sībawayh, line 26563 ↗

ومما بين الشفتين مخرج الباء والميم والواو

From between the two lips is the place of the bāʾ, the mīm and the wāw. Ibn Jinnī, line 986 ↗

ح

ومن أوسط الحلق مخرج العين والحاء

From the middle of the throat is the place of the ʿayn and the ḥāʾ. Sībawayh, lines 26548–26549 ↗

ومن وسط الحلق مخرج العين والحاء

From the middle of the throat is the place of the ʿayn and the ḥāʾ. Ibn Jinnī, line 970 ↗

Sībawayh, al-Kitāb (ed. Hārūn) and Ibn Jinnī, Sirr ṣināʿat al-iʿrāb; OpenITI digital texts (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). Full credits on each letter's page.

In the Breath of the All-MercifulIbn ʿArabī · metaphysics

English throughout: AI translation of the Arabic

س

Level of existence: ما ظهر في الماء · what appears in water

Divine Name: المحيي · al-Muḥyī, the Life-Giver

Lunar mansion: النعائم · al-Naʿāʾim

Futūḥāt ch. 198, line 62110

Spheres of its simples (ch. 2): 9 line 2572 ↗

السين والشين فطبعهما الحرارة واليبوسة

Sīn and shīn: their nature is heat and dryness.

Ibn ʿArabī, al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya, line 2581

ب

Level of existence: الجن · the jinn

Divine Name: اللطيف · al-Laṭīf, the Subtle

Lunar mansion: الفرع المقدم · al-Farʿ al-Muqaddam

Futūḥāt ch. 198, line 62118

Spheres of its simples (ch. 2): 10 line 2573 ↗

المرتبة العشرية فحروفها حارة يابسة

The tenfold rank: its letters are hot and dry.

Ibn ʿArabī, al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya, line 2582

ح

Level of existence: الجوهر الهبابي · the dust-like substance (spelled الهبابي in the text)

Divine Name: الآخر · al-Ākhir, the Last

Lunar mansion: الدبران · al-Dabarān

Futūḥāt ch. 198, line 62076

Spheres of its simples (ch. 2): 10 line 2573 ↗

Meaning by vowelal-Dabbāgh · a visionary claim about a primordial “Syriac”, not historical Syriac

English throughout: AI translation of the Arabic

س

فهي إشارة إلى الشيء المليح الذي من طبعه الرقة.

It is an indication of the comely thing whose nature is delicacy.

فهي إشارة إلى الشيء القبيح الخشن، أو إشارة إلى سواد حسا ومعنى.

It is an indication of the ugly, rough thing, or of blackness, sensible and figurative.

وبالكسر إشارة إلى الشيء الطابع وتكون الإشارة منه.

With kasra it is an indication of the impressing/stamping thing, and the indication proceeds from it.

al-Dabbāgh (d. 1132/1719), al-Ibrīz, ch. 2 §15, compiled by al-Lamaṭī

ب

فهي إشارة إلى الشيء الذي هو في غاية العز أو في غاية الذل.

It is an indication of the thing that is at the utmost of might or at the utmost of abasement.

فهي إشارة معها قبض.

It is an indication accompanied by contraction (qabḍ).

فهي إشارة إلى ما دخل أو هو داخل على الذات.

It is an indication of what has entered, or is entering, upon the self.

al-Dabbāgh (d. 1132/1719), al-Ibrīz, ch. 2 §15, compiled by al-Lamaṭī

ح

فهي تدل على الإحاطة والشمول للجميع.

It denotes encompassing and inclusion of everything.

فهي العدد الكثير الخارج عن بني آدم كالنجوم.

It is a great number external to the children of Adam, such as the stars.

فهي العدد الداخل في الذات أو للذات عليه ولاية كملكية العبيد والدنانير والدراهم وغير ذلك.

It is a number contained within the self, or over which the self has authority, such as ownership of slaves, dinars, dirhams and the like.

al-Dabbāgh (d. 1132/1719), al-Ibrīz, ch. 2 §15, compiled by al-Lamaṭī
Two-letter nucleus11 roots in Ibn Fāris’s chapterس ب

Ibn Fāris groups his roots under two-letter chapters (“the X and the Y and what makes them three”). These are the roots of this root's chapter with the core sense he gives each. Setting them side by side is our juxtaposition; he does not himself draw a shared meaning. His chapter heading, line 14417 ↗

  • سبتالسين والباء والتاء أصل واحد يدل على راحة وسكونQ 9 · L14418
  • سبجالسين والباء والجيم ليس بشيء ولا له في اللغة العربية أصل يقولون السبجة قميص له جيبL14427
  • سبحالسين والباء والحاء أصلان أحدهما جنس من العبادة والآخر جنس من السعيQ 92 · L14430
  • سبخالسين والباء والخاء أصل واحد يدل على خفة في الشيءL14442
  • سبدالسين والباء والدال عظم بابه نبات شعر أو ما أشبهه وقد يشذ الشيء اليسير فالأصل قولهم : ( ماله سبد ولا لبد ) فالسبد الشعر واللبد الصوف ويقولون سبد الفرخL14451
  • سبطالسين والباء والطاء أصل يدل على امتداد شيء وكأنه مقارب لباب الباء والسين والطاءQ 5 · L14469
  • سبعالسين والباء والعين أصلان مطردان صحيحان أحدهما في العدد والآخر شىء من الوحوشQ 28 · L14474
  • سبقالسين والباء والقاف أصل واحد صحيح يدل على التقديمQ 37 · L14492
  • سبكالسين والباء والكاف أصيل يدل على التناهي في إمهاء الشيءL14494
  • سبلالسين والباء واللام أصل واحد يدل على إرسال شيء من علو إلى سفل وعلى امتداد شيءQ 176 · L14497
  • سبيالسين والباء والياء اصل واحد يدل على أخذ شيء من بلد إلى بلد آخر كرهاL14508
In the sister scriptsHebrew ס/ש ב חSyriac ܣ/ܫ ܒ ܚ
Arabicس ب ح
Hebrewס/ש ב ח
Syriacܣ/ܫ ܒ ܚ
Ancient South Arabian (musnad)𐩯/𐩦 𐩨 𐩢
Phoenician𐤎/𐤔 𐤁 𐤇

Letter for letter, by the regular sound correspondences of the Semitic languages (Arabic keeps several sounds the others merged). This shows how the root would be spelled; whether a related word exists is a separate question, answered in the Semitic lens. Where an Arabic sibilant (s, sh) continues two older sounds, both spellings are shown.

  • Classical lexiconAl-Khalīl already has both strands.well attested

    The lexicographers in chronological order, from al-Khalīl to Lane.

    Al-Khalīl already has both strands. He glosses sabḥ in Q 73:7 as leisure (farāgh) for sleep, on the authority of Abū al-Duqaysh. He defines subḥāna Allāh as tanzīh, an accusative standing for 'I glorify God with a glorification.' He treats subbūḥ with quddūs as a unique faʿʿūl pair and defines subḥa as counting beads. Al-Jawharī begins with sibāḥa as swimming (ʿawm), sabḥ as leisure or livelihood, and a horse's running. He adds subḥa as supererogatory dhikr and prayer, citing ʿUmar's flogging two men who 'sabbaḥā' after ʿaṣr, and explains subḥāna as 'I declare God free of evil.' Ibn Fāris separates two roots, worship and going. He glosses tanzīh as putting far away (tabʿīd) and cites al-Aʿshā's 'subḥāna min ʿAlqama' as 'how far he is!'. Al-Rāghib unifies the strands: sabḥ is swift passage through water or air, extended to the stars in their orbits (21:33), horses (79:3) and busy work (73:7). For him tasbīḥ is originally swift passage in God's worship, generalised to word, deed and intention. Ibn Manẓūr expands the swimming vocabulary, including asbaḥa, 'to make float', in a verse of Umayya. Lane records al-Zamakhsharī's distinction of sibāḥa from ʿawm, glossing sibāḥa as swimming on the surface without immersion.

    Draws on: al-Khalīl · al-Jawharī · Ibn Fāris · al-Rāghib · Ibn Manẓūr · Lane

    • al-Khalīl, Kitāb al-ʿAyn, s.v. s-b-ḥ
    • al-Jawharī, al-Ṣiḥāḥ, s.v. s-b-ḥ
    • Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-lugha, s.v. s-b-ḥ
    • al-Rāghib, al-Mufradāt, s.v. sabḥ
    • Ibn Manẓūr, Lisān al-ʿArab, s.v. s-b-ḥ
    • Lane, Arabic-English Lexicon, s.v. سبح
  • Letters & soundAl-Dabbāgh gives these meanings: sīn indicates a comely thing whose nature is delicacy, bāʾ the utmost of might or of abasement, and ḥāʾ encompassing and inclusion of everything.speculative

    What the theorists of sound symbolism would say of these letters. Speculative by nature.

    Al-Dabbāgh gives these meanings: sīn indicates a comely thing whose nature is delicacy, bāʾ the utmost of might or of abasement, and ḥāʾ encompassing and inclusion of everything. A reader could line these up with tasbīḥ as a refined declaration that removes God from abasement while encompassing all things. No correspondence for these three letters from Ibn ʿArabī's scheme of letters in the Breath is supplied here. In Ibn Jinnī's imsās, ḥāʾ is the softer counterpart of khāʾ, as in naḍḥ against naḍkh. One could therefore hear the smooth ḥāʾ in the gliding motion of sabḥ. Mainstream linguistics treats such sound-symbolic readings as suggestive at most.

    Draws on: al-Dabbāgh (al-Ibrīz) · Ibn Jinnī imsās

    • Aḥmad b. al-Mubārak, al-Ibrīz min kalām ... ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Dabbāgh
    • Ibn Jinnī, al-Khaṣāʾiṣ (link not verified)
  • Root structureIbn Fāris's s-b chapter places sabaḥa beside several related entries.speculative

    The two-letter nucleus (Ibn Fāris's own chapters) and the permutations of the letters (Ibn Jinnī).

    Ibn Fāris's s-b chapter places sabaḥa beside several related entries. These include s-b-t (rest, stillness), s-b-kh (lightness), s-b-ṭ (extension), s-b-q (going ahead), s-b-l (letting something down from high to low; extension) and s-b-k (carrying melting to its limit). He dismisses s-b-j as having no Arabic root. Among the permutations, s-ḥ-b (11 Quranic occurrences) means dragging something spread out, with clouds named as drawn across the air. Ḥ-s-b (109) is given four roots by Ibn Fāris, and ḥ-b-s (2) means confining; b-s-ḥ and b-ḥ-s are unattested. Only the pair sabḥ/saḥb, both movement across an extended medium, fits Ibn Jinnī's greater derivation with any ease. Even that remains a juxtaposition and no demonstrated link.

    Draws on: Ibn Fāris nucleus s-b · permutations · Ibn Jinnī al-ishtiqāq al-akbar

    • Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-lugha, bāb al-sīn wa-l-bāʾ
    • Ibn Jinnī, al-Khaṣāʾiṣ, bāb al-ishtiqāq al-akbar (link not verified)
  • Semitic kin & loanwordsArabic s-b-ḥ corresponds regularly to Northwest Semitic š-b-ḥ.plausible

    Cognates in the sister languages, and whether the word was borrowed.

    Arabic s-b-ḥ corresponds regularly to Northwest Semitic š-b-ḥ. The Arabic s continues Proto-Semitic *š, which Hebrew and Aramaic keep as š. Late Biblical Hebrew šibbaḥ means 'to praise, laud', and a homonymous šbḥ means 'to still' the sea's waves. Biblical Aramaic šabbaḥ means 'to praise' (Dan 2:23), and Syriac has šabbaḥ and tešbuḥtā, 'glory, praise'. Geʿez sabbəḥa and səbḥat, 'praise, glory', are usually taken as borrowed from Aramaic. Jeffery and others hold that the liturgical sense of Arabic sabbaḥa and subḥān owes much to Syriac or Jewish Aramaic usage. On that view this is a semantic borrowing on a native root, while the motion sense (swimming, running) has no confident cognate elsewhere. No confident South Arabian or Akkadian cognate is offered here.

    Draws on: Hebrew šbḥ · Aramaic/Syriac šbḥ · Geʿez sabbəḥa · Jeffery

  • Quranic exegesisQ 17:44 ('there is nothing but glorifies with His praise, but you do not understand their glorification') divided the exegetes.plausible

    How the classical exegetes read the word in the Quran.

    Q 17:44 ('there is nothing but glorifies with His praise, but you do not understand their glorification') divided the exegetes. Al-Ṭabarī reports and favours the view that all things truly glorify God, since the verse says humans do not understand it. Al-Zamakhsharī reads it as the glorification of indication (dalāla): each thing's createdness testifies to its Maker. Al-Rāzī sets out both positions at length. On 2:30 the angels' 'we glorify with Your praise' is glossed as declaring God free of what does not befit Him, with some reports taking it as prayer. Al-Rāghib and several exegetes read Jonah's being 'among the musabbiḥīn' (37:143) as 'among those who prayed'. On 17:1 al-Zamakhsharī treats subḥān as a proper noun (ʿalam) for tasbīḥ, in the accusative by an implied verb and conveying wonder together with tanzīh.

    Draws on: al-Ṭabarī · al-Zamakhsharī · al-Rāzī · al-Rāghib

  • Akbarian readingFaṣṣ Ādam opens with the formula al-Ḥaqq subḥānahu.plausible

    The word in Ibn ʿArabī's text and terminology.

    Faṣṣ Ādam opens with the formula al-Ḥaqq subḥānahu. It then uses tasbīḥ to mark the angels' limit. They glorified and sanctified God by the divine Names particular to them, without knowing that God has Names their knowledge had not reached. They therefore did not glorify Him with those Names, nor sanctify Him with Adam's sanctification, since Adam held the Names comprehensively. Tasbīḥ here names tanzīh, which Ibn ʿArabī pairs with tashbīh, most explicitly in Faṣṣ Nūḥ, where tanzīh alone amounts to a delimitation. In the Futūḥāt he takes the tasbīḥ of all things in 17:44 as a real, unveiled glorification by beings he regards as living. He also discusses the subuḥāt al-wajh of the veils hadith that al-Khalīl cites. No Iṣṭilāḥ definition is supplied for this root.

    Draws on: Fuṣūṣ al-ḥikam, Faṣṣ Ādam · Faṣṣ Nūḥ · al-Futūḥāt al-makkiyya

    • Ibn ʿArabī, Fuṣūṣ al-ḥikam, Faṣṣ Ādam and Faṣṣ Nūḥ
    • Ibn ʿArabī, al-Futūḥāt al-makkiyya
Neighbouring rootsThe roots that share letters with this one, as a map you can open out