Rabb

Lord (Arabic: رب‎, rabb ), is often used to refer to God in Islam (Allah). In the Quran God refers to Himself as Rabb in several places. When it is used with the definite article 'Ar' (Ar-Rabb) the Arabic word refers to God. In other cases, context makes it clear as to whom the word is referring to. For example, Rabb Ad-Dar means the master of the house. Rabb is also a common and acceptable first and/or last name throughout the world.

Main article: Lord

The literal meaning of the word is Sustainer, Cherisher, Master and/or "Nourisher", and in that sense, a man is the "rabb" of his house. With the same root is the verb yurabbi, meaning "raise" (as in raise a child). Rabb also means "the Creator", as it is referred to in the Quran several times as "رب العالمين". However, Rabb covers such a wide meaning that other languages lack an equivalent of the word. Some have explained it to mean a fostering things in such a manner as to make them attain one condition after another until they reach their goal of completion. Thus, it conveys not only the idea of fostering, bringing up or nourishing, but also that of regulating, completing, accomplishing, cherishing, sustaining and bringing to maturity by evolution from the earliest state to that of the highest perfection. The Quran, in Surah Fatihah, introduces this name in the beginning, "All praise and gratitude is due to God, Rabb of all the worlds." Note that it mentions "Rabb of all the worlds", thus stating clearly that he takes care, nourishes, fosters through every stage of existence, everything that exists.

Pre-Islamic Arabians used to believe that, while there were multiple 'aalihah (gods), only God was the Rabb (Lord/sustainer) of the earth and heavens. He is believed to be the abstract Supreme Being who is beyond any resemblance and the one who governs the heavens and earth. In pre-Islamic Arabia, which is commonly referred to as the Jahiliya era, the worship of God along other lesser gods was common, but Muhammad introduced a different religion centered on God. One of Muhammad's aims was to reintroduce God as being the "Rabbil 'Alamin" or "رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ", which translates as "the Lord of the Worlds", who is beyond being solely a creator, but also the Only Deity who should be recognized by all men. Going back in history, other prophets, such as Abraham (in the Islamic view) and Moses, were also preaching to introduce God as the Rabb (Lord) and said:

۝ [1] :"Surely we are the apostles of the Lord of the worlds" [26:16]
" ۝ قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ " which may translate as "Pharaoh said: And what is the Lord of the worlds?" [26:23]
" ۝ قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ" which translates as "Musa (Moses) said: The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure." [26:24]

See also
  • Rabbi – Hebrew term that sounds much like "Rabb" and may have a similar etymology.
  • Rebbe – Yiddish term derived from the identical Hebrew word Rabbi. It mostly refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement.

References
  1. Arabic script in Unicode symbol for a Quran verse, U+06DD, page 3, Proposal for additional Unicode characters
  • Hans Wehr, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Spoken Language Services, Ithaca, NY, 1976). ed. J. Milton Cowan. ISBN 0-87950-001-8.
  • Islam in the World by Malise Ruthven (Gantra Publications, 2006) ISBN 1-86207-906-4
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