What does « Khāb » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Khāb (خاب) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

خاب
Khāb
Root: خ - ب
Quranic language 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Khāb

Al-khayba: failure of the request.

Allah says: 'And every obstinate tyrant has failed (khâba)' (Ibrâhîm: 15).

Failure is the fate of those who oppose Allah and His messengers.

Their efforts are in vain and their hopes disappointed.

Khāb in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
Ta-Ha 2
Ibrahim 1
Ash-Shams 1
Surah Ibrahim : 15 Meccan
﴿وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟ وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍۢ﴾
And they requested victory from Allah, and disappointed, [therefore], was every obstinate tyrant.
Surah Ta-Ha : 61 Meccan
﴿قَالَ لَهُم مُّوسَىٰ وَيْلَكُمْ لَا تَفْتَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا فَيُسْحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍۢ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ﴾
Moses said to the magicians summoned by Pharaoh, "Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allah or He will exterminate you with a punishment; and he has failed who invents [such falsehood]."
Surah Ta-Ha : 111 Meccan
﴿۞ وَعَنَتِ ٱلْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَىِّ ٱلْقَيُّومِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْمًۭا﴾
And [all] faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. And he will have failed who carries injustice.
Surah Ash-Shams : 10 Meccan
﴿وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا﴾
And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].

Words from the same root as Khāb

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Mon 21 Jumada al-Awwal
الاثنين 21 جمادى الأولى
أحدب متناقص Waning Gibbous Day 22 / 29.5
Illumination 51%
New moon in 7 days
اللهم صل على محمد O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ