What does « Shaʿib » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Shaʿib (شعب) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شعب
Shaʿib
Root: ش - ع - ب
Jurisprudence (fiqh) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Shaʿib

Ash-shi'b: the tribe branched from one clan, plural shu'ub.

The Almighty says: 'We made you into peoples and tribes' (Al-Hujurat 13).

At-tasha'ub: branching.

Shi'b also means mountain pass.

Peoples subdivide into tribes then clans.

Shaʿib in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 1
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Hujurat 1
Al-Mursalat 1
Surah Al-Hujurat : 13 Medinan
﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ﴾
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.
Surah Al-Mursalat : 30 Meccan
﴿ٱنطَلِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ ظِلٍّ ذِى ثَلَٰثِ شُعَبٍ﴾
Proceed to a shadow [of smoke] having three columns

Words from the same root as Shaʿib

أصبع
Aṣbʿ
بخع
Bakhʿ
بدع
Badiʿ
بشر
Bashar
بضع
Baḍʿ
بطش
Baṭsh
بعث
Baʿth
بعثر
Buʿthira

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