58 instances of daraba including its derived forms in the Quran as shown in the table below are reviewed to better understand their meaning in different contexts that upon reviewing the messages in different contexts may help us to understand that without believing and studying the Quran none can have better and greater reward from God avoiding misconceptions and even misinterpretation found around us:
| Form | Instances | Arabic text | Literal meanings | No of occurrences | Grammatical form |
| 1 | daraba | ضَرَبَ | to strike | 55 | Verb form I |
| 2 | darb | ضَرْب | striking | 3 | Noun |
Note: The above table is populated with the data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Instances of daraba
There are 55 instances of daraba (ضَرَبَ) in the verb I form in the Quran literally mean “to strike” while we know that an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on the contexts, which is a key concept to interpret the message coded in the Arabic text of the Quran. Here are the details of these instances found in 51 verses across 27 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts reflecting to underlying relationship in their meanings:
[2:26] Indeed, God does not feel shy to set forth (yadriba) an allegory of that which is a mosquito to that which is greater of it. So, as for those who have believed, then they know that it is the truth from their Lord. And as for those who have disbelieved, then they say, “What has God intended by this allegory?” He lets go astray many by this, while He guides many by this. And He does let go astray by this except the disobedient.
Note: God has placed every kind of example in the Quran to believe in it. Thus, those who have believed in it are the guided ones, while those who have disbelieved in it have gone astray.
[2:60] And when Moses had asked for water for his people, then we said, “Strike (id’rib) the rock with your staff.” Then there had gushed forth twelve springs from it. Certainly, every people had known their drinking place. You shall eat and drink from a provision of God, and do not commit evil in the earth.
[2:61] And when you said, “O Moses, we cannot endure upon one kind of food; so, pray for us to your Lord to bring forth for us out of what the earth grows from herbs of it, and cucumbers of it, and garlic of it, and lentils of it, and onions of it.” He said, “Would you exchange that it is inferior of that it is better? Go down to Egypt, then for you there is what you have asked for.” And there had been struck (wa-duribat) upon them the humiliation and the misery, and they had brought upon themselves of wrath from God. That was of that they had done to disbelieve in signs of God and killed the prophets without the justification. That was of that they had disobeyed and had done to transgress.
[2:73] So, we said, “Strike him (id’ribuuhu) with a part of it.” Like that God revives the dead and shows His signs that you may understand.
Note: Here is a reference in connection with the revival of the dead to find guilty from his witness.
[3:112] There had been struck (duribat) upon them the humiliation wherever that they had been found except with a rope of God and a rope from the people. And they had incurred by wrath from God, and had been struck (wa-duribat) upon them the poverty. That is of that they had done to disbelieve in God’s revelations, and killed the prophets without the justification. That is of that they had disobeyed and had done to transgress.
[3:156] O you who have believed do not be like those who have disbelieved and said to their brothers when they had traveled (darabuu) in the land or they had done fighting, “If they had been with us, they would not have died, nor would they have been killed.” That God makes that a regret in their hearts. And God gives life and causes death, and God is Seer of what you do.
[4:34] The men are supporters of the women for that God has bestowed of them over other, and for that they have spent from their wealth. So, the righteous women are obedient (to God) in the unseen as protectors of that which God has protected (for them). And those whom you fear of their ill-behavior, then you shall advise them, and shall forsake them in the bed, and shall ignore them (wa-id’ribuuhunna), then if they have obeyed you, then do not seek a way against them. Indeed, God has been a great High
Note: Here is a commandment for the believing women to obey the arrangement God has made for them, while there is no reference of wife beating except misinterpretation by many translators.
[4:94] O you who have believed, when you have set out (darabtum) in a path of God, then you shall make sure, and do not say to whoever has offered the peace to you, “You have not been a believer,” seeking a material gain of the life of the world, while with God there are abundant good things. Like that you had done from before, then God has favored upon you. So, you shall make sure. Indeed, God has been Cognizant of what you do.
[4:101] When you have set out (darabtum) in the land, then there has not been any blame upon you that you shorten of the salat prayer, if you fear that it may harm those who have disbelieved. Indeed, the disbelievers have been an open enemy for you.
Note: The salat prayer may be shortened when there is a fear from the disbelievers to harm.
[5:106] O you who have believed, testimony among you at the time of the will when the death approaches to one of you are just two men among you, or two others from other than you if you have set out (darabtum) in the land then a calamity of the death has befallen you. Both of them after the salat prayer that they both will swear by God if you have doubt, “We will not exchange a price with it even if he is a near relatives, nor will we conceal God’s testimony. Indeed, we then will surely be among the sinners.”
[7:160] And we had divided them into twelve tribes of communities, and we had inspired to Moses when his people asked him for water that strike (id’rib) the rock with your staff, then there had gushed out twelve springs from it. Certainly, each community had known their drinking place. And we had shaded the clouds upon them, and we had sent down the manna and the quails to them: “You shall eat from the good things which we have provided for you.” And they had not wronged us but they had done to wrong for their own souls.
[8:12] When your Lord had inspired to the angels: “I am with you; so strengthen those who have believed. I will throw the terror into hearts of those who have disbelieved. So strike (fa-id’ribuu) them above the necks and strike (wa-id’ribuu) from them every fingertip.”
[8:50] If you could see when the angels put into death those who have disbelieved striking (yad’ribuuna) their faces and their backs, “Taste the punishment of the Blazing fire.”
Note: The disbelievers will know at the time of their death that they are destined to Hell, which eliminates a myth of intercession around us, while the judgment on a day of the Resurrection will be based on our records.
[13:17] He has sent down water from the sky, so has flowed the valleys with their capacity, then the flood has carried a rising foam. And from what they heat it in the fire for making ornaments or utensils, a foam like of it. Thus that God sets forth (yadribu) the truth and the falsehood. Then as for the foam that it passes away as scum, and as for what benefits the people that it remains in the land. Thus that God sets forth (yadribu) the analogies.
[14:24] Do you not see how God has set forth (daraba) an example of a good word as like a good tree – its root is firm, and its branches are in the sky?
Note: God has given an example of His word to be as good as a good tree having firm roots in the ground being its branches in the sky having a factual derived from the Quran being the sum of surah and verse number is a multiple of 19 => [14 + 24] = 38 (19X2) being 19 is a common denominator of Quran’s mathematical coding.
[14:25] It produces its fruit every season by permission of its Lord. And God sets forth (wa-yadribu allahu) the examples for the people that they may take heed.
[14:45] And you have dwelled in the dwellings of those who have wronged their souls, and it had become clear to you how we had dwelt with them, and we have set forth (wa-darabnaa) the examples for you.
[16:74] So, do not set forth (tadribuu) the examples for God; indeed, God knows, while you do not know.
Note: We should not say or do anything that makes us equal to God being it a horrendous crime.
[16:75] God has set forth (daraba allahu) an example of a slave to be owned, does not have power over anything, while whomever we have provided him a good provision from us, then he spends from it in secret and public. Are they be equal? All praise to God. Nay, most of them do not know.
[16:76] And God has set forth (wa-daraba allahu) an example of two men – one of them is dumb, does not have power over anything, and he is a burden on his master, wherever he directs him, he cannot come with any good. Is he be equal, while whoever he commands with the justice and is on a straight path?
[16:112] And God has set forth (wa-daraba allahu) an example of a community has been secure being content coming to it its provision in abundance from every place, then it had denied in favors of God, so God had made it taste a garb of the hunger and the fear for what they had done to do.
[17:48] You shall see how they have set forth (darabuu) the examples for you, then they have gone astray; so, they are not able to be on a path (of God).
[18:11] So, we have placed seal (fa-darabnaa) over their ears in the cave for a number of years.
[18:32] And you shall present (wa-id’rib) for them the example of two men – we had provided for one of them two gardens of grapes, and we had bordered them with the date palms, and we had placed other crops between of them.
[18:45] And you shall present (wa-id’rib) for them the example of the life of the world like water we have sent down it from the sky, then there has absorbed with it a plant of the earth, then it has become dry stalk that the winds scatter it. And God has been Able over all things.
Note: God is powerful over all things.
[20:77] And certainly, we had inspired to Moses that you shall travel by night with My servants, then you shall strike (fa-id’rib) for them a dry path in the sea; do not fear overtaken, nor be afraid.
[22:73] O mankind, it has been set forth (duriba) an example; so, you shall listen to it. Indeed, those whom you call other than God cannot create a fly, even if they had gathered together for it. And if the fly snatches away anything from them, they cannot take it back from it; so, there has been weak the seeker and the sought.
Note: God is the Creator of everything and He is aware of everything to reflect that He does not leave any room for anyone to associate partners with Him. The sum of surah and verse number is a multiple of 19 => [22 + 73] = 95 (19X5) can be reflected as a factual derived from the Quran.
[24:31] And say (prophet) to the believing women to lower of their gazes, and to guard their chastity, and they do not display their adornment except what has been apparent of it. And they shall place (wal-yad’rib’na) of their clothes over their chests, and they do not display their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or sons of their brothers, or sons of their sisters, or their women, or what has possessed their right hands, or the attendants without having sexual desire among the male, or the children those who do not aware of private aspects of the women. And they do not strike (yad’rib’na) of their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And you shall turn to God, O you the believers that you may succeed.
Note: There is a commandment for the believing women to cover their chests with their clothes except in the presence of their family members, while they should maintain their chastity, but there is no order for the women to cover their head/hair except misinterpretation by many translators.
[24:35] God is a light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is like a concave mirror in it is a lamp; the lamp is in a container of the glass as if it were a bright star, is lit from a blessed tree is olive neither east, nor west would almost glow its oil, even if fire never touches it. Light upon light. God guides to His light whomever He wills. And God sets forth (wa-yadribu allahu) the analogies for mankind. And God is Knower of everything.
Note: Here is a reference that God guides us through His light coming from every direction.
[25:9] You shall see how they have set forth (darabuu) the examples for you, so they have gone astray. Then they are not able to have a way.
Note: Many people go astray by themselves, and when they have gone astray cannot find their way out.
[25:39] And each we have set forth (darab’na) the examples for him, and each we have destroyed a complete destruction.
[26:63] Then we had inspired to Moses that you strike (id’rib) the sea with your staff; so, it had parted that each part had become like the great mountain.
[29:43] And that of the examples we set forth them (nadribuhaa) for mankind, and none will understand them except the knowledgeable ones.
Note: The Quran has a proof for the people to accept the truth from God but most people will reject it except the knowledgeable ones.
[30:28] He has set forth (daraba) an example for you from among yourselves. Is there any partners for you among what your right hands possess in what we have provided for you that you are equal in it, you fear them as you fear yourselves? Thus that we explain the revelations for a people to understand.
Note: Even we do not want our servants to be equal of us, but it is unfortunate that we associate partners with God.
[30:58] And certainly, we have set forth (darab’naa) for mankind in this – the Quran of every example. And surely, if you have brought them of a sign, surely, those who have disbelieved will say, “You are falsifiers.”
Note: It is unfortunate that whatever proof comes to the disbelievers they will not accept the truth.
[36:13] And you shall present (wa-id’rib) for them the example of a people of the city when there had come to it the messengers.
Note: There was a community of one believer, even God had sent three messengers to it.
[36:78] And he sets forth (wa-daraba) an example for us, while he has forgot his own creation. He said, “Who will give life to the bones, while they are decomposed?”
Note: By nature the human being is ungrateful to his Lord, while we make efforts if we can reflect.
[38:44] “And you (Job) shall take a bundle (message) in your hand, then shall set out (fa-id’rib) with it, and do not break your oath.” Indeed, we had found him steadfast, has been an excellent servant. Indeed, he was a repentant.
[39:27] And certainly, we have set forth (darab’naa) for the people in this – the Quran of every example that they may take heed.
Note: God has given everything in the Quran that the believers can do the righteous deeds.
[39:29] God has set forth (daraba allahu) an example of a man with him disputing partners and a man is exclusive to one man. Are they both equal in comparison? All praise to God. Nay, most of them do not know.
Note: Here is a warning that God has given the Quran not to have any partners of it, while many of us use sources other than the Quran disregarding the warning.
[43:5] Should we then take away (a-fa-nadribu) the reminder from you disregarding that you have been a transgressing people?
[43:17] When it has been given a good news (of a female child) to one of them, because of that he has ascribed (daraba) to the Gracious is a likeness of his face has become darkened and he has been with grief.
Note: Having a baby is a good news from God but it makes grief with many for a female baby.
[43:57] And when son of Mary has been sent forth (duriba) as example, then your (prophet) people laughed from it.
Note: Jesus is a servant of God and He has sent him as an example to the Children of Israel with the wisdom and the clear proofs, but the disbelieving people made fun with it.
[43:58] And they said, “Are our gods better, or he?” They had not presented it (maa durabuuhu) to you (prophet) except an argument. Nay, they are an argumentative people.
[47:3] That is of that those who have disbelieved have followed the falsehood, and those who have believed have followed the truth from their Lord. Thus that God has set forth (yadribu allahu) their examples for the people.
Note: There is no way for us to follow the truth from God except studying and knowing the Quran.
[47:27] Then how will it be when has put them in death the angels, striking them (yad’ribuuna) their faces and their backs?
Note: The agony of death for the disbelievers for striking them their faces and backs.
[57:13] A day the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women will say to those who had believed, “Wait for us, we may acquire of your light.” It had been said, “Go back behind of you, then seek light.” Then there has been placed (fa-duriba) a wall between of them to it there is a gate; in it there is mercy of its interior, and is the punishment of its exterior facing towards of it.
[59:21] If we had sent down this – the Quran on a mountain, surely, you would have seen it humbled being crumbled from fear of God. And that is of the examples we set forth them (nadribuhaa) for the people, that they may reflect.
Note: Here is a commandment for us in an exceptional way to give the top most priority to study the Quran to know and follow God’s guidance to find and stay in His path.
[66:10] God has set forth (daraba allahu) an example of those who have disbelieved were wife of Noah and wife of Lot. They both had been married to two from our righteous servants, then they both had betrayed them, so, they could not extend help on them in anything against God, and it had been said, “Enter the Hellfire with the entrants.”
[66:11] And God set forth (wa-daraba allahu) an example of those who have believed was wife of Pharaoh, when she said, “My Lord, build for me with You a house in the Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deed, and save me from the people of the wrongdoers.”
[73:20] Indeed, your (prophet) Lord knows that you awake less than two-thirds of the night, and a half of it, and one-third of it, and (do so) a group of those who are with yourself. And God has designed the night and the day. He has known that you cannot take into account it, so, He has turned to you. So, you shall read what has been easy from the Quran. He has known that there will be sick among you, and others – they may set out (yad’ribuuna) in the land seeking bounty from God, and others – they may fight in a path of God. So, you shall read what has been easy from it, and shall establish the salat prayer, and shall give the zakat, and shall loan God a good loan. Whatever of good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with God, it will be better and greater reward. And you shall seek forgiveness of God; indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Note: The order for studying Quran in every night as much as we can if possible makes the priority for us to know the guidance, while God has made obligatory for us to establish the salat prayer, and to pay the zakat, and to spend from our provision in His path for better and greater reward.
Instances of darb
There are 3 instances of darb (ضَرْب) in the noun form in the Quran literally mean “striking”, while we know that an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on the contexts, and here are the details of these instances found in 3 verses across 3 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts:
[2:273] (whatever of good you spend is) For the poor those who have been wrapped up in a path of God, and they do not be able to setting out (darban) in the land. The ignorant one may think them rich from the restraint; you may recognize them by their sign, they do not ask from the people with importunity. And whatever of good you spend, then indeed, God is Knower of it.
Note: Here is an order for spending for the poor who cannot ask help from the people.
[37:93] Then he (Abraham) had turned upon them (their gods) striking (darban) with the right hand.
[47:4] So, when you have encountered those who have disbelieved, is striking (fa-darba) on the necks until when you have defeated them. Then you shall take as the captives, then either is a favor afterwards or a ransom until the war lays down its burdens of that. And if God had willed, surely, He could have given victory from them; but that is to test of you by other. And those who have been killed in a path of God, then He will not make their deeds to go waste.
Note: God has not given victory to the believers without fighting being it a test for them and those who were killed during the war will be rewarded by God.
Conclusion
The review of the instances of daraba and its derived forms has described many crucial examples in the Quran to believe in God and His words to worship Him alone, and there is proof of the Quran is in the Quran, while the word, daraba being polysemous helps us to understand messages in different contexts having underlying relationship in their meanings. The believers can see the truth in it from God to do the righteous deeds without disputing with any other sources. God has no partners, so is true for the Quran He has sent down. Those who have believed in it are the guided ones, while those who have disbelieved in it have gone astray cannot find their way out, and the disbelievers will know at the time of their death they are destined to Hell to be painful of their death.
The review is also an opportunity for us to understand two misconceptions around the women regarding the wife beating and wearing of the head covers. What has been confirmed from the Quran that the believing women should obey the arrangement God has made for them being a couple, but there is no order for them to maintain chastity in the absence of their husbands and wife beating except misinterpretation by many translators. They shall cover their chests with their clothes except in the presence of their family members and should maintain their chastity, but there is no order for the women to cover their head/hair except misinterpretation by many translators.
God has given everything in the Quran and His word is as good as a good tree that the believers can do the righteous deeds, and shall give the top priority to study the Quran to know and follow God’s guidance to find and stay in His path. The Quran has proof for the people to accept the truth from God, but most people will reject it except the knowledgeable ones, and it is unfortunate for the disbelievers that even the clear proof comes in it from God they consistently deny in it.
There is no other way for us to know and follow the truth from God except studying the Quran. Thus, studying Quran in every night as much as we can read it if it is possible is made priority for us to know the guidance, while God has made obligatory for us to establish the salat prayer, and to pay the zakat, and to spend from our provision in His path for better and greater reward. God is the Creator of everything and He is aware of everything whether it is small or larger means that He does not leave any room for anyone to associate any partners with Him or to dispute His source with any other man-made sources that the believers should put trust upon God and worship Him alone without associating partners with Him or His source to be rewarded at our meeting with Him.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (01/31/2025)