Note: The above table is populated with the data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Instances of akbar
There are 24 instances of akbar (أَكْبَر) in the nominal noun and adjective form in the Quran literally meaning “great”, found in 23 verses of 17 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning reflecting that an Arabic word may have different meanings in different contexts to reflect the appropriate message:
Noun
[2:217] They ask you (prophet) about the Sacred Month whether there is fighting in it. Say, “Fighting in it is a great sin, but hindering from a path of God, and disbelief in Him and the Sacred Masjid, and driving out its people from it is a greater sin near God (wa-saddun `an sabeeli allahi wa-kufrun bihi wal-masjidi al-haraami wa-ikhraaju ahlihi min’hu akbaru `inda allahi). And the oppression is a greater crime than the killing (wal-fit’natu akbaru mina al-qatli).” They will not cease to fight you until they can turn you away from your religion, if they have been able. And whoever turns away among you from his religion, then he dies, while he is a disbeliever, then for those, has become worthless their deeds in the world and the Hereafter, and those are companions of the Fire, they will be dwellers in it (forever).
[2:219] They ask you (prophet) about the intoxicant and the game of chance whether there are sin in them. Say, “In both of them there is a great sin, while there are benefits for the people. But sin from both of them is greater (akbaru) than benefits from both of them.” They ask you (prophet) what they should spend (from their provision). Say, “The excess.” Thus that God makes clear the revelations for you that you may think.
[3:118] O you who have believed, do not take intimate from other than among yourselves, they will not spare you any ruin. They have wished what has distressed you. Certainly, there has become apparent the hatred from their mouths but what conceals their breasts is greater (akbaru). Certainly, we have made clear the revelations for you, if you have done to think.
[4:153] The people of the scripture ask you (prophet) to bring down to them a book from the heaven. Then certainly, they had asked Moses greater than that (akbara min dhaalika) as they said, “Show us God in manifestation.” So, the lightning had struck them because of their wrongdoing. Then they had taken the calf (as god), after what had come to them the clear proofs. Then we had pardoned them from that. And we had given Moses a clear authority.
[6:19] Say, “Which thing is greatest as a testimony (ayyu shayin akbaru shahaadatan)?” Say, “God is a Witness between of me and of you, and there has been revealed to me this – the Quran that I (prophet) may warn with it and whoever has reached (it)”. Do you indeed surely testify that with God there are other gods? Say, “I do not testify.” Say, “He is only One god, and indeed, I am innocent of what you associate (with Him).”
[6:78] Then when he (Abraham) had seen the sun rising, he said, “This is my Lord, this is greater (haadhaa akbaru).” Then when it had set, he said, “O my people, indeed, I am free of what you associate (with God).
[6:123] And thus that we have placed in every city greatest of its criminals (akaabira muj’rimeenahaa) that they may plot in it; and they do not plot except against themselves, while they do not perceive.
[10:61] And you do not be in any situation, nor do you recite of it from Quran, nor do you do any deed except we have been witnesses over you when you get engaged in it. And do not escape a weight of atom from your Lord whether is in the earth or in the heavens, nor smaller than that, nor greater (wa-laa-akbara) except being in a clear record.
[17:21] See how we have preferred of them over other. And surely, the Hereafter is greater in degrees (akbaru darajaatin) and greater in excellence.
[34:3] And said those who had disbelieved, “The Hour will not come to us.” Say, “Nay, by my Lord, surely, it will come to you. He is Knower of the future. Do not escape a weight of atom from Him is in the heavens, nor in the earth, nor smaller than that, nor greater (wa-laa-akbara) except being in a clear record.”
[43:48] And we did not show them of a sign except which was greater than its sister (hiya akbaru min ukh’tihaa), and we had seized them with the punishment that they may return.
[68:33] Thus that was the punishment. And surely, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater (wa-la’`adhaabu al-aakhirati akbaru), if they had done to know.
Adjective
[9:3] And an announcement from God and His messenger to the people on a day of the greater pilgrimage (yawma al-hajji al-akbari) that God is free from any obligation of the idol worshipers, and so is His messenger. So, if you have repented, then it would be better for you, but if you have turned away, then know that you have no escape from God, and give a news of a painful punishment to those who have disbelieved.
[9:72] God has promised the believing men and the believing women gardens to flow the rivers of their underneath as dwellers therein, and blessed dwellings in gardens of everlasting bliss, while a pleasure of God is greater (wa-rid’waanun mina allahi akbaru). That – it is the greatest success.
[16:41] And those who have emigrated for the sake of God, after what they had been wronged, surely, we will give them good in the world, and the recompense of the Hereafter is greater (wa-la’ajru al-aakhirati akbaru), if they had done to know.
[17:21] See how we have preferred of them over other. And surely, the Hereafter is greater in degrees and greater in excellence (wa-akbaru tafdeelan).
[21:103] The great terror will not grieve them (laa-yahzunuhumu al-faza`u al-akbaru), while the angels will receive them: “This is your day, which you had been promised.”
[29:45] You (prophet) shall recite what has been revealed to you of the scripture, and shall establish the salat prayer; indeed, the salat prayer prevents from the immorality and the evil deed, while surely, remembering God is greatest (wa-la’dhik’ru allahi akbaru). And God knows whatever you all do.
[32:21] And surely, we will make them taste of the lesser punishment (in the world) before the greater punishment (al-`adhaabi al-akbari) (in the Hereafter), that they may return.
[39:26] So, God has made them the disgrace in the life of the world, and surely, a punishment of the Hereafter is greater (wa-la’`adhaabu al-aakhirati akbaru), if they had done to know.
[40:10] Indeed, those who had disbelieved will be cried out to them, “Surely, God’s hatred was greater (la’maqtu allahi akbaru) than your hatred of yourselves when you were called to the faith, then you disbelieved.”
[40:57] Surely, creation of the heavens and the earth is greater (la’khalqu al-samaawaati wal-ardi akbaru) than creation of the human being, but most of the people do not know.
[88:24] Then God will punish him the greatest punishment (al-`adhaaba al-akbara).
Instance of kubbaar
Here is one instance of kubbaar (كُبَّار) in the adjective form in the Quran literally meaning “great”, found in the following verse of the Quran:
[71:22] And they (people of Noah) have plotted a great plot (wa-makaruu makran kubbaaran).
Instances of kibar
There are 6 instances of kibar (كِبَر) in the noun form in the Quran literally meaning “old age”, found in 6 verses of 6 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts:
[2:266] Does any of you wish that there would be for him a garden of palm trees and grapevines flowing the rivers of its underneath, for him in it there is every kind of the fruits, and the old age has stroke him (wa-asaabahu al-kibaru), and for him there are weak children, then there has fallen on it the whirlwind, in it there is fire, so, it has been burnt? Thus that God makes clear the revelations for you, that you may think.
[3:40] He (Zachariah) said, “How can there would be a son for me, and certainly, the old age has reached me (wa-qad balaghaniya al-kibaru) and my wife is sterile?” He (the angel) said, “Thus that God does whatever He wills.”
[14:39] “All praise to God, the One who has granted to me Ismail and Isaac at the old age (wahaba li-i `alaa al-kibari is’maa`eela wa-is’haaqa); indeed, My Lord is surely Hearer of the prayer.
[15:54] He said, “Do you give me a good news upon even the old age has overtaken me (`alaa an massaniya al-kibaru)? On that then do you give a good news?”
[17:23] And your Lord has decreed that you do not worship except Him alone, and with the parents is goodness whether one of them reaches the old age with yourself or both of them (immaa yab’lughanna `indaka al-kibara ahadahumaa aw kilaahumaa), then do not say a word of disrespect to both of them, nor do you repel them, while you shall speak to them an honorable word.
[19:8] He (Zachariah) said, “My Lord, how can there would be a son for me, while my wife has been barren, and certainly, I have reached extremity of the old age (wa-qad balaghtu mina al-kibara `itiyyan?”
Instances of kib’r
Here are 2 instances of kib’r (كِبْر) in the noun form in the Quran literally meaning “greatness”, found in 2 verses of 2 surahs in the Quran to better understand their meanings in their contexts:
[24:11] Indeed, those who have brought with the lie was a group among you. Do not think that it was bad for you; nay, it is good for you. For every person of them is what he has earned of the sin, but the one who has taken it upon himself has a greater sin of it (wa-alladhee tawallaa kib’rahu) from them, for him there is a great punishment.
[40:56] Indeed, those who argue about God’s revelations having no authority has come to them, is not in their breasts, except greatness (of arrogance) (illaa kib’run) – they are not of those who are reaching it. So, you shall seek refuge in God. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Seer.
Instance of kubaraa
Here is one instance of kubaraa (كُبَرَآء) in the noun form in the Quran literally meaning “great” found in the following verse of the Quran:
[33:67] And they said, “Our Lord; indeed, we have obeyed our leaders and our great learned (saadatanaa wa-kubaraa-anaa), but they had misled us to the (crooked) path.
Instances of kub’raa
There are 7 instances of kub’raa (كُبْرَىٰ) in the nominal noun and adjective form in the Quran literally meaning “greatest”, found in 7 verses of 6 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts:
Noun
[74:35] Indeed, it is surely one of the greatest (reminder) (innahaa la’ih’daa al-kubari).
Adjective
[20:23] That we may show you (Moses) the greatest of our signs (li’nuiyaka min aayaatinaa al-kubari) .
[44:16] A day we will strike the greatest strike (yawma nab’tishu al-batshata al-kub’raa); indeed, we are avengers.
[53:18] Certainly, he (prophet) had seen the greatest of signs of his Lord (laqad ra-aa min aayaatin rabbihi al-kub’raa).
[79:20] Then he (Moses) had showed him (pharaoh) the greatest sign (fa-araahu al-aayata al-kub’raa).
[79:34] Then when had come the greatest disaster (fa-idhaa jaa-ati al-taamatu al-kub’raa).
[87:12] The one who will enter the greatest Fire (alladhee yaslaa al-naara al-kub’raa) .
Instances of kib’riyaa
There are 2 instances of kib’riyaa (كِبْرِيَآء) in the noun form literally meaning “greatness”, found in 2 verses of 2 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts:
[10:78] They said, “Have you come to us to turn us away from what we found our forefathers on it, and you two (Moses and Aaron) would be for both the greatness in the land (wa-takuuna la’kumaa al-kib’riyaau fee ardi)? And we are not with believers for you two.”
[45:37] And to Him belongs the greatness in the heavens and the earth (wa-lahu al-kib’riyaau fee al-samaawaati wal-ardi), and He is the Almighty, the Wise.
Instances of kabeerat
There are 7 instances of kabeerat (كَبِيرَة) in the noun form in the Quran literally meaning “greater”, found in 7 verses of 6 surahs in the Quran to better understand its meaning in different contexts:
[2:45] And you shall seek help through the patience and the salat prayer. And indeed, it will surely be a great effort except for the humble ones (la’kabeeratun illaa `alaa al-khaashi`ina).
[2:143] And thus that we have made you a middle community that you will be witnesses over the people, and the messenger will be a witness over you. And we have not made the direction of prayer which you had been on it except to make evident whoever follows the messenger from whoever turns back on his heels. And indeed, it has been surely a great test except for those whom God has guided (wa-in kaanat la’kabeeratan illaa `alaa alladheena hadaa allahu). And it has not been God to let go waste your faith. Indeed, God is surely Kind, Merciful to the people.
[4:31] If you avoid great sins what you are forbidden from it (in tajtanibuu kabaaira maa tun’hawna `anhu), we will remove your evil deeds from you, and will admit you to an honorable admittance.
[9:121] And they do not spend any spending lesser, nor greater (wa-laa-yunfiquuna nafaqatan sagheeratan wa-laa-kabeeratan), nor do they cross any valley, except what has been decreed for them, that God may reward them best for what they have done to accomplish.
[18:49] The record had been placed, then you see the criminals are fearful of what is in it. They say, “Oh, woe to us! What is of this, the record does not leave a lesser nor a greater (al-kitaabi laa-yughaadiru sagheeratan wa-laa-kabeeratan), except has counted it?” They will find what they had done being presented, while your Lord does not do wrong to anyone.
[42:37] And those who avoid greater sins and immoralities (wa-alladheena yaj’tanibuuna kabaaira al-ith’mi wal-fawaahisha), and when that they have angered, they forgive.
[53:32] Those who avoid great sins and immoralities (alladheena yaj’tanibuuna kabaaira al-ith’mi wal-fawaahisha), except for the lesser offenses. Indeed, the forgiveness of your Lord is immense. He is Knower of you when He has produced you from the earth, and when you have been embryos in wombs of your mothers. So, do not ascribe purity to yourselves; He is Knower of whoever has feared (Him).
The review highlights that flighting in the Sacred month is a great sin but hindering from a path of God disbelieving in Him and the Sacred Masjid is a greater sin, while the intoxicant and the game of chance is a great sin as well. God is a Witness between the prophet and Him that the Quran has been revealed to him, and there is an announcement on a day of the great Hajj that God and his messenger has no obligations for the idol worshipers, while God has promised the believing men and women gardens of the everlasting bliss to be dwellers therein. Remembering God through the salat prayer is the greatest, while Quran’s mathematical coding is one of the greatest reminder for the human race before the greatest strike followed by a punishment from a profound smoke in the sky covering the people for denying the reminder indicates that the end of the word is nearer. On a day of Judgment record will be placed and criminals will be fearful of it, while followers will feel remorse that they had followed their leaders and great learned. That God possesses greatness and immense forgiveness will forgive lesser sins for those who had avoided the greater sins, and we cannot do anything without witness of God, nor be in a situation without being in a clear record.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (03/21/2025).