There are 319 instances of kataba and its derived forms classified into 7 different groups based on grammatical forms as shown in the table below are reviewed to better understand their meanings in different contexts keeping in mind that the Arabic words may have different meanings in the different contexts:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Out of 260 instances of kitaabun in the Quran, 49 instances of it found in 44 verses of 31 surahs meaning other than “scripture”, are detailed below will help us make clear about their meanings such as a prescribed term, a decree, an obligation, a letter and record in different contexts, while the messages in the relevant verses may be very significant for us to make closer to God for His reward:
[2:235] And there is no sin upon you (people) about what you have indicated with it of a marriage to the women (widows), or you have concealed in yourselves, God has known that you will mention them, but do not promise them in secret, except that you say a descent word. And do not resolve on bow of the marriage until the prescribed term (al-kitaabu) reaches its end. And you shall know that God knows what is in yourselves, so you shall be aware of Him. And you shall know that God is Forgiving, Forbearing.
Note: A marriage can be announced or can be kept secret, while the widows cannot get married until the prescribed term ends, which is 4 months and 10 days.
[3:78] And indeed, among them there is surely a group, they distort the tongues of them with the scripture (yal’wuuna al-sinatahum bil-kitaabi) that you (people) may think it is from the scripture, while it is not from the scripture; and they say it is from God, while it is not from God, and they say the lie about God, while they know.
Note: There are 3 instances of kitaabun in the verses, and of them 2 instances refer to the scripture from God but the other instance does not.
[3:145] And it has not been for any soul (person) that it dies except by God’s permission, is a determined decree (kitaaban muajjalan). And whoever desires a reward of the world, we give him from it, and whoever desires a reward of the Hereafter, we give him from it. And we will reward the grateful ones.
[4:24] And (forbidden for you) are the married ones of the women except whom has possessed your right hands. It is a decree of God upon you (kitaaba allahi `alaykum). And there has been made lawful for you what is beyond that: that you may seek with your wealth to be chaste not being lustful. So, whoever you have chosen from them with it, then you shall give them their dowry as an obligation. And there is no sin upon you about what you have mutually agreed of it of the obligation. Indeed, God has been Knower, Wise.
Note: It has been made lawful for us to marry to any women who are not forbidden for us giving them the obligation (dowry).
[4:103] Then when you have completed the salat prayer, then you shall remember God at standing, and sitting, and on your sides. Then when you have been secure, then you shall establish the salat prayer. Indeed, the salat prayer has been upon the believers a decree (kitaaban) at specified times.
[6:7] And if we had sent down to you (prophet) a scripture in a parchment (kitaaban fee qir’taasin), then they would have touched it with their hands, surely would have said those who have disbelieved, “This is not but a clear magic.”
[6:59] And with Him are keys of the unseen; none knows them except He. He knows what is in the land and the sea, while not a leaf falls except He knows it, nor is there a grain in darknesses of the soil, nor is there anything wet or dry, except is in a clear record (illaa fee kitaabin mubeenin).
[8:68] If it had not preceded a decree from God (kitaabun mina allahi), surely, there would have touched you (people) a terrible punishment for what you have taken.
[9:36] Indeed, the number of months with God is twelve months, is a decree of God (fee kitaabi allahi) on a day He had created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred. That is the established religion, so, do not wrong in them for yourselves. And you shall fight the idol worshipers all together like that they fight you all together. And you shall know that God is with the righteous.
[10:61] And you cannot be in a situation, nor can you recite of it from Quran, nor can you do anything, except we are witnesses over you when you are engaged in it. Nothing is hidden from your Lord, even of an atom’s weight in the earth or in the heavens, nor smaller than that or larger without being in a clear record (illaa fee kitaabin mubeenin).
[11:6] And there is not a creature in the earth except its provision on God. And He knows its dwelling place and its place of storage. All is in a clear record (kullun fee kitaabin mubeenin).
[13:38] And certainly, we had sent messengers from before of you (prophet/messenger), and we made for them wives and children. It had not been for a messenger that he comes with a sign (miracle) except by permission of God that every time it was a decree (likulli ajalin kitaabun).
[15:4] And we had not destroyed any city, except while it was for it a predetermined decree (illaa wa-lahaa kitaabun ma`luumun).
[17:13] And for every person we have fastened to him his fate in his neck, and we will bring forth for him on a day of the Resurrection a record he will find it open (kitaaban yal’qaahu manshuuran).
[17:14] Read your record (iq’raa kitaabaka). It has sufficed of yourself today (a day of the Resurrection) as a reckoner for you.
[17:71] A day we will call all human beings with their record. So, whoever has been given his record in his right hand (fa-man uutiya kitaabahu bi-yameenihi), then those will read their record (fa-ulaaika yaq’rauuna kitaabahum), and they will not be wronged even a hair on a date seed.
[18:49] And the record had been placed (wa-wudi`a al-kitaabu), then you see the criminals are fearful of what is in it. They say, “Oh, woe to us! What is this of the record (maali haadhaa al-kitaabi), it does not leave a lesser nor a greater, except has counted it?” They will find what they had done being presented, while your Lord does not do wrong to anyone.
[20:52] He said, “its knowledge is with my Lord in a record (`il’muhaa `inda rabbi-i fee kitaabin). My Lord does not err, nor does He forget.”
[21:104] A day we will fold the heaven like folding of the scroll of books (al-sijilli lil’kutubi) like that we had initiated a first creation, we will repeat it, is a promise from us. Indeed, we have been doers.
[22:70] Do you not know that God knows what is in the heavens and the earth? Indeed, that is in a record (inna dhaalika fee kitaabin). Indeed, that is easy for God.
[23:62] And we do not burden a soul beyond its means, while with us there is record to speak to the truth (wa-ladaynaa kitaabun yantiqu bil-haqqi), and they will not be wronged.
[24:33] And shall be chaste those who do not find marriage until God enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek the obligation (al-kitaaba) (marriage) from whom of your slaves, then you shall give obligation to them (fa-kaatibuuhum), if you have learned in them any good, and you shall give them from God’s wealth, which He has given you. And you should not compel your slave girls to the prostitution if they have desired chastity that you may seek temporary gain of the life of the world. And whoever compels them, then indeed, God after their compulsion is Forgiving, Merciful.
Note: God has encouraged marriage to maintain chastity, even the slaves who have committed to get married shall be freed them and shall be given them from God’s wealth, and the slave girls shall not be compelled to the prostitution, but if compelled, God will forgive them after their compulsion.
[27:28] “Go with my letter of this (idh’hab bi-kitaabi haadhaa), then deliver it to them, then turn back and see what they return.”
Note: This letter is from Solomon to Sheba, while he was expecting a response from Queen Sheba.
[27:29] She (Sheba) said, “O my advisers, indeed me, it has been delivered to me an honorable letter (kitaabun kareemun).
[27:75] Nothing is hidden (from God) in the heavens and the earth except in a clear record (illaa fee kitaabin mubeenin).
[30:56] And those had been given the knowledge and the faith said, “Certainly, you have remained as per decree of God (fee kitaabi allahi) until a Day of the Resurrection. So, this is a Day of the Resurrection, but you had not been to know.”
[33:6] The prophet is closer to the believers than themselves, and his wives are like mothers of them. And possessors of the relationships of them to other are closer as per decree of God (fee kitaabi allahi) than the believers and the emigrants except that you do a kindness to your friends. It has been that is written in the scripture.
[34:3] And said those who have 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. There cannot escape from Him a weight of atom in the heavens, nor in the earth, nor smaller than that, nor greater, except in a clear record (illaa fee kitaabin mubeenin).”
[35:11] And God has created you from dust, then from a drop of semen, then He has made you spouses. Not a female conceives, nor gives birth except of His knowledge, nor is granted loner life to any person, nor is shortened from his life, except in a record (illaa fee kitaabin). Indeed, that is easy for God.
[39:69] And the earth will shine with a light of its Lord, and has been placed the record (wa-wadi`a al-kitaabu), while has been brought of the prophets and the witnesses, and has been judged between of them with the truth, and they are not wronged.
[45:28] And you will see every community is bowing. Every community will be called to its record (ilaa kitaabahaa). Today, you will be recompensed for what you have done to do.
Note: On a day of the Resurrection we all will stand before God being humble to Him get our compensation, which will be based on our records what we have done for ourselves.
[45:29] This is our record (haadhaa kitaabunaa) to speak about you of the truth. Indeed, we have done to transcribe for what you have done to do.
Note: On a day of the Resurrection our records will speak the truth about ourselves what we have done for ourselves and the judgment will take place considering all evidence to ensure fairness.
[50:4] Certainly, we have known what consumes the earth of them, and with us there is a protected record (wa-`indanaa kitaabun hafeezun).
[57:22] Not a disaster has stroked in the earth, nor in yourselves, except in a record (illaa fee kitaabin) before we bring it in existence. Indeed, that is easy for God.
[69:19] Then as for whoever has been given his record (fa-ammaa man uutiya kitaabahu) in his right hand will say, “Here, read my record (haaumu iq’rauu kitaabiyah).
[69:25] And as for whoever has been given his record (man uutiya kitaabahu) in his left hand will say, “Oh, I wish I am not given my record (lam uuta kitaabiyah).
[78:29] And everything we had included it in a record (ah’saynaahu kitaaban).
[83:7] Indeed, a record of the wicked is surely in Sijjeen (kitaaba al-fujaari la’fee sijjeenin).
[83:9] A written record (kitaabun mar’quumun).
Note: God has maintained a written record of the wicked, which He has named it “Sijjeen”.
[83:18] Nay, indeed, a record of the righteous (kitaaba al-abraari) is surely in `Illiyyeen.
[83:20] A written record (kitaabun mar’quumun).
Note: God has maintained a written record of the righteous, which He has named it “`Illiyyeen”.
[84:7] Then as for whoever has been given his record (man uutiya kitaabahu) in his right hand,
[84:10] And as for whoever has been given his record (man uutiya kitaabahu) behind his back,
[98:3] In them there are outstanding teachings (of God) (kutubun qayyimatun).
Mathematical confirmation
There are 16 verses in the Quran that deal with the details of maintaining our records, while 2 verses as we read to confirm the record of the wicked is Sijjeen and that of the righteous is `Illiyyeen, and if these 18 verses of 8 surahs are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 855 (19X45) shown in the table:
[83:8] And what has made you know what Sijjeen is?
[83:19] And what has made you know what `Illiyyuun is?
Note: Here is a fact-based explicit evidence not to have any doubt about God’s fair judgment system.
Conclusion
Review indicates that God has decreed certain things for us we must obey if we believe in Him and His judgment on a day of the Resurrection. The widows will get married when their prescribed terms end. The believers will establish their salat prayer at specified times. He encourages them to get married to maintain chastity, while those who cannot afford marriage will be patient until God enriches them. The slaves may be freed if they have intended and promised to get married, while the slave girls cannot be forced in the business of prostitution, which means that God has forbidden prostitution for women to take it as profession, but no blame on them if they accept any profession other than that.
God has informed us that nothing is hidden from Him whether is in the heavens or is in the earth, even a weight of atom, or smaller and greater than that, and we cannot be in a situation without His witness. He has created us from dust and has reproduced us from a drop of semen through spouses, while the number of months with Him is 12 and of them 4 are sacred from the time He has created the heavens and the earth. The end of the world is coming and none can escape from it, and the earth shine with a light of God on that day. The evil behavior of the disbelievers is such that even if He had sent down a physical book for us, the disbelievers would not believe it saying that it is nothing but a clear magic.
Review also confirms God’s impartial judgment system for maintaining record of every one of us, which will speak the truth about ourselves. The Judgment will take place followed by the end of the world to compensate us based on the well protected records when we all have stood before God being humble to Him, while the records of the wicked are made known to us to be “Sijjeen” and the records of the righteous are made known to us to be “`Illiyyeen” making a clear distinction between the records of the wicked and that of the righteous. Those who will be given their records in their right hands will be in joy and happiness, but those who will be given their records in their left hands will be in sorrows and miseries, which has a fact based evidence that we do not have any confusion to make our decision.
God’s judgment system is not only fair and transparent but also explicit that we may reflect to choose through our beliefs and practices to have our record in our right hand or to have it in our left hand knowing truth from His given guidance avoiding all misconceptions including intercession around us.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (05/16/2025).