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.
Here are 59 instances of kataba, kaatibu, ik’tataba, kitaabi, kaatib and mak’tuub are reviewed together to better understand their meanings in the different contexts:
Details of instances of kataba
There are 49 instances of kataba in the verb form I meaning “to write/record/prescribe/decree” found in 39 verses across 18 surahs are detailed out below:
[2:79] So, woe to those who write the scripture with their hands (lilladheena yaktubuuna al-kitaaba bi-aydeehim), then they say, “This is from God,” that they trade with it for a small price. So, woe to them for what has written their hands (mimma katabat aydeehim), and woe to them for what they earn.
[2:178] O you who have believed, it has been prescribed the equivalent execution for you in the killings (kutiba `alaykumu al-qisaasu fee al-qatlaa) of the freeman for the freeman, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But whoever has been pardoned anything for it by his brother, then there should be following up with a suitable and a payment to him with kindness. That is a lessening from your Lord and mercy. So, who has transgressed after that, then for him there is a painful punishment.
[2:180] It has been decreed for you (kutiba `alaykum) when the death has approached to one of you, is good if he has left the will for the parents and the near relatives with being the fair, a duty upon the righteous.
[2:183] O you who have believed, the fasting has been decreed for you (kutiba `alaykumu al-siyaamu), as what has been decreed for those before yourselves (kamaa kutiba `alaa alladheena min qablikum) that you may be righteous.
[2:187] Permitted for you is the approach to your wives at nights of the fasting. They are garments for you and you are garments for them. God knows that you had done to deceive yourselves, so, He has turned to you and has pardoned from you. So, now you shall have relation with them and shall seek what God has prescribed for you (maa kataba allahu lakum). You shall eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread at the dawn. Then, you shall complete the fasting till the night. And do not have relation with them, while you are secluded ones in the masjids. That is of God’s limits, so, do not approach it. Thus that God makes clear His revelations for the people so that they may be righteous.
[2:216] The fighting has been decreed for you (kutiba `alaykumu al-qitaalu) while it may be hatred to you. And it may have been that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may have been that you love a thing while it is bad for you. And God knows while you do not know.
[2:246] Did you see to the leaders of Children of Israel after Moses? They said to a prophet to them, “Appoint a king for us, we will fight in a way of God.” He said, “Would you have done if the fighting had been decreed upon you (in kutiba `alaykumu al-qitaalu) – that you would not fight?” They said, “And what is for us that we would not fight in a way of God, when certainly, we have been driven from our homes and our children?” Then when the fighting has been decreed upon them, they had turned away except a few from them, and God is Knower of the wrongdoers.
[2:282] O you who have believed, when you have contracted of a debt for a fixed term, then you shall write it (fa-uk’tubuuhu). And a scribe should write between yourselves with the justice (wal-yaktub baynakum kaatibun bil-`adli). And no scribe should refuse that he writes as what God has taught him (yaktuba kamaa `allamahu allahu) . So, he should write (falyaktub) and should dictate the one on whom is the right (to pay back), while he should fear God his Lord and should not diminish anything from it. Then if it has been the one on him is the right of limited knowledge or weak or cannot be able that he can dictate it, then his guardian should with the justice. And you shall call for two witnesses from your men, then if there would not be two men, then a man and two women of whom you agree from the witnesses that one of the two errs, the other one of the two will remind. And the witnesses will not refuse when that they are called. And do not weary that you write it for its term whether small or large (taktubuuhu saghiran aw kabeeran ilaa ajalihi). That is more just with God and more straight for the evidence, and better that you do doubt except that there would be a transaction on spot you deal with among yourselves, then there is no sin upon you that you do not write it (allaa taktubuuhaa). And you shall have witnesses when you have made commercial transaction. And neither a scribe nor a witness shall be harmed, and if you do, then it is a sinful conduct for you, while you shall fear God and God teaches you. And God is Knower of everything.
[3:53] “Our (disciples of Jesus) Lord, we have believed in what You have sent down, and we have followed the messenger; so record us with the witnesses (fa-uk’tub’naa ma`a al-shaahideena).”
[3:154] Then He has sent down upon you a security in slumber after the distress overcoming a group of you, while certainly, a group of you has worried of themselves thinking of God other than the truth – a thought of the ignorance. They say, “Is there anything of the affair for us?” Say, “Indeed, the affair – all of it belongs to God.” They hide inside themselves what they do not reveal to you. They say, “If there had been anything of the affair for us, we would not have been killed there.” Say, “if you had been in your homes, surely, there would have come out those who have been decreed the killing upon them (la’baraza alladheena kutiba `alayhimu al-qatlu) to their places of killing.” And that God might test what is in your breasts and that He may purge what in your hearts. And God is Knower of what is in the breasts.
[3:181] Certainly, God has heard a saying of those who have said, “Indeed, God is poor, while we are rich.” We will record what they have said (sa’naktubu maa qaaluu) and their killing of the prophets without justice, and we will say, “Taste a punishment of the Burning Fire.
[4:66] And if that we had decreed for them (wa-law annaa katabnaa `alayhim) that you shall kill yourselves or shall leave your homes, they would have not done it, except a few of them. And if that they had done what they were commanded with it, surely, it would have been better for them and strength for strengthening.
[4:77] Have you not seen to those? It has been said to them, “You shall restrain your hands and shall establish the salat prayer and shall give the zakat.” Then when the fighting has been decreed upon them (fa-lamma kutiba `alayhimu al-qitaalu), a group from them fear the people as they fear God or a greater fear, and they said, “Our Lord, why have You decreed the fighting for us (rabbanaa lima katabta `alaynaa al-qitaala)? Why You have not postponed for us to a near term!” Say, “An enjoyment of the world is little, while the Hereafter is far better for whoever has feared (God), and you will not be wronged even like a hair on a date seed.”
[4:81] And they say, “Obedience”, then when they have left from you, a group of them has planned by night other than that which you say, while God records what they plan by night (wa-allahu yaktubu maa yubayyituuna). So you shall turn away from them and shall put trust upon God. And has sufficed with God as an Advocate.
[4:127] And they seek ruling to you (Muhammad) about the women. Say, “God gives you ruling about them, and what is recited to you in the scripture about orphans, the girls to whom you do not give them what has been decreed for them (maa kutiba lahunna), while you wish to marry them; and those who are weak of the children, and that you stand for the orphans with the justice. And whatever you do from good, then indeed, God has been Knower of it.”
[5:21] “O my (Moses) people, you shall enter the holy land which God has decreed for you (allatee kataba allahu lakum), and you do not turn on your backs, then you will turn back as losers.”
[5:32] Since that time, we have decreed upon (min ajli dhaalika katabnaa `alaa) the Children of Israel that whoever has killed a soul (person) – not being a killer or spreading corruption in the earth, then as if he has killed all the people. And whoever has saved it, then as if he has saved all the people. And certainly, has come to them our messengers with the clear proofs, then indeed, most of them after that, are transgressors in the earth.
[5:45] And we have decreed upon them in it (wa-katabnaa `alayhim feehaa) that the life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and the wounds for (equivalent) retribution. But whoever has given charity with it, then it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge with what God has revealed, then those – they are the wrongdoers.
[5:83] And when they have heard what has been revealed to the messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears for what they have recognized of the truth, and they say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so record us with the witnesses (fa-uk’tub’naa ma`a al-shaahideena).
[6:12] Say, “To whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth?” Say, “To God.” He has decreed the mercy upon Himself (kataba `alaa nafsihi al-rahmata); surely, He will gather you on a day of the Resurrection, there is no doubt in it. Those who have lost themselves (their souls), then they do not believe.
[6:54] And when has come to you (Muhammad) those who believe in our revelations, then you shall say, “Peace upon you. Your Lord has decreed the mercy upon Himself (kataba rabbukum `alaa nafsihi al-rahmata) that whoever among you has done evil out of ignorance, then has repented after of it and has reformed, then indeed, He is Forgiving, Merciful.”
[7:145] And we have written for him (Moses) in the tablets (wa-katabnaa lahu fee al-alwaahi) – an instruction of everything and an explanation for everything. So, you shall take them with firmness and shall order your people to take them of their best. I will show you an abode of the defiant.
[7:156] “And prescribe for us (wa-uk’tub lanaa) goodness in this world and in the Hereafter. Indeed, we have turned to You.” He (God) said, “My punishment – I afflict with it whomever I will, while My mercy has encompassed all things. So, I will decree it (fa-sa-aktubuhaa) for those who be righteous and give the zakat, and those who – they believe in our revelations.”
[9:51] Say, “No adversity befalls us except what God has decreed for us (illaa maa kataba allahu lanaa); He is our Protector, and upon God should put trust the believers.”
[9:120] It has not been for the people of the city and whoever their around of the Arabs that they should remain behind after God’s messenger, and they should not prefer of their lives to his life. That is of that neither thirst nor fatigue or hunger afflicts them in a way of God, nor do they take any step that angers the disbelievers, nor do they inflict any infliction on an enemy, except (what) has been decreed for them deed as a righteous in it (illaa kutiba lahum bihi `amalun saalihan). Indeed, God does not let go waste a reward of the good-doers.
[9:121] And neither they can spend a small spending nor a big, nor can they cross a valley, except (what) has been decreed for them (illaa kutiba lahum) that God may reward them best of what they had done to accomplish.
[10:21] And when we have given a taste of mercy to the people after an adversity had touched them, then they have a plot against our revelations. Say, “God is more swift in planning.” Indeed, our messengers record what they plot (inna rusulanaa yak’tubuuna maa tamkuruuna).
[19:79] Nay, we will record what he (disbeliever) says (kalla sa-nak’tubu maa yaquulu), and we will prolong for him from the increasing punishment.
[21:105] And certainly, we have recorded in the Psalms (wa-laqad katabnaa fee al-zabuuri), after the reminder (given to Moses and Aaron) that the earth – the righteous servants of Me will inherit it.
[22:4] It has been decreed upon him that he whoever has allied him (devil) (kutiba `alayhim annahu man tawallahu), then indeed, he will mislead him and will guide him to a punishment of the Blazing fire.
[36:12] Indeed, we give life to the dead, and we record what they have sent forth and their footprints (wa-nak’tubu maa qaddamuu wa-aathaarahum), and everything we have counted it is in a clear record.
[43:19] And they have made the angels females, those who – they are servants of the Gracious, Have they witnessed their creation? Their testimony will be recorded (sa’tuk’tabu shahaadatuhim), and they will be questioned.
[43:80] Or do they think that we do not hear their secret and conspiracy? Nay, and our messengers with them are recording (balaa wa-rusulanaa laday’him yaktubuuna).
[52:41] Or is there the unseen with them that they (disbelievers) write down (fa-hum yak’tubuuna)?
[57:27] Then we have followed on their footsteps with our messengers, and we have followed with Jesus, son of Mary, and we have given him the Injeel, and we have placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who had followed him. While they have invented monasticism we have not prescribed it for them (maa katab’naahaa `alayhim) except for seeking God’s pleasure but they have not observed it a right observance. So we have given those who have believed among them their reward, while most of them are disobedient.
[58:21] God has decreed (kataba allahu): “Surely, I will overcome – I and My messengers.” Indeed, God is Powerful, Almighty.
[58:22] You will not find a people who believe in God and the Last Day love whoever has opposed God and His messenger, even if they have been their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their relatives. Those – He has decreed the faith in their hearts (ulaaika kataba fee quluubihimu al-iimani) and has supported them with inspiration from Him, and He will admit them to gardens flowing the rivers of their underneath as dwellers therein forever. And God has been pleased with them, and they have been pleased with Him. Those are a party of God. No doubt! Indeed, a party of God – they are the successful ones.
[59:3] And if not that God had decreed the exile upon them (wa-lawlaa an kataba allahu `alayhimu al-jalaa-a), certainly, He would have punished them in the world, and for them in the Hereafter there is a punishment of the Fire.
[68:47] Or is there the unseen with them that they record (fa-hum yak’tubuuna)?
Details of Instance of kaateebu
[24:33] And there should be chaste of those who do not find marriage until God enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek the obligation (marriage) from whom has possessed your right hands (your slaves), then you shall give them obligation (fa-kaateebuuhum) if you have learned in them any good, and you shall give them from God’s wealth, which He has given you. And you do 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.
Details of instance of ik’tataba
[25:5] And they (disbelievers) said, “Tales of the previous people, he (Muhammad) has written it (asaateeru al-awaleena ik’tatabahaa) as it is dictated to him morning and evening.”
Details of instance of kitaabi
[27:28] “Go with this letter of mine (Solomon) (idh’hab bi-kitaabii haadhaa), then give it to them, then turn away from them, then see what they return.”
Details of instances of kaatib
There are 6 instances of kaatib in the active participle meaning “scribe/recorder” found in 4 verses across 3 surahs are detailed out below:
[2:282] O you who have believed, when you have contracted of a debt for a fixed term, then you shall write it. And a scribe should write between yourselves with the justice (wal-yaktub baynakum kaatibun bil-`adli). And no scribe should refuse (wa-laa-yaba kaatibun) that he writes as what God has taught him. So, he should write and should dictate the one on whom is the right (to pay back), while he should fear God his Lord and should not diminish anything from it. Then if it has been the one on him is the right of limited knowledge or weak or cannot be able that he can dictate it, then his guardian should with the justice. And you shall call for two witnesses from your men, then if there would not be two men, then a man and two women of whom you agree from the witnesses that one of the two errs, the other one of the two will remind. And the witnesses will not refuse when that they are called. And do not weary that you write it for its term whether small or large. That is more just with God and more straight for the evidence, and better that you do doubt except that there would be a transaction on spot you deal with among yourselves, then there is no sin upon you that you do not write it. And you shall have witnesses when you have made commercial transaction. And neither a scribe nor a witness shall be harmed (wa-laa-yudaarra kaatibun wa-laa-shaheedun), and if you do, then it is a sinful conduct for you, while you shall fear God and God teaches you. And God is Knower of everything.
[2:283] And if you have been on a journey and you do not find a scribe (wa-lam-tajiduu kaatibun), then there should be pledges with collateral. Then if it has trusted yourselves to other, then let discharge his trust of the one who has been trusted, and let him fear God his Lord. And do not conceal the testimony, and whoever conceals it, then indeed, he is a sinful at his heart. And God is Knower of what you do.
[21:94] So whoever does the righteous deeds while he is a believer, then there is no refusal of his effort, and indeed, we are recorders of him (wa-innaa lahu kaatibuuna).
[82:11] They (guardians over us) are honest recorders (kiraaman kaatibuuna).
Details of instance of mak’tuuban
[7:157] Those who follow the messenger, the gentile prophet whom (Muhammad) they (Jews and Christians) find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel (alladhee yajiduunahu mak’tuuban `indahum fee al-tawraati wa-injeeli). He (the messenger, the gentile prophet) commands them with the right and forbids them from the evil; and he makes lawful for them the good things and makes unlawful upon them the bad things; and he relieves from them their burdens and the shackles, which has been upon them. So, those who have believed in him, and have honored him, and have helped him, and have followed the light with him, which has been sent down. Those – they are the successful ones.
59 instances of kataba and its derived forms are reviewed found in 46 verses in the Quran. Their review lets us know what God has decreed for us and there is no way for us to ignore them as He has recorded what we have done good and bad through His messengers, while He has guided mankind sending messengers followed by another to follow what has been given to them.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (5/26/2023).