Rabb () is an

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

word to refer to God as Lord The term is used by

Arabs Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of yea ...

and

Sikh Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...

Punjabis The Punjabis (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ; ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ; romanised as Pañjābī) are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group associated with the Punjab region, comprising areas of northwestern India and eastern Paki ...

. This is related to the word “Rabbi” used by the

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

practicing

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

. In the

Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...

, God refers to himself as "Rabb" in several places. When it is used with the definite article (''al-Rabb'') the Arabic word denotes "the Lord (God)". In other cases, the context makes it clear as to whom the word is referring to, in this case, "rabb" refers to "owner, master", for example ''rabb al-dar'' () means "master of the house/residence".

God in Islam In Islam, God (, contraction of , ) is seen as the Creator god, creator and God the Sustainer, sustainer of the universe, who God and eternity, lives eternally. God is conceived as a perfect, Tawhid, singular, immortal, omnipotent, and omnisc ...

is referred to by many qualities and attributes. In the first

Surah A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into ayah, verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' (al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while ...

, Al-Fatihah of the

, introduces this Title "''Rabb''" in the first Verse, "All Praise and Gratitude is due to God, Lord (''Rabb'') of all the worlds and Universe", thus stating clearly that God takes care, nourishes, fosters through every stage of existence, in which everything between that exists. In the

Indo-Gangetic plain The Indo-Gangetic Plain, also known as the Northern Plain or North Indian River Plain, is a fertile plain spanning across the northern and north-eastern part of the Indian subcontinent. It encompasses North India, northern and East India, easte ...

, especially in the

Punjab region Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

, the term "Rabb" or "Rab" is used by Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians to refer to God.

References

Hans Wehr Hans Bodo Wehr (; 5 July 190924 May 1981) was a German Arabist. He is best known for his work on '' A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic'', originally published in German as in 1952. The system of transliteration used in the dictionary has beco ...

, '' A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic'' (Spoken Language Services, Ithaca, NY, 1976). ed. J. Milton Cowan. . * ''Islam in the World'' by Malise Ruthven (Gantra Publications, 2006) {{authority control Arabic words and phrases Names of God in Islam

See also

References