Bismillah

A word that has recently fascinated me is the word inbaghaa إِنْبَغَى , which appears in the Qur’an in different verbal forms. This word is usually translated as “suitable” or “befitting” but has a deeper meaning…as always :)

This word can carry four different meanings depending on the context of the ayah. Here are some examples from the Qur’an:

1. The first meaning of inbaghaa is when something is not suitable for someone in the sense that it is too good for him, he is not up to it or he does not deserve it.

Allah ta’ala says,

It is not for them to do so, nor do they have the power. (26:211)

This ayah is referring to the Shayateen; they do not possess the ability or power to bring down the Qur’an. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam was accused of being possessed and was receiving revelation from the devils and not from Allah. By the use of yanbaghi, Allah ta’ala refutes this claim by stating that not only are the devils incapable of such an act, this act of revelation is too good for them and they do not deserve it.

Another example is the duaa of Sulayman alayhi salaam:

And bless me with a kingdom that it shall not befit anyone else after me to have. (38:35)

It it is not befitting for anyone after Sulayman alayhi salaam to have a kingdom like his.

2. The second meaning of inbaghaa is to not be suitable for someone in the sense that he is above it or it is beneath him.

Allah azza wa jal says,

And it does not befit the Compassionate One to have offspring. (19:92)

In this ayah, the first meaning is taken that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is High and Above taking a child.

Allah ta’ala also states about the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam,

And We did not teach him how to compose poetry, nor does it become him. (36:69)

In this ayah, the second meaning is taken that poetry is beneath the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam and the Qur’an.

3. The third meaning of inbaghaa is to not be appropriate for someone to do, in the sense that it would be wrong/blameworthy for him to do so.

Allah azza wa jal describes what those who were worshipped beside Him will say:

It would not have been appropriate for us to have taken any friends other than You. (25:18)

The creation that was worshipped along with Allah by mankind will declare on the Day of Judgment that it would have been blameworthy for them to take any other awliyaa besides Allah azza wa jal.

4. The fourth meaning of inbaghaa is to not be the right for someone, in the sense that one is forbidden to do so or they lack the power to do so.

Allah ta’ala says,

It is not for the sun to overtake the moon. (36:40)

The sun does not have the power to overtake the moon, nor does it have permission to do so.

-Examples and definitions taken from “Verbal Idioms of the Qur’an” by Dr. Mustansir Mir.