What does « Compassion / To lean » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Compassion / To lean (حدب) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

حدب

Compassion / To lean

Root: ح - د - ب

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

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Definition of Compassion / To lean

The origin of al-hadab may be the hump of the back.

One says 'hadiba al-rajul hadaban' (the man became hunchbacked).

Allah says: 'And they will descend (yansilûn) from every elevation (hadab)' (Al-Anbiyâ': 96).

Hadab also refers to hills and terrain elevations.

Compassion / To lean in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Al-Anbiya : 96 Meccan

﴿حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلُونَ﴾

Until when [the dam of] Gog and Magog has been opened and they, from every elevation, descend

Words from the same root as Compassion / To lean

To perish / To vanish

بحث

To search / To rummage

بحر

Sea / Ocean

بدأ

To begin / To initiate

بدا

To appear / To manifest

بدر

Full moon / To hasten

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