What does « Disaster / Calamity » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Disaster / Calamity (نكب) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

نكب

Disaster / Calamity

Root: ن - ك - ب

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Disaster / Calamity

An-Nakb refers to turning away and straying from the path.

The Almighty says: 'They turn away from the path' (Al-Mu'minun 74).

Nakaba means to turn away.

An-nākib is one who strays.

Al-nākibah is calamity.

Disaster / Calamity in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Mu'minun 1

Al-Mulk 1

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 74 Meccan

﴿وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَنِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ لَنَٰكِبُونَ﴾

But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path.

Surah Al-Mulk : 15 Meccan

﴿هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ﴾

It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.

Words from the same root as Disaster / Calamity

النَّبَأُ

The News / The Tiding

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
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