What does « To fall / To overturn » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To fall / To overturn (كب) 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.

كب

To fall / To overturn

Root: ك - ب

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To fall / To overturn

Al-Kabb refers to being thrown face down.

The Almighty says: 'Is one who walks fallen on his face' (Al-Mulk 22).

Kubba 'alā wajhihi means to be thrown on the face.

Akabba 'alā ash-shay' means to apply oneself intensely to it.

To fall / To overturn in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Naml 1

Al-Mulk 1

Surah An-Naml : 90 Meccan

﴿وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَكُبَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِى ٱلنَّارِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ﴾

And whoever comes with an evil deed - their faces will be overturned into the Fire, [and it will be said], "Are you recompensed except for what you used to do?"

Surah Al-Mulk : 22 Meccan

﴿أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ﴾

Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?