What does « To repress / To compel » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To repress / To compel (كبت) 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.

كبت

To repress / To compel

Root: ك - ب - ت

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To repress / To compel

Al-Kabt refers to humiliation and degradation.

The Almighty says: 'Or humiliate them, and they return disappointed' (Al-'Imran 127).

Kabatahu means to humiliate and debase him.

Al-makbūt is one who is humiliated and disappointed.

To repress / To compel in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Âl 'Imrân 1

Al-Mujadila 1

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 127 Medinan

﴿لِيَقْطَعَ طَرَفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْ يَكْبِتَهُمْ فَيَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَآئِبِينَ﴾

That He might cut down a section of the disbelievers or suppress them so that they turn back disappointed.

Surah Al-Mujadila : 5 Medinan

﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآدُّونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ كُبِتُوا۟ كَمَا كُبِتَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ﴾

Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger are abased as those before them were abased. And We have certainly sent down verses of clear evidence. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.