What does Tabi mean?

Islam > Glossary > Tabi

Discover the meaning of the term Tabi (تابع) in Islamic vocabulary.

Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition Tabi

Tabi according to Kitab at-Ta'rifat (Al-Jurjani)

Every second undergoing its antecedent’s declension from one angle. This restriction excludes the theme’s information, second object, third object, of ’alimtou and a’lamtou’s paradigm: the operator therein operates not from one angle. Five kinds: confirming, describing, substituting, explicating-apposition, letter-apposition.

Tabi according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

In the complements, if Allah wills.

Tabi according to Mu'jam Lughat al-Fuqaha

The particular servant of a person = the particular secret-keeper = the affairs director. Subordinate. The person obeying another having no opinion with him; hence the follower’s intent is the followed’s intent.

Tabi according to Al-Qamus al-Fiqhi

The following one. The servant. He following another; in the noble Quran: « camest thou those given the Book with every sign, they follow not thy qibla, nor art thou follower of their qibla, nor some of them followers of the other’s qibla; and if thou followedst their lusts after what came thee of knowledge, thou art then of the unjust » (al-Baqara 145). In sale among the Shafi’ites: every separate thing the establisher stopped on, as erected doors.

Tabi in the Quran

وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِكُلِّ ءَايَةٍۢ مَّا تَبِعُوا۟ قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍۢ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍۢ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًۭا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ « And if you brought to those who were given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qiblah. Nor will you be a follower of their qiblah. Nor would they be followers of one another's qiblah. So if you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, indeed, you would then be among the wrongdoers. » [Surah البقرة : 145]

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ « And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. » [Surah النور : 31]

Related terms: Tabi

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Wed 26 Rabi' al-Awwal
الأربعاء 26 ربيع الأول
هلال متناقص Waning Crescent Day 27.1 / 29.5
Illumination 6%
New moon in 2 days
سبحان الله Glory be to Allah