What does « Karb » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Karb (كرب) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

كرب
Karb
Root: ك - ر - ب
Quranic language 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Karb

Al-Karb refers to anguish and extreme distress.

The Almighty says: 'And We saved him from the distress' (Al-Anbiya 76).

Kashafa al-karb means to dispel anguish.

Al-makrūb is the distressed one.

Al-kurb is great affliction.

Karb in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
As-Saffat 2
Al-An'am 1
Al-Anbiya 1
Surah Al-An'am : 64 Meccan
﴿قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ﴾
Say, "It is Allah who saves you from it and from every distress; then you [still] associate others with Him."
Surah Al-Anbiya : 76 Meccan
﴿وَنُوحًا إِذْ نَادَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ فَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ﴾
And [mention] Noah, when he called [to Allah] before [that time], so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great flood.
Surah As-Saffat : 76 Meccan
﴿وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ﴾
And We saved him and his family from the great affliction.
Surah As-Saffat : 115 Meccan
﴿وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُمَا وَقَوْمَهُمَا مِنَ ٱلْكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ﴾
And We saved them and their people from the great affliction,

Words from the same root as Karb

أرب
Arb
أريك
Aryk
بئر
Biʾr
بتر
Btar
بتك
Batk
بحر
Baḥr
بدر
Badr
بذر
Badhr

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Thu 25 Rabi' al-Thani
الخميس 25 ربيع الآخر
هلال متناقص Waning Crescent Day 26.2 / 29.5
Illumination 12%
New moon in 3 days
لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله There is no power nor strength except with Allah

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ