h-b-t

Description

The Arabic root ḥ-b-ṭ (حبط) carries the core meaning of nullification, invalidation, or complete loss of value and benefit, often describing the voidance of good deeds or righteous actions. In the Quranic context, it primarily refers to how certain beliefs (especially disbelief or polytheism) or behaviors cause one's good works to become worthless and bear no fruit in the Hereafter, rendering them as if they never existed. This concept emphasizes the fundamental Islamic principle that righteous deeds require proper faith and sincere intention to be accepted by God, and that serious spiritual transgressions can erase the merit of previous good actions.