q-b-d

Description

The Arabic root قبض (q-b-ḍ) carries the core semantic meaning of grasping, seizing, contracting, or drawing inward, conveying both physical and metaphorical acts of taking hold or reducing. In the Quran, this root emphasizes divine power and control, whether describing Allah's grip over His creation, His ability to withdraw provision or mercy, or the folding of the heavens like a scroll. The term often contrasts with بسط (expansion/spreading), highlighting Allah's sovereign authority over both constriction and abundance in the physical and spiritual realms.