s-r-b

Description

The Arabic root سرب (s-r-b) conveys the core meaning of flowing, moving freely, or passing through without obstruction, often in a way that is elusive or illusory. In the Quran, it appears primarily in the context of a mirage (sarab) - water that seems to flow in the desert but is actually an optical illusion - symbolizing the deceptive nature of worldly pursuits and the deeds of disbelievers that appear valuable but prove worthless on the Day of Judgment. The root also describes free movement or slipping away unimpeded, connecting the physical phenomenon of flowing with the metaphysical concept of false hopes and ungraspable illusions.