تاب
tāba
To repent in Arabic is تاب (tāba).
The verb تاب means to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do. In more formal or spiritual contexts, the term توبة (Tawbah) is also used to refer to repentance, while إنابة (Inābah) is a formal term signifying the act of turning back or returning to a righteous path.
Meaning: to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
For the first-person past tense ('I repented'), use تُبْتُ. To give a command to a single male ('repent!'), use the imperative form توب.
How do you pronounce it?
tāba
Did you know?
- Arabic differentiates between توبة as the act of repenting and استغفار as asking for forgiveness, meaning one can repent in their heart without yet asking for pardon.
- In Arabic, the word توبة (Tawbah) is often used to describe a 'return' to God, and is closely related to the concept of returning a lost object to its owner.
- While تاب is the standard verb, in some dialects, the same root is used to describe someone who has 'given up' or quit a bad habit entirely, regardless of religious intent.
Examples in context
- توب الآنRepent now!
- لقد تبت بإخلاص عن أخطائي السابقةI have sincerely repented for my past mistakes.
- اطلب الغفران وارجع إلى الطريق المستقيمSeek forgiveness and turn back to the righteous path.
- فلنتوب جميعًا ونسعى للمغفرة معًاLet's all repent and seek forgiveness together.
- تاب الرجل عن خطئه.tāba al-rajulu 'an khaṭ'ihi.The man repented for his mistake.
- هو تاب من أفعاله القديمة.huwa tāba min af'ālihi al-qadīma.He repented for his old actions.
- هل تاب من ذنبه؟hal tāba min dhanbihi?Has he repented for his sin?
Example conversation
Yusuf and Maryam are discussing a friend's change in behavior.
- يوسف Youssefهل سمعتِ عن صديقنا القديم؟Hal sami'ti 'an sadiqi-na al-qadim?Did you hear about our old friend?
- مريم Maryamنعم، يقولون إنه تاب عن أفعاله.Na'am, yaquluna innahu taba 'an af'alihi.Yes, they say he repented for his actions.
- يوسف Youssefهذا خبر يسعدني كثيراً.Hadha khabar yus'iduni kathiran.This news makes me very happy.
- مريم Maryamأتمنى أن يبدأ حياة جديدة.Atamanna an yabda'a hayatan jadidatan.I hope he starts a new life.
