{{Short description|Arabic word used to refer to God as the "Lord" or "Master"}} {{for|the Pennsylvania politician|Chris Rabb}} '''Rabb''' ({{langx|ar|رب||lord}}) is an Arabic word to refer to God as Lord; it exists as a loanword in various languages, such as Punjabi.<ref name="Yuskaev2017">{{cite book |last1=Yuskaev |first1=Timur R. |title=Speaking Qur'an: An American Scripture |date=18 October 2017 |publisher=Univ of South Carolina Press |isbn=978-1-61117-795-4 |language=English |quote=Indeed, "Lord" is a direct translation of the Arabic word ''Rabb''.}}</ref><ref name="Singh1990"/> It is used by adherents of various religions, including Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs across the Middle East and Indian subcontinent in reference to the Supreme Being.<ref name="Wan2004">{{cite book |last1=Wan |first1=Enoch |title=Christian Witness in Pluralistic Contexts in the 21st Century |date=2004 |publisher=William Carey Library |isbn=978-0-87808-385-5 |page=35 |language=English |quote=After the rise of Islam, Jews, Christians, and Muslims used "Allah" for Elohim and "theos" when they quoted or translated the Bible in Arabic as they did in their dialogues together. Arabicish versions have tended to transliterate Yahweh or use the word ''rabb'' (Lord) as Jews used ''adonai''.}}</ref><ref name="Singh1990"/>
In the Quran, God refers to himself as "Rabb" in several places. When it is used with the definite article (''al-Rabb'') the Arabic word denotes "the Lord (God)". In other cases, the context makes it clear as to whom the word is referring to, in this case, "rabb" refers to "owner, master", for example ''rabb al-dar'' ({{lang|ar|رَبُّ ٱلْدَّار}}) means "master of the house/residence".
God in Islam is referred to by many qualities and attributes. In the first ''surah'' of the Quran, Al-Fatihah, the title "''Rabb''" is introduced in the first verse, "All Praise and Gratitude is due to God, Lord (''Rabb'') of all the worlds and Universe", thus stating clearly that God takes care, nourishes, fosters through every stage of existence, in which everything between that exists.
In the Indo-Gangetic Plain, especially in the Punjab region, the term "Rabb" or "Rab" is used by Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians to refer to God.<ref name="Singh1990">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Wazir |title=Sikhism and Punjab's Heritage |date=1990 |publisher=Punjabi University |language=en |quote=For instance 'Rabb' is the most popular Name of God in Punjabi. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs frequently use this Arabic word which means Lord or Master.}}</ref>
==See also== *Rabbi – Hebrew word with a similar etymology *Rebbe – Yiddish term derived ''rabbi'', it mostly refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement.
==References== {{reflist}}
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* Hans Wehr, ''A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic'' (Spoken Language Services, Ithaca, NY, 1976). ed. J. Milton Cowan. {{ISBN|0-87950-001-8}}. * ''Islam in the World'' by Malise Ruthven (Gantra Publications, 2006) {{ISBN|1-86207-906-4}}
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Category:Arabic words and phrases Category:Names of God in Islam