Core sense — an idol; whatever is worshipped instead of God; a diviner or enchanter; the Devilgenerated
1the idol, or idols; the name of a certain idol belonging to Kureysh—الطَّاغُوتُ
Not a pure Arabic word, because it contains the letters ج and ت without any of the letters of the kind called ذَوْلَقِىّ [which are ر and ل and ن ].
It also means whatever is worshipped instead of God, or to the exclusion of God, of any kind.
Said to be originally الجِبْسُ, that is, he, or that, in which there is no good.
they believe in enchantment and the Devil—يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ
It also means the diviner, the enchanter, and the like; or the Devil, Satan; and enchantment. (Esh-Shaabee)
Accord. to Esh-Shaabee, this is the meaning in the Qur'ān 4:54.
Accord. to I' Ab, by الجبت is meant Hoyeí Ibn-Akhtab, and by الطاغوت Kaab Ibn-El-Ashraf.
Or the words refer to these two men, Jews, who prostrated themselves to the gods of Kureysh in order to induce Kureysh to join them in a league against Mohammad.
Or they refer to certain Jews who said that the worship of idols is more pleasing to God than that to which Mohammad invited people.
It is said in a tradition that what are termed الطِّيَرَةُ and العِيَافَةُ and الطَّرْقُ are مِنَ الجِبْتِ [apparently meaning things in which there is no good, or kinds of divination, or from the Devil].
Show Lane's original text
, not a pure Arabic word, because it comprises the letters ج and ت without any of the letters of the kind called ذَوْلَقِىّ [which are ر and ل and ن ]; (S;) The idol: (S, K:) or idols: (Ksh in iv. 54:) or the name of a certain idol, (Bd and Jel on that verse,) belonging to Kureysh; as also الطَّاغُوتُ : (Jel:) and that which is worshipped instead, or to the exclusion, of God; whatever it be: (Ksh, Bd, K:) said to be originally الجِبْسُ , i. e., (Bd,) he, or that, wherein is no good: (Bd, K:) and the diviner: (S, K:) and the enchanter: (S, K, Kull:) and the like thereof: (S:) or the Devil; Satan: (Kull:) and enchantment. (Esh-Shaabee, K.) Accord. to Esh-Shaabee, يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ , in the Kur [iv. 54], means They believe in enchantment and the Devil: or, accord. to I' Ab, by الجبت is meant Hoyeí Ibn-Akhtab; and by الطاغوت , Kaab Ibn-El-Ashraf: (TA:) or the words relate to these two men, Jews, who, in order to induce Kureysh to join with them in a league against Mohammad, prostrated themselves to the gods of Kureysh: (Ksh, Bd:) or to certain Jews, who said that the worship of idols is more pleasing to God than that to which Mohammad invited. (Bd.) It is said in a trad. that what are termed الطِّيَرَةُ and العِيَافَةُ and الطَّرْقُ are مِنَ الجِبْتِ [app. meaning of things wherein is no good: or kinds of divination: or from the Devil]. (S.)