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سبق

Form 1 · Form 2 · Form 3 · Form 4 · Form 6 · Form 8  ·  18 entries  ·  Qur'ānic frequency 37

Form 1سَبَقَهُ7 senses · 1 main
muḍāriʿـِيَفْعِلُ·ـُيَفْعُلُ

Core sense — he preceded him, he outstripped him, he took precedence of himgenerated

1.1they say not anything without his having taught them—لَا يَسْبُقُونَهُ بِالقَوْلِ

Muḍāriʿ سَبِقَ and سَبُقَ, the former better attested and more usual; maṣdar سَبْقٌ. He preceded him; he went, or came, before him, or ahead of him; he outstripped him; he took precedence of him; same as تَقَدَّمَهُ, in running and in everything.

This reading comes from the phrase سَابَقْتُهُ فَسَبَقْتُهُ (explained below), the muḍāriʿ of which is أَسْبُقُهُ. See Form 3.

[their saying does not precede his saying]—لَا يَسْبُِقُ قَوْلُهُمْ قَوْلَهُ

Some read this in the Qur'ān 21:27 with ḍamm; another rendering is: they say not anything until He has said it.

1.1.1figurative · مجاز — inferredthe horse outstripped, coming in first among those started together for a wager—سَبَقَ الفَرَسُ فِى الحَلْبَةِ
[the Apostle of God came in first in the race, Aboo-Bekr came in next, and 'Omar came in third]—سَبَقَ رَسُولُ ٱللّٰهِ وَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَثَلَّثَ عُمَرُ

From the tradition of 'Alee.

[And سَبَقَ, used in the same way with the object understood, means he preceded, and so he was, or became, first, or foremost; he had, or got, the priority. And he was, or became, one of the first: see سَابِقٌ. See also قَصَبُ السَّبْقِ in art. قصب.]

1.1.2[he preceded the other people in applying himself to the affair]—سَبَقَ النَّاسَ إِلَى الأَمْرِ
to him belongs priority, or precedence, in this affair—لَهُ سَبْقٌ فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ

Like سَابِقَةٌ, which means the same as قُدْمَةٌ.

1.1.3figurative · مجاز — inferred[he preconceived a thing, and so made a mistake about it]—سَبَقَ وَهْمُهُ إِلَى شَىْءٍ فَغَلِطَ فِيهِ

Msb, in explanation of دُخِلَ عَلَيْهِ.

[And سَبَقَ ذِهْنُهُ إِلَى الشَّىْءِ means in the same way he preconceived the thing, or his mind turned hastily to the thing, before reflection; from what follows.]

1.1.4he went, or passed, quickly to them—سَبَقَ إِلَيْهِمْ
1.1.5figurative · مجاز — inferreda saying proceeded hastily from me to him, before reflection—سَبَقَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّى قَوْلٌ

Same as فَرَطَ.

speech proceeded hastily from him—سَبَقَ مِنْهُ كَلَامٌ

Same as فَرَطَ.

[the vomit came forth to his mouth before he was aware]—سَبَقَهُ القَىْءُ

[Both phrases may also mean, more in keeping with the primary meaning of the verb, that speech proceeded previously from him; see the Qur'ān 10:20 and elsewhere.]

See also Form 8.

That is, سَبَقَهُ فِى الخُرُوجِ إِلَى فِيهِ.

[the pen ran ahead, skipping something, in transcribing]—سَبَقَ القَلَمُ
Qur’ān 10:19 approximate — somewhere between 10:16 and 10:61 Lane cites “Kur x. 20”
Qur’ān 10:19 the verse Lane’s citation points to, and it uses this root
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ إِلَّآ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

Mankind was but one nation, but differed (later). Had it not been for a word that went forth before from thy Lord, their differences would have been settled between them.Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

1.1.6figurative · مجاز — inferredI overcame him—سَبَقْتُ عَلَيْهٍ
he overcame his people in generosity—سَبَقَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ
he exceeded him in generosity—سَبَقَهُ فِى الكَرَمِ
Qur’ānic occurrences Form 1 5 shown of 20
8:59
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَبَقُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ لَا يُعْجِزُونَ

Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly): they will never frustrate (them).

15:5
مَّا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ

Neither can a people anticipate its term, nor delay it.

21:27
لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُۥ بِٱلْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِۦ يَعْمَلُونَ

They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command.

23:43
مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ

No people can hasten their term, nor can they delay (it).

37:171
وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

Already has Our Word been passed before (this) to our Servants sent (by Us),

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text
, (S, O, Msb, K, &c.,) aor. سَبِقَ (O, Msb, K) and سَبُقَ , (O, K,) but the former is of higher authority, or more usual, (O, TA,) inf. n. سَبْقٌ , (S, Msb,) He preceded him; he was, or became, got, went, or came, before him, or ahead of him; he outwent, or outstripped, him; he had, got, or took, precedence of him; syn. تَقَدَّمَهُ ; (K, TA;) in running, and in everything. (TA.) Some read, in the Kur [xxi. 27], لَا يَسْبُقُونَهُ بِالقَوْلِ , thus, with damm, meaning They say not [anything] without his having taught them: (O, TA:) or they say not anything until He has said it: originally, لَا يَسْبُِقُ قَوْلُهُمْ قَوْلَهُ [their saying does not precede his saying]: this reading is from the phrase سَابَقْتُهُ فَسَبَقْتُهُ , [expl. below,] aor. of the latter أَسْبُقُهُ . (Bd.) See 3. سَبَقَ الفَرَسُ فِى الحَلْبَةِ The horse outstripped, or came in first, among those started together for a wager, or in the race-ground. (O, K.) Hence the trad. of 'Alee, سَبَقَ رَسُولُ ٱللّٰهِ وَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَثَلَّثَ عُمَرُ [The Apostle of God came in first in the race, and Aboo-Bekr came in next, and 'Omar came in third]. (O, TA.) [And سَبَقَ used in like manner with the objective complement understood means He preceded, &c., as above; and hence, he was, or became, first, foremost, or beforehand; he had, or got, the priority, or precedence. And He was, or became, one of the first or foremost: see سَابِقٌ . See also قَصَبُ السَّبْقِ in art. قصب .] سَبَقَ النَّاسَ إِلَى الأَمْرِ [He preceded the other people; was, or became, before them; or had, got, or took, precedence of them; in betaking, or applying, himself to the affair]. (S, K.) And in like manner one says, لَهُ سَبْقٌ فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ To him belongs priority, or precedence, in this affair; like سَابِقَةٌ ; syn. قُدْمَةٌ . (A, TA.) [Hence,] سَبَقَ وَهْمُهُ إِلَى شَىْءٍ فَغَلِطَ فِيهِ [He preconceived a thing, and therefore made a mistake, or erred, respecting it]. (Msb, in explanation of دُخِلَ عَلَيْهِ .) [And سَبَقَ ذِهْنُهُ إِلَى الشَّىْءِ means in like manner He preconceived the thing: or his mind adverted hastily, before reflection, or without premeditation, to the thing; from what next follows.] سَبَقَ إِلَيْهِمْ He went, or passed, hastily, or quickly, to them. (TA.) [And hence,] سَبَقَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّى قَوْلٌ A saying proceeded hastily, before reflection, or without premeditation, to him from me; syn. فَرَطَ : (S in art. فرط :) and سَبَقَ مِنْهُ كَلَامٌ speech proceeded hastily, &c., from him; syn. فَرَطَ : (Msb in that art.:) [but this phrase also means, more agreeably with the primary signification of the verb, speech proceeded previously from him; (see the Kur x. 20, &c.;) and in like manner the former phrase.] See also 8. And سَبَقَهُ القَىْءُ , (S, Msb, K, all in art. ذرع ,) i. e. سَبَقَهُ فِى الخُرُوجِ إِلَى فِيهِ [meaning The vomit came forth to his mouth before he was aware]. (TA in that art.) [And سَبَقَ القَلَمُ The pen anticipated, skipping over something, in transcribing.] One says also, سَبَقْتُ عَلَيْهٍ , meaning I overcame him. (TA.) And سَبَقَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ He overcame his people in generosity. (TA.) And سَبَقَهُ فِى الكَرَمِ He exceeded him in generosity. (TA.)
Form 2سبّق5 senses · 2 main
maṣdarتَسْبِيقٌ

Core sense — he took, or gave, the stake at a race; he put jesses on a birdgenerated

2.1he took, or received, the stake, or wager, laid at a race or a shooting-match, to be taken by the winner—سَبَق

.

Or سَبَّقْتُهُ: I took, or received, the سَبَق from him.

2.1.1figurative · مجازhe gave the stake, or wager—سَبَق

Or سَبَّقْتُهُ: I gave him the سَبَق. So the verb has two opposite meanings.

what will you give me [if I overcome]?—مَا تُسَبِّقُنِى
he made the sum of money to be a stake among the poets, to be taken by the winner—سَبَّقَ البَدْرَةَ بَيْنَ الشُّعَرَآءِ

From the tradition of Rukáneh the wrestler; he answered: the third of my sheep, or goats.

The sum of money is بدرة, and the stake سَبَق.

[he ordered the horse to be made to run, and] gave them as a stake three racemes of dates from three palm-trees—أَمَرَ بِإِجْرَآءِ الخَيْلِ وَسبَّقَهَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَعْذُقٍ مِنْ ثَلَاثِ نَخَلَاتٍ

The stake is سَبَق; or the meaning may be that he took, or received, as their سَبَق; or the word [سبقها] may be without teshdeed, as a noun with its pronoun affixed, meaning the property assigned [as their سَبَق].

2.1.2apparently: I gave a stake among the horses—سَبَّقْتُ بَيْنَ الخَيْلِ

The stake is سَبَق.

Or سَبَّقْتُ الخَيْلَ and سابقت بَيْنَهَا: I sent forth the horses with their riders on them, to see which of them would outstrip.

2.1.3the ewe, or she-goat, cast her young one in an incomplete state—سبّقت الشَّاةُ

Maṣdar as above. (Ibn-'Abbád)

But سبّغت, with غ, is better known. (Ibn-'Abbád)

2.2figurative · مجازI put the pair of jesses on the legs of the bird, and so shackled it—سَبَّقْتُ الطَّائِرَ

The pair of jesses is سِبَاقَانِ.

Show Lane's original text
, (inf. n. تَسْبِيقٌ , Mgh,) He took, or received, the سَبَق [i. e. stake, or wager, laid at a race or a shooting-match, to be taken by the successful competitor]: (IAar, O, K:) or سَبَّقْتُهُ I took, or received, the سَبَق , from him. (Az, Mgh, Msb.) And He gave the سَبَق : (IAar, O, K:) or سَبَّقْتُهُ I gave him the سَبَق . (Az, Mgh, Msb.) Thus it has two contr. significations. (IAar, Az, Mgh, O, Msb, K.) Hence, in the trad. of Rukáneh the wrestler, مَا تُسَبِّقُنِى , i. e. What wilt thou give me [if I overcome] ? and he said, The third of my sheep, or goats. (Mgh.) And سَبَّقَ البَدْرَةَ بَيْنَ الشُّعَرَآءِ He made the [sum of money termed] بدرة to be a سَبَق [i. e. stake, or wager,] among the poets, to be taken by him who should overcome. (Z, TA.) And it is said in a trad., أَمَرَ بِإِجْرَآءِ الخَيْلِ وَسبَّقَهَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَعْذُقٍ مِنْ ثَلَاثِ نَخَلَاتٍ , meaning [He ordered the making of the horse to run, and] gave them as a سَبَق [three racemes of dates from three palm-trees]: or it may mean, he took, or received, as their سَبَق : or it [i. e. سبقها ] may be without teshdeed, [as a subst. with its affixed pronoun,] meaning the property assigned [as their سَبَق ]. (L, TA.) One says also, سَبَّقْتُ بَيْنَ الخَيْلِ [app. meaning I gave a سَبَق among the horses]: (O:) or سَبَّقْتُ الخَيْلَ , and سابقت بَيْنَهَا , meaning I sent forth the horses with their riders upon them, to see which of them would outstrip. (TA.) And سبّقت الشَّاةُ , inf. n. as above, The ewe, or she-goat, cast her young one, or fœtus, in an incomplete state: (Ibn-'Abbád, O, K:) but سبّغت , with غ , is better known. (Ibn-'Abbád, O.) سَبَّقْتُ الطَّائِرَ I put the سِبَاقَانِ [or pair of jesses] upon the legs of the bird, and [so] shackled it. (TA.)
Form 3سَابَقْتُهُ3 senses · 1 main
maṣdarمُسَابَقَةٌ

Core sense — I strove with him to precede him, I raced with himgenerated

3.1I strove with him to precede him, and I surpassed him in doing so—سَابَقْتُهُ فَسَبَقْتُهُ

Maṣdar مُسَابَقَةٌ and سِبَاقٌ. I strove, or contended, with him to precede him, to get ahead of him, to outstrip him, to take precedence of him; in running (that is, I raced with him), and in everything.

The muḍāriʿ of the latter verb here is أَسْبُقُهُ, and the maṣdar is سَبْقٌ.

Lane cites “Bd in xxi. 27” — a commentary, not the verse; no modern number is given
3.1.1

See also Form 6.

3.1.2

See also Form 2.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 3
57:21
سَابِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Be ye foremost (in seeking) Forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden (of Bliss), the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers: that is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom he pleases: and Allah is the Lord of Grace abounding.

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text
, inf. n. مُسَابَقَةٌ and سِبَاقٌ , [I strove, or contended, with him to precede him; to be, or become, get, go, or come, before him, or ahead of him; to outgo, or outstrip, him; to have, get, or take, precedence of him; in running (i. e. I raced, or ran a race, with him); and in everything.] (Msb, TA.) You say, سَابَقْتُهُ فَسَبَقْتُهُ [I strove, or contended, with him to precede him, &c., and I surpassed him, or overcame him, in doing so]: (S:) the aor. of the latter verb in this case is أَسْبُقُهُ , (Bd in xxi. 27,) and the inf. n. is سَبْقٌ . (S.) See also 6. And see 2.
Form 4اسبق القَوْمُ إِلَى الأَمْرِ1 sense

Core sense — the people hastened to the affairgenerated

4.1

[Perhaps a mistranscription for استبق.]

The people, or party, hastened to the thing, or affair; or used the fulness of their power to hasten to it; same as بَادَرُوا.

Show Lane's original text
[perhaps a mistranscription for استبق ] The people, or party, hastened to the thing, or affair; or employed the fulness of their power, or force, to hasten to it; syn. بَادَرُوا . (TA.)
Form 6تسابقا3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — they strove with one another to be first; they competed in shootinggenerated

6.1and they strove, each with the other, to get first to the door—وَٱسْتَبَقَا البَابَ

استبقا has the same meaning.

In the Qur'ān 12:25; that is, تَسَابَقَا إِلَيْهِ.

Both verbs are made transitive by means of إِلَى.

they strove together to be first in attaining to such a thing—تسابقوا إِلَى كَذَا

The same is said with استبقوا إِلَيْهِ; and so سَابَقُوا — see the Qur'ān 57:21, where سَابِقُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ is explained by Bd as سَارِعُوا مُسَارَعَةَ المُسَابِقِينَ فِى المِضْمَارِ, that is, strive one with another in hastening, with the striving of those who contend to outstrip in the race-ground, to obtain forgiveness.

we strove, one with another, to outstrip in running—اِسْتَبَقْنَا فِى العَدْوِ

That is, تَسَابَقْنَا; and each of these verbs is used in the same way of any object of contention for precedence.

Qur’ān 12:25 approximate — somewhere between 12:19 and 12:30 Lane cites “Kur xii. 25”
Qur’ān 57:21 matched to Lane’s own quotation of it Lane cites “Kur lvii. 21”
Qur’ān 12:25 the verse Lane’s citation points to, and it uses this root
وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

So they both raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back: they both found her lord near the door. She said: "What is the (fitting) punishment for one who formed an evil design against thy wife, but prison or a grievous chastisement?"Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

6.1.1figurative · مجاز — inferredthey competed, or contended, together in shooting—تسابقوا

Also استبقوا.

we went to compete together in shooting, or in running—ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ

In the Qur'ān 12:17.

6.1.2

The latter of these verbs, as well as the former, also means: they laid bets, wagers, or stakes, one with another.

Show Lane's original text
and استبقا signify the same: (K, TA:) thus the saying [in the Kur xii. 25] وَٱسْتَبَقَا البَابَ means تَسَابَقَا إِلَيْهِ , i. e. And they strove, or contended, each with the other, to precede, or get before, to the door. (TA.) [And both are trans. by means of إِلَى :] you say, تسابقوا إِلَى كَذَا and استبقوا إِلَيْهِ [They strove, or contended, together, to precede, or be first, in attaining to such a thing: and so سَابَقُوا : see the Kur lvii. 21, here سَابِقُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ is expl. by Bd as meaning سَارِعُوا مُسَارَعَةَ المُسَابِقِينَ فِى المِضْمَارِ i. e. Strive ye, one with another, in hastening, with the striving of those that contend to outstrip in the hippodrome, to obtain forgiveness]. (Msb.) And you say, اِسْتَبَقْنَا فِى العَدْوِ , meaning تَسَابَقْنَا [i. e. We strove, or contended, one with another, to precede, get before or ahead, or outstrip, in running: and in like manner each of these verbs is used in relation to any object of contention for precedence]. (S.) And تسابقوا and استبقوا They competed, or contended, together in shooting. (TA.) ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ , in the Kur [xii. 17], means We went to compete, or contend, together in shooting: (S, Bd:) or in running. (Bd.) And ↓ the latter of these verbs, as well as the former, signifies also They laid bets, wagers, or stakes, one with another. (TA.)
Form 8إِسْتَبَقَ4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — he hastened to it, striving to get there firstgenerated

8.1so hasten to good acts—فَٱسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ

[استبقهُ and استبق إِلَيْهِ mean the same as بَادَرَ إِلَيْهِ.]

In the Qur'ān 2:143 and 5:53; or: use the fulness of your power in hastening to them; same as بَادِرُوا إِلَيْهَا.

See also Form 4.

8.1.1the thing, or event, came to him quickly, and before he expected it—استبق إِلَيْهِ الأَمْرُ

K in art. بدر; or سَبَقَ.

Same as بَدَرَهُ and بَدَرَ إِلَيْهِ.

8.1.2figurative · مجازand they would hasten, striving to get first, to the road that they used to travel—فَٱسْتَبَقُوا الصِّرَاطَ

Or: they would go along the road and leave it behind them, so that they would wander from the right way.

In the Qur'ān 36:66, where الصراط is in the accusative because إِلَى is left out before it, or because الاِسْتِبَاقُ is made to imply the meaning of الاِبْتِدَارُ.

Qur’ān 36:66 matched to Lane’s own quotation of it Lane cites “Kur xxxvi. 66”
Qur’ān 36:66 Lane quotes this verse
وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَطَمَسْنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَعْيُنِهِمْ فَٱسْتَبَقُوا۟ ٱلصِّرَٰطَ فَأَنَّىٰ يُبْصِرُونَ

If it had been our Will, We could surely have blotted out their eyes; then should they have run about groping for the Path, but how could they have seen?Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

8.1.3

See also Form 6, throughout.

Qur’ānic occurrences Form 8 4 shown of 5
2:148
وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا۟ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

To each is a goal to which Allah turns him; then strive together (as in a race) Towards all that is good. Wheresoever ye are, Allah will bring you Together. For Allah Hath power over all things.

12:17
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ

They said: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things; and the wolf devoured him.... But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell the truth."

12:25
وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

So they both raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back: they both found her lord near the door. She said: "What is the (fitting) punishment for one who formed an evil design against thy wife, but prison or a grievous chastisement?"

36:66
وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَطَمَسْنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَعْيُنِهِمْ فَٱسْتَبَقُوا۟ ٱلصِّرَٰطَ فَأَنَّىٰ يُبْصِرُونَ

If it had been our Will, We could surely have blotted out their eyes; then should they have run about groping for the Path, but how could they have seen?

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text
[ استبقهُ and استبق إِلَيْهِ i. q. بَادَرَ إِلَيْهِ . Thus] فَٱسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ , in the Kur [ii. 143 and v. 53], means Therefore hasten ye to good acts, &c.; or employ the fulness of your power, or force, in hastening thereto; syn. بَادِرُوا إِلَيْهَا . (O.) See also 4. You say also, استبق إِلَيْهِ الأَمْرُ , (K in art. بدر ,) or سَبَقَ , (M in that art.,) The thing, or event, came to him, or happened to him, hastily, quickly, or speedily; and beforehand [or before he expected it]; syn. بَدَرَهُ , and بَدَرَ إِلَيْهِ . (M and K in that art.) فَٱسْتَبَقُوا الصِّرَاطَ , in the Kur xxxvi. 66, in which الصراط is in the accus. case because of إِلَى suppressed before it, or by making الاِسْتِبَاقُ to imply the meaning of الاِبْتِدَارُ , (Bd,) means And they would hasten, make haste, or strive to get first or beforehand, to the road that they were wont to travel: (Bd, Jel:) or they would go along the road and leave it behind them, (Bd, * O, K, TA,) so that they would wander from the right way. (O, K, TA.) See also 6, throughout.

Derived nouns 12

Nounسِبْقٌ1 sense

Core sense — a competitor with another in striving to be firstgenerated

1they are two that compete to precede, or outstrip, each other—هُمْ سِبْقِى

A competitor of another in striving to precede, to be ahead, to outstrip, or to have precedence. Plural أَسْبَاقٌ; the singular is also used as a plural.

Also أَسْبَاقِى and هُمَا سِبْقَانِ. (El-Moheet)

Show Lane's original text
A competitor of another in striving to precede, to be before or ahead, to outgo or outstrip, or to have precedence: [pl. أَسْبَاقٌ ; and the sing. is also used as a pl.:] you say, هُمْ سِبْقِى and أَسْبَاقِى : (L:) and هُمَا سِبْقَانِ They are two that compete &c. (El-Moheet, O, K.)
Nounسَبَقٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — a stake, or wager, laid at a race or a shooting-matchgenerated

1there shall be no stake except in the racing of camels, horses, mules or asses, or in shooting or casting the lance—لَا سَبَقَ إِلَّا فِى خُفٍّ أَوْ حَافِرٍ أَوْ نَصْلٍ

A stake, or wager, laid between those concerned in a race, and in a shooting-match; in a race it is taken by the owner of the one that outstrips. سُبْقَةٌ means the same; plural of the former أَسْبَاقٌ.

Said in a tradition; for all these affairs are preparations for engaging in fight with the enemy, and mules and asses are included because they carry the baggage of the army.

1.1figurative · مجاز — inferred

Also the lesson of a boy, learned each day in the school; also called إِمَامٌ.

Show Lane's original text
A stake, or wager, that is laid between the persons concerned in a race, (T, S, O, Mgh, * Msb, * K,) and in a shooting-match; in the former case taken by [the owner of] the one that outstrips; (T, TA:) and سُبْقَةٌ signifies the same: (K:) pl. of the former أَسْبَاقٌ . (O, K.) It is said in a trad., لَا سَبَقَ إِلَّا فِى خُفٍّ أَوْ حَافِرٍ أَوْ نَصْلٍ , meaning There shall be no stake, or wager, except in the case of the racing of camels, or of horses or mules or asses, or in the case of [the arrowhead or lance-head, i. e.] shooting or casting [the lance]: for all these affairs are preparations for engaging in fight with the enemy; and mules and asses are included because they carry the baggage of the army. (O, TA.) Also The lesson of a boy, that is learned each day in the school; also called إِمَامٌ . (TA in art. ام .)
Nounسُبْقَةٌ1 sense

Core sense — a stake, or wager, laid at a race or a shooting-matchgenerated

1

A stake, or wager, as given in the entry before it.

Show Lane's original text
: see the next preceding paragraph.
Nounسِبَاقٌ4 senses · 1 main

Core sense — a race, a contest in running; the jesses of a hawk; the contextgenerated

1

A maṣdar of Form 3.

1.1

As a simple noun: a race, or contest in running.

1.2the preceding and following parts of the discourse; the context, before and after—سِبَاقُ الكَلَامِ وَسِيَاقُهُ

Also the preceding part of a discourse and the like.

1.3the pair of jesses of the hawk or falcon, of leather thongs or straps, or of other material—سِبَاقَا البَازِى

The قَيْدَانِ [or pair of shackles, that is, jesses].

Show Lane's original text
an inf. n. of 3 [q. v.]. (Msb, TA.) [As a simple subst., A race, or contest in running. And The preceding part of a discourse &c. You say سِبَاقُ الكَلَامِ وَسِيَاقُهُ The preceding and following parts of the discourse; the context, before and after.] سِبَاقَا البَازِى The قَيْدَانِ [or pair of shackles, i. e. jesses,] of the hawk or falcon, of leathern thongs or straps, or of other material. (S, O, K.)
Nounسَبُوقٌ1 sense

Core sense — that outstrips, said of a horsegenerated

1

See سَابِقٌ.

Show Lane's original text
: see سَابِقٌ .
Nounهُوَ سَبَّاقُ غَايَاتٍ1 sense

Core sense — one who often carries off the winning canesgenerated

1figurative · مجاز

He is one who often obtains the winning canes.

Show Lane's original text
He is one who [often] obtains the winning canes ( قَصَبَات السَّبْق [see art. قصب ]). (O, K, TA.)
Nounسَابِقٌ3 senses · 1 main

Core sense — preceding; one of the first; that outstrips, said of a horsegenerated

1that outstrips, said of a horse—سَبُوقٌ

Ism fāʿil of Form 1: preceding; and sometimes it means one of the first, or foremost, as what follows shows.

Sometimes what is so called has another coming up with it, as happens with the سابق of horses; and sometimes it is like one who obtains the winning-cane, for he outstrips to it and has none to share it with him, there being none coming up with him.

It is applied to a horse that outstrips.

The masculine plural applied to horses is سُبَّقٌ, and the feminine, plural of سَابِقَةٌ, is سَوَابِقُ. Or سَوَابِقُ may be plural of سَابِقٌ regarded as a noun like كَاهِلٌ and غَارِبٌ, of which the plurals are كَوَاهِلُ and غَوَارِبُ.

1.1

By the سَابِقَات mentioned in the Qur'ān 79:4 are meant the angels that precede the devils with the revelation they convey to the prophets; or the angels that precede the jinn, or genii, in listening to the revelation; or the angels that precede with the souls of the believers to Paradise and with the souls of the unbelievers to Hell; or the horses that precede in battle; or the souls of the believers, that go forth with ease; or the stars that precede other stars. (See more in the Expositions of Bd and others.)

Qur’ān 79:4 approximate — somewhere between 79:1 and 79:28 Lane cites “Kur lxxix. 4”
Qur’ān 79:4 the verse Lane’s citation points to, and it uses this root
فَٱلسَّـٰبِقَـٰتِ سَبْقًا

Then press forward as in a race,Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur’ān (1934)

1.2figurative · مجاز — inferredproducing their fruit early, said of palm-trees—سُبَّقٌ

This is the plural.

Qur’ānic occurrences سَابِق 3 shown of 7
23:61
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَـٰبِقُونَ

It is these who hasten in every good work, and these who are foremost in them.

56:10
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ

And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter).

79:4
فَٱلسَّـٰبِقَـٰتِ سَبْقًا

Then press forward as in a race,

Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.

Show Lane's original text
[act. part. n. of 1, Preceding, &c.: and sometimes it means one of the first or foremost: as is shown by what here follows]: sometimes what is thus termed has one coming up with it; as [sometimes happens] in the case of the سابق of horses: and sometimes it is like him who obtains the winning-cane ( قَصَبَة السَّبْق [see art. قصب ]); for he outstrips to it and has none to share with him in it, there being none coming up with him. (Msb.) It is applied to a horse That outstrips; as also سَبُوقٌ : (T, Msb, TA: *) and the pl. [masc., i. e. pl. of the former,] applied to horses is سُبَّقٌ and [fem., i. e. pl. of سَابِقَةٌ ,] سَوَابِقُ : (TA:) [or] سَوَابِقُ may be pl. of سَابِقٌ regarded as a subst. like كَاهِلٌ and غَارِبٌ of which the pls. are كَوَاهِلُ and غَوَارِبُ . (Ham p. 46.) By the سَابِقَات mentioned in the Kur lxxix. 4 are meant The angels that precede the devils with the revelation [that they convey] to the prophets: (TA:) or the angels that precede the jinn, or genii, in listening to the revelation: (T, K, TA:) or the angels that precede with the souls of the believers to Paradise (Bd, Jel) and with the souls of the unbelievers to Hell: (Bd:) or the horses [that precede in battle]: (Zj, TA:) or the souls of the believers, that go forth with ease: or the stars [that precede other stars]. (TA. [See more in the Expositions of Bd and others.]) [The pl.] سُبَّقٌ , applied to palm-trees, means That produce their fruit early. (TA.)
Nounسَابِقَةٌ2 senses · 1 main

Core sense — priority, precedence in an affairgenerated

1figurative · مجازto him belongs priority, or precedence, in this affair—لَهُ سَابِقَةٌ فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ

Feminine of سَابِقٌ; and also a noun formed from it by the affix ة, meaning priority, or precedence.

Said when he has preceded the other people in applying himself to the affair; as one also says لَهُ سَبْقٌ.

1.1

Also, as used by physicians: a predisposition to disease.

Show Lane's original text
[fem. of سَابِقٌ , q. v.: and also a subst. formed from the latter by the affix ة , signifying Priority, or precedence]. One says, لَهُ سَابِقَةٌ فِى هٰذَا الأَمْرِ [To him belongs priority, or precedence, in this affair,] when he has preceded the [other] people [in betaking, or applying, himself] to the affair: (S, K, TA:) like as you say, لَهُ سَبْقٌ [mentioned above: see 1]. (TA.) [Also, as used by physicians, A predisposition to disease.]
Nounسَابِقِيَّةٌ1 sense

Core sense — the state, or condition, of precedinggenerated

1

The state, or condition, of preceding. (De Sacy's Anthol. Gramm. Ar. p. 302)

Show Lane's original text
[The state, or condition, of preceding]. (De Sacy's Anthol. Gramm. Ar. p. 302.)
Nounأَسْبَقُ1 sense

Core sense — more, or most, preceding; outstripping othersgenerated

1coming sooner than the appointed period of death—أَسْبَقُ مِنَ الأَجَلِ
coming sooner than the thoughts—مِنَ الأَفْكَارِ

on this sense More, and most, preceding; more, and most, outstripping.

on this sense Both are proverbs. (Meyd)

Show Lane's original text
[More, and most, preceding or prevenient; more, and most outgoing or outstripping; &c.]. أَسْبَقُ مِنَ الأَجَلِ and مِنَ الأَفْكَارِ are provs. [meaning More prevenient than the period of death and than the thoughts]. (Meyd.)
Nounمُسَبَّقٌ1 sense

Core sense — a horse much, or often, outstrippedgenerated

1

A horse much, or often, outstripped.

Show Lane's original text
A horse much, or often, outstripped. (Msb.)
Nounمَسْبُوقِيَّةٌ1 sense

Core sense — the state, or condition, of being precededgenerated

1

The state, or condition, of being preceded. (De Sacy's Anthol. Gramm. Ar. p. 302)

Show Lane's original text
[The state, or conditon, of being preceded]. (De Sacy's Anthol. Gramm. Ar. p. 302.)