Core sense — a prophet; a clear, conspicuous way; an elevated placegenerated
1
Pronounced with ء in the dialect of the people of Mekkeh; Sb disapproves of that pronunciation because it is uncommon. Others say نَبِىٌّ, without ء.
A prophet: of the measure فَعِيلٌ used in the sense of the measure مُفْعل [that is, مُفْعِلٌ or مَفْعَلٌ], or فَاعِلٌ, or, as Es-Sunoosee says, مَفْعُولٌ — that is, one who informs mankind, or who is informed, about God and things unseen.
According to some it is derived from نَبْوَةٌ and نَبَاوَةٌ, meaning "elevation", and in that case it is originally without ء. Others derive it from نَبِىْءٌ in a sense given below, that of "a conspicuous way."
It is a less special word than رَسُولٌ [when an apostle of God is meant by that]; for every رسول is a نبىّ, but not every نبىّ is a رسول.
Plural أَنْبِيَآءُ (without ء, because the ء is changed into ى in the singular), and نُبَأٓءُ (like كُرَمَآءُ [plural of كَرِيمٌ]), and أَنْبَآءٌ [these two keeping the original radical ء], and نَبِيُّونَ without ء. Some pronounced the first and the last of these plurals, in the Qurʾān, with ء, though the more approved pronunciation is without ء.
The diminutive is نُبَيّئٌ among those who make the plural نُبَأٓءٌ [or أَنْبَآءٌ]; but among those who make the plural أَنْبِيَآء it is نُبَىٌّ.
1.1
An Arab of the desert said to Moḥammad يَا نَبِىْءَ اللّٰهِ, and Moḥammad disapproved of his pronouncing نبىء here with ء, because in that form it means an emigrant, so that he was calling him an emigrant from Mekkeh to El-Medeeneh.
1.2a conspicuous, evident, or clear way—نَبِىْءٌ
Hence, according to some, the apostle [or rather prophet] is so called, because he is the clear way that leads to God.
1.3an elevated, or protuberant, place—نَبِىْءٌ
an elevated, or protuberant, place—نَابِئٌ
1.4do not pray on the place that is elevated, or protuberant—لَا تُصَلُّوا عَلَى النَّبِىْءِ
Hence this saying in a tradition.
Show Lane's original text
, (S, K,) pronounced with ء in the dial. of the people of Mekkeh, (S,) whose pronunciation of it is disapproved by Sb on account of its uncommonness; (TA;) by others, نَبِىٌّ , without ء ; (S, K, TA;) A prophet: (TA:) of the measure فَعِيلٌ used in the sense of the measure مُفْعل [i. e. مُفْعِلٌ or مَفْعَلٌ ] (IB) or فَاعِلٌ (S, Es-Sunoosee) or مَفْعُولٌ ; (Es-Sunoosee) i. e., who acquaints or informs mankind, (S, K, TA,) or who is acquainted or informed, respecting God and things unseen: or accord. to some, it is derived from نَبْوَةٌ and نَبَاوَةٌ signifying “ elevation; ” (see art. نبو ;) in which case it is originally without ء : or, accord. to others, from نَبِىْءٌ in a sense given below; that of “ a conspicuous way. ” (TA.) It is a less special word than رَسُولٌ [when thereby is meant an apostle of God]; for every رسول is a نبىّ , but not every نبىّ is a رسول . (TA.) Pl. أَنْبِيَآءُ (S, K, without ء , because the ء is changed into ى in the sing., S,) and نُبَأٓءُ (S, K, like كُرَمَآءُ [pl. of كَرِيمٌ ] TA,) and أَنْبَآءٌ [K, these two preserving the original radical ء ] and نَبِيُّونَ , (K,) without ء : (TA:) but some pronounced the first and last of these pls., in the Kur-án, with ء ; though the more approved pronunciation is without ء . (TA.) The dim. is نُبَيّئٌ , (S, K,) with those who make the pl. نُبَأٓءٌ [or أَنْبَآءٌ ]; but with those who make the pl. أَنْبِيَآء , it is نُبَىٌّ . (K.) An Arab of the desert said to Mohammad, يَا نَبِىْءَ اللّٰهِ , and the latter disapproved of his pronouncing نبىء in this case with ء , because, as it signifies An emigrant, he meant thereby to call him an emigrant from Mekkeh to El-Medeeneh. (S, K, TA.) نَبِىْءٌ A conspicuous, an evident, or a clear, way. (K.) Hence, accord. to some, the apostle [or rather prophet] is so called, because he is the conspicuous, evident, way, that conducts to God. (MF.) نَبِىْءٌ and نَابِئٌ An elevated, or a protuberant, or gibbous, place. (K.) Hence it is said in a trad., لَا تُصَلُّوا عَلَى النَّبِىْءِ [Pray not upon the place that is elevated, or protuberant]. (K.)