سَبَب

sababN * A rope, or cord; (S, M, A, Msb, K;) as also ↓ sib~N ; (S, M, K;) the latter of the dial. of Hudheyl, (S,) and occurring in this sense in a verse of Aboo-Dhu-eyb cited voce xayoTapN ; (S, M;) accord. to some, as there meaning a wooden peg, [a meaning assigned to it in the K,] but the former is the correct meaning: (M:) the pl. of both words is A^asobaAbN , (M, TA, *) [and] the pl. of the latter word is subuwbN (S, TA) also: (TA:) or sababN signifies any rope let down, or made to descend, from above: (AO, TA:) or a strong and long rope, but no rope is so called except one by means of which one ascends and descends: (Khálid Ibn-Jembeh, TA:) or this appellation is only given to a rope of which one end is attached to a roof or ceiling or the like: (TA:) or one by means of which one ascends palm-trees: (Er-Rághib, TA:) [and] a rope by means of which one reaches, or gains access to, water. (TA.) faloyamodudo bisababK A_ilaY A@ls~amaA='i vum~a liyaqoTaEo , in the Kur [xxii. 15], means Let him stretch a rope to the roof, or ceiling, of his dwelling; then let him die strangled: i. e. let him die of rage: (M, TA:) or, as some say, let him stretch a rope to the lowest heaven; then let him traverse the intervening space until he reach the highest part thereof. (Bd.) The saying jab~ato nisaA='a AlEaAlamiyna biAls~ababo has been expl. in art. jb : in this instance, a rope or cord, may be meant; or a string, or thread. (M, TA.) ― -b2- Hence, (Msb,) (tropical:) A thing (S, M, Msb, K) of any kind (S, Msb, K) by means of which one attains, reaches, or gains access to another thing: (S, M, Msb, K:) pl. as above. (M.) One says, jaEalotu fulaAnFA liY sababFA A_ilaY fulaAnN fiY HaAjatiY , i. e. (assumed tropical:) [ I made such a one ] a means of access [ to such a one in the case of my want ]. (TA.) Hence, (M,) A^asobaAbu Als~amaA='i (assumed tropical:) The places of ascent of the heaven, or sky: (M, K:) or the tracts, or regions, thereof: (S, K:) or the gates thereof. (Ibn-Es-Seed, K. [See an ex. in a verse cited voce vamaAnuwna .]) And the saying, AirotaqaY fiY AlA^asobaAbi , meaning (assumed tropical:) He excelled [or attained to excellence ] in religion. (M.) ― -b3- (assumed tropical:) A road, or way. (A. [There mentioned among proper, not tropical, significations.]) So in the saying, in the Kur xviii. 88 and 91, vum~a A@t~abaEa sababFA (assumed tropical:) [ Then he followed a road, or way ]. (Bd.) [And] so in the saying, maA liY A_ilayohi sababN (assumed tropical:) [ There is not for me any road, or way, to him, or it ]. (A.) So too ↓ sabiybapN : pl. sabaAy^ibu . (Ham p. 347.) ― -b4- [(assumed tropical:) A mean, or means, used in order to any end: a means by which a thing is brought about: a cause; but more properly only a second cause: an occasion, or accidental cause: and a reason, or motive. ] One says, h`*aA sababu h`*aA (assumed tropical:) [ This is the cause, or occasion, of this ]. (Msb.) And bisababihi kaAna ka*aA (assumed tropical:) [ Because of him, or it, it was thus, or such a thing was ]. (Msb in art Ajl .) And sab~aba A@ll~`hu laka sababa xayorK (tropical:) [ May God appoint, or prepare, for thee a means, or cause, of good, or prosperity ]. (A.) ― -b5- (tropical:) A connexion, or tie, (S, A, K, TA,) of relationship (S, K, TA) by marriage; distinguished from nasabN , which is by birth: from the same word as signifying “ a rope by means of which one reaches, or gains access to, water. ” (TA.) One says, AinoqaTaEa bayonahumu Als~ababu i. e. (tropical:) The connexion, or tie, [ of affinity between them was severed, ] and AlA^asobaAbu the connexions, or ties. (A) wataqaT~aEato bihimu AlA^asobaAbu [in the Kur ii. 161] means, accord. to I'Ab, (assumed tropical:) And their ties and affections [ shall be dissundered ]: or, accord. to AZ, (assumed tropical:) and their places of abode [ shall be divided asunder ]. (TA.) [But] qaTaEa A@ll~`hu bihi Als~ababa means (assumed tropical:) [ God cut short, or may God cut short, ] his life.