جبت

Core meaning

What is set up as an object of belief without any foundation: the vain entity to which one gives one's faith. The translation renders "the Idol".

Uses

1. ٱلْجِبْت → "the Idol" : named with the Overreacher, in one and the same act of believing.

   • «يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْجِبْتِ وَٱلطَّٰغُوتِ» — "in the Idol and the Overreacher" (4:51)

Evidence from the text

The word occurs only once, and the verse defines it by what accompanies it. ٱلْجِبْت is coordinated with ٱلطَّٰغُوت: two objects of one false allegiance, joined under a single verb, to believe. The Overreacher is a power that overflows its measure and makes itself obeyed; the Idol is what one believes in with nothing behind it.

The reproach is aimed at those "to whom a portion of the Scripture was given" (4:51): they have the means to judge, and yet they give their faith to what has no foundation, to the point of saying of those who disown that they are better guided than the believers.

Distinctions

• طغو — the Overreacher: a power that overflows its measure, whereas the Idol is an empty object of belief

See also

امن (to believe)