بِرٌّ

Root: بر

Full Definition

بِرٌّ Verbal.Noun of 1: it is said by some to signify primarily Ampleness, largeness, or extensiveness; whence بَرٌّ as opposed to بَحْرٌ: then,
2 Benevolent and solicitous regard or treatment or conduct [to parents and others; i. e. piety to parents; and towards God]: and goodness, or beneficence: and kindness, or good and affectionate and gentle behaviour, and regard for the circumstances of another: or بَرٌّ, as opposed to بَحْرٌ, [or as signifying “ a wide tract of land, ” ] is the original of بِرٌّ, which signifies ample, large, or extensive, goodness or beneficence, (Z, in the Ksh, ii. 41, [but he regards it as the original of بَرٌّ,] and Bd on the same passage, and B, K, TA,) to men; or comprehending every kind of goodness: and hence it is said to be in three things: in the service of God: in paying regard to relations; acting well to them: and in dealing with strangers: or every deed that is approved: and [particularly] obedience to God: (T, S, M, &c.: [see also بَرَّةُ:]) [and every incumbent duty: and hence,] the pilgrimage to Mekkeh: and fidelity to an engagement: also a gratuitous gift, or favour; and a bounty, or benefit; syn. فَضْلٌ; and إِحْسَانٌ; as also مَبَرَّةٌ [an Verbal.Noun, but when used as a simple subst. its pl. is مَبَارٌ and مَبَرَّاتٌ]. In the Kur [ii. 172], where it is said, لُكِنَّ البِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاٱللّٰهِ, by البرّ is meant ذَا البِرِّ [i. e. But the pious, or obedient to God, is he who believeth in God]; and some read البَارَّ: or the meaning is, لكنّ البِرَّ بِرُّ من آمن با للّٰه i. e. but the obedience of which it behooveth one to be mindful is the obedience of him who believeth in God: and this explanation is preferable to the former. It is said in a prov., لَا يَعْرِفُ هِرًّا مِنْ بِرٍ, (S, A, K, but in the T and M مَا is put in the place of لا,) meaning He knows not him who dislikes him, or hates him, from him who behaves towards him with kindness, or goodness and affection and gentleness, and regard for his circumstances: or undutiful conduct to a parent from gentleness, or courtesy: or altercation, or dislike, or hatred, from honourable treatment: or the calling of sheep, or goats, from the driving of them: or the driving of sheep, or goats, from the calling of them: or the calling of them to water from the calling of them to fodder; which last rendering is agreeable with an explanation of بِرٌّ by IAar [mentioned in the T]; and بِرْبِرٌ , also, has the signification here assigned to بِرٌّ: or الهَرْهَرَة from البَرْبَرَة; i. e. the crying of sheep from the crying of goats: or the cat from the rat, or mouse: and بِرٌّ also signifies the [species of rat called] جُرَذ: or a small animal resembling the rat or mouse: and the young of the fox.
3 Also Good, as a subst., not an adj.; syn. خَيْرٌ; which comprises all that has been said in explanation of بِرٌّ as used in the saying of Mohammad, عَليْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِنَّهُ يَهْدِى إِلَى البِرِّ [Keep ye to truth; for it guides to good, or to a good, or right, state]: some render it in this instance by الخَيْر; and some, by الصَّلَاح. It signifies also The good of the present life, consisting in spiritual and worldly blessings, and of that which is to come, consisting in everlasting enjoyment in Paradise: so in the Kur iii. 86: or [simply] Paradise.
4 Also The heart; or the mind. So in the saying, هُوَ مُطْمَئِنُّ البِرِّ [He is quiet, or at rest, in heart, or mind].

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