k-r-b

Description

The Arabic root كرب (k-r-b) conveys the core meaning of intense distress, anguish, or affliction that constricts and overwhelms a person, often describing extreme emotional or physical hardship. In the Quranic context, this root appears in references to severe trials and tribulations faced by believers and prophets, emphasizing moments of profound difficulty where human capacity feels compressed and limited. The term carries theological significance as these moments of karb often precede divine intervention and relief, illustrating the pattern of hardship followed by God's mercy and deliverance.