kh-b-th

Description

The Arabic root خبث (kh-b-th) carries the core meaning of moral impurity, wickedness, and corruption, referring to what is fundamentally bad or foul in nature, character, or intent. In the Quran, it primarily describes moral and spiritual corruption, distinguishing between the pure (tayyib) and the impure (khabith) in people, deeds, and speech, particularly emphasizing that evil persons are naturally drawn to and suited for one another. This root is significant in establishing the Quranic framework of moral taxonomy, where Allah separates the wholesome from the corrupt, making it central to understanding divine judgment and the natural affinity between evil people and evil actions.