Root ب-غ-ي — To Wrong or To Seek
The root ب-غ-ي (b-gh-y) carries two distinct meanings that must be read from context. Both are attested in the Quran.
Two Meanings
| Meaning | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| To wrong, oppress, transgress | بَغَى عَلَى + person | one party transgressed against the other (Al-Ḥujurāt 49:9) |
| To seek, to desire, to look for | بَغَى + direct object | Should I seek for you another god? (Al-Aʿrāf 7:140) |
Derivatives
| Arabic | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| بَغَى / يَبغِي | Form I | to wrong/oppress; to seek/desire |
| بَغي | maṣdar | transgression, oppression; also: seeking |
| بَاغٍ | ism fāʿil | one who transgresses/oppresses |
| بَغِيّ | noun | a woman of immorality (specific meaning) |
Quranic Examples
Meaning 1: To Wrong/Oppress
فَإِن بَغَت إِحدَاهُمَا عَلَى الأُخرَىٰ فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبغِي (Al-Ḥujurāt 49:9) "If one of the two groups transgresses against the other, fight the one that transgresses."
Meaning 2: To Seek/Desire
أَفَغَيرَ اللَّهِ أَبغِيكُم إِلَٰهًا (Al-Aʿrāf 7:140) "Should I seek for you a god other than Allah?"
قُل أَغَيرَ اللَّهِ أَبغِي رَبًّا (Al-Anʿām 6:164) "Say: Should I seek a lord other than Allah?"
Urdu Note
In Urdu, bāghī (باغی) = rebel, and bāghāwat = rebellion — these derive from the "oppression/transgression" meaning. The Urdu usage preserves only one of the two Arabic meanings. Bāghāwat as a standalone Urdu word is not found in Arabic; it is an Urdu derivation from this root.
Session References
- Surah Al-Hujuraat Session 10: Both meanings discussed with Quranic examples; Urdu connection to bāghī/bāghāwat; applied to Āyah 9.