RUQBĀ (رقبى). Lit. “Waiting.” Giving a thing on condition that if the donor die before the receiver it shall become the property of the receiver and his heirs; but if the receiver die first, the property given shall return to the donor. It is forbidden in Muslim law, because it exposes each of the parties to the temptation of wishing for the other’s death.
RUQYAH (رقية). “Enchanting.” The use of spells. The word used in the Ḥadīs̤ for exorcism and incantation. [[EXORCISM].]
RŪYĀʾ (روياء). “A dream; a vision. A term used in the Qurʾān for the visions of the Prophets. It occurs five times. Once for the vision of Joseph ([Sūrah xii. 5]); twice for the dream of the Egyptian king ([Sūrah v. 43]); once for the vision of Abraham ([Sūrah xxxvii. 105]); once for Muḥammad’s vision ([Sūrah xvii. 62].). [[DREAMS].]
S.
ṢĀʿ (صاع) or ṢUWĀʿ (صواع). A certain measure used for measuring corn, and upon which depend the decisions of Muslims relating to measures of capacity. It occurs in the Qurʾān, [Sūrah xii. 72], for the drinking-cup placed by Joseph in his brother’s pack.
The compiler of the Tāju ʾl-ʿArūs, says that according to five different readers of the Qurʾān, it is given ṣuwāʿ in that verse, but in the majority of texts it is ṣāʿ.
The Qāmūs explains ṣuwāʿ as a certain vessel from which one drinks, and ṣāʿ, a measure of capacity. Its invariable measure being, according to ancient authorities, four times the quantity of corn that fills two hands of a man of moderate size.
Al-Baiẓāwī records, besides ṣuwāʿ and ṣāʿ, the reading ṣauʿ and ṣuwāg͟h.
SABAʾ (سبا). (1) A tribe of Yaman, whose dwelling-places are called Maʾrib, mentioned in the XXXIVth Sūrah of the Qurʾān (entitled the Sūratu Sabaʾ), verse 14:—
“A sign there was to Sabaʾ in their dwelling places:—two gardens, the one on the right hand and the other on the left:—‘Eat ye of your Lord’s supplies, and give thanks to him: Goodly is the country, and gracious is the Lord!’