Meaning of Rabb

The Mu'jam al Ishtiqaaqi, tracing the word to its very origin, describes the meaning of "RABB/رب." as:

> استغاظ المائع ونحوه حتى يتماسك من اجل الأصلاح أو الأنتفاع.
> "Thickening of something that melts or flows so that it adheres and holds together so as to repair and utilize it"

The Mufradaat al Raghib says:

> "الرب في الأصل التربية وهو انشاء الشيء حالا فحالا إلى حد التمام."
> "The root meaning of (RABB),as a noun, means to bring something up slowly by slowly to a state of completion or no defects."

This is in agreement with Mu'jam al Ishtiqaaqi.

Something that melts, is falling away. When one makes the flowing substance hold together,
   he has stopped it from breaking apart (a defective state) to it holding together on its own &not needing any further repairs. (No defects)

The Lisaan Al Arab adds furthur on:

> "الرب يطلق في اللغة على المالك والسيد والمدبر والمربي والقيم والمنعم."
> "RABB/رب" linguistically refers to the owner, the master, the caretaker, **the manager**, the custodian, **the giver** ."
A "RABB" retains all these attributes at once.

The ancient Arabs used to say:

> "لأن يربني رجل من قريش احب إلي من ان يربني رجل من هوازن."
> "It is more beloved to me that a man from Quraysh(A tribe in Arabia) rule over me/be my master or lord than that a man from Hawaazin(Another tribe in Arabia be so over me."

So to narrow things down, (RABB) primarily has two meanings

1-Master/Ruler. (Only the master or one who rules over or has authority over a person **can arrange his matters** and discipline him).
2-Upbringer/Caretaker/Remover of defects so as to bring to a self-sufficient state.

These two meaning combine.

(RABB) is a master who is kind and loving to his slave.
Masters and slave owners are generally harsh upon the slave.
But (RABB) is a master who takes care of him, ousting his flaws and **making him self-sufficient.**

A (RABB) is a loving master.

Raghib al-Isfahani (d.502AH) states:
> "Rabb's root means 'fostering' and its literal meaning as Lord or Sustainer can only be used in an absolute sense (mutlaqan).
> 'Rabb al-Alamin' thus means "the Provider of the wellbeing of all existences (al-Mutakaffal bi-Maslaha al-Mawjudat).'"