Darb is interpreted in five ways:
1. al-Darb is used in the sense of sayr (walking/traveling), as in the following verses:
When you travel (darabtum) in the land... (al-Nisāʾ 4:101)
And for others to travel (yadribūna) throughout the land... (al-Muzzammil 73:20)
2. al-Darb is used in the sense of striking with the hand (or with a weapon in the hand), as in the following verses:
Strike above their necks (iḍribū fawqa al-aʿnāq, i.e., strike with your weapons); and strike from them every fingertip (iḍribū minhum kulla banān, i.e., strike each of their limbs with your weapons). (al-Anfāl 8:12)
So when you meet those who disbelieve, strike their necks (iḍribū riqābahum, i.e., strike with your weapons). (Muḥammad 47:4)
Strike them (iḍribūhunna, i.e., strike those women with your hand in a way that leaves no mark). (al-Nisāʾ 4:34)
3. Darb is used in the sense of describing or making a comparison (giving an example), as in the following verses:
Allah presents an example (ḍaraba Allāhu mathalan, i.e., Allah made a comparison); two men, one of them is mute... (al-Naḥl 16:76)
So do not set up comparisons for Allah (fa-lā taḍribū li-llāhi al-amthāl, i.e., do not ascribe similitudes to Allah). (al-Naḥl 16:74)
Allah presents an example of a town (ḍaraba Allāhu mathalan qaryatan, i.e., Allah described its likeness). (al-Naḥl 16:112)
4. Darb is used in the sense of describing, exemplifying, and mentioning, as in the following verses:
Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example (an yaḍriba mathalan, i.e., to mention as an example, to bring up). (al-Baqara 2:26)
Allah presents an example (ḍaraba Allāhu mathalan, i.e., narrated or mentioned a parable). (Ibrāhīm 14:24)
When the son of Mary was presented as an example (ḍuriba ibnu Maryama mathalan, i.e., when he was mentioned as an example)... (al-Zukhruf 43:57)
Those examples—We set them forth for the people (tilka al-amthāl naḍribuhā li-l-nās, i.e., we mention them by describing their qualities). (al-Ḥashr 59:21)
5. The word darb is used in the sense of describing with bayān (clear exposition), as in the following verses:
We have certainly presented for you examples (ḍarabnā lakum al-amthāl, i.e., we have described and clearly expounded them for you). (Ibrāhīm 14:45)
And for each We presented examples (wa-kullan ḍarabnā lahu al-amthāl, i.e., we have clearly expounded and described them). (al-Furqān 25:39)
Those examples—We set them forth for the people (tilka al-amthāl naḍribuhā li-l-nās, i.e., we clearly expound and describe them). (al-ʿAnkabūt 29:43)