What does « To advance / Crawling » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To advance / Crawling (زحف) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

زحف

To advance / Crawling

Root: ز - ح - ف

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

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Definition of To advance / Crawling

The origin of al-zahf: advancing while dragging feet.

Allah says: 'When you meet in mass (zahfan) those who disbelieved' (Al-Anfâl: 15).

Zahfan: as an army marching toward the enemy.

To advance / Crawling in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 1

Surah Al-Anfal : 15 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ﴾

O you who have believed, when you meet those who disbelieve advancing [for battle], do not turn to them your backs [in flight].

Words from the same root as To advance / Crawling

أزف

Near / Imminent

حجز

Barrier / To separate

To memorize / To preserve

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