What does « Aging / Grey hair » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Aging / Grey hair (شيب) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شيب

Aging / Grey hair

Root: ش - ب

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Aging / Grey hair

Ash-shayb and al-mashib: the whiteness of hair.

The Almighty says: 'And my head has ignited with white hair' (Maryam 4), Zechariah's words.

White hair is a sign of old age and a reminder of life's end.

Aging / Grey hair in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Maryam 1

Ar-Rum 1

Al-Muzzammil 1

Surah Maryam : 4 Meccan

﴿قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا﴾

He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.

Surah Ar-Rum : 54 Meccan

﴿ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْقَدِيرُ﴾

Allah is the one who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and white hair. He creates what He wills, and He is the Knowing, the Competent.

Surah Al-Muzzammil : 17 Meccan

﴿فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنَ شِيبًا﴾

Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white- haired?