What does « Avarice » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Avarice (بخل) in the Quran, with 7 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

بخل

Avarice

Root: ب - خ - ل

Creed (aqida) 7 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Avarice

Al-bukhl (miserliness): withholding what should be given.

Opposite of 'jûd' (generosity).

Allah says: 'Those who are stingy (yabkhalûn) and enjoin stinginess on people' (An-Nisâ': 37).

Bakhîl: miser.

Bakhula: he was miserly.

Avarice in the Quran (7)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 6

Distribution of verses by surah

Muhammad 2

Âl 'Imrân 1

An-Nisa 1

At-Tawba 1

Al-Hadid 1

Al-Layl 1

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 180 Medinan

﴿وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ﴾

And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.

Surah An-Nisa : 37 Medinan

﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا﴾

Who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] people stinginess and conceal what Allah has given them of His bounty - and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment -

Surah At-Tawba : 76 Medinan

﴿فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ﴾

But when he gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.

Surah Muhammad : 37 Medinan

﴿إِن يَسْـَٔلْكُمُوهَا فَيُحْفِكُمْ تَبْخَلُوا۟ وَيُخْرِجْ أَضْغَٰنَكُمْ﴾

If He should ask you for them and press you, you would withhold, and He would expose your unwillingness.

Surah Muhammad : 38 Medinan

﴿هَٰٓأَنتُمْ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَٰلَكُم﴾

Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you.

Surah Al-Hadid : 24 Medinan

﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبُخْلِ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ﴾

[Those] who are stingy and enjoin upon people stinginess. And whoever turns away - then indeed, Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.

Surah Al-Layl : 8 Meccan

﴿وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ﴾

But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need