What does « To cease / To stop » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To cease / To stop (زال) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

زال

To cease / To stop

Root: ز - ل

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

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Definition of To cease / To stop

Zâla al-shay' yazûlu zawâlan: the thing left the state it was in.

Allah says: 'Allah holds the heavens and earth lest they cease (tazûlâ)' (Fâtir: 41).

Allah maintains the universe in balance.

To cease / To stop in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Ibrahim 1

Fatir 1

Surah Ibrahim : 46 Meccan

﴿وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ﴾

And they had planned their plan, but with Allah is [recorded] their plan, even if their plan had been [sufficient] to do away with the mountains.

Surah Fatir : 41 Meccan

﴿۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا ۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًۭا﴾

Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. And if they should cease, no one could hold them [in place] after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.