What does « To close / To lock » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To close / To lock (غلق) 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.

غلق

To close / To lock

Root: غ - ل - ق

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To close / To lock

Al-ghalaq and al-mighlaq: what one closes with.

One also says: what one opens with.

The Almighty says: 'She closed the doors' (Yusuf 23). 'The doors will be closed on them' (Az-Zumar 72).

Closing indicates access prohibition.

To close / To lock in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Yusuf : 23 Meccan

﴿وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ﴾

And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."