What does « Compassion / Inclination » mean in the Quran?
Discover the meaning of the word Compassion / Inclination (عطف) 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.
عطف
Compassion / Inclination
Root: ع - ط - ف
Quranic language 1 verse
Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM
📖 1 min read
Definition of Compassion / Inclination
Al-'atf: said of something when one of its ends is bent toward the other, like bending a branch.
The Almighty says: 'Twisting his neck' (Al-Hajj 9) in pride and refusal. 'Tenderness toward his people' (Maryam 13).
Twisting his neck [in arrogance] to mislead [people] from the way of Allah. For him in the world is disgrace, and We will make him taste on the Day of Resurrection the punishment of the Burning Fire [while it is said],
Words from the same root as Compassion / Inclination