What does « Debt / Penalty » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Debt / Penalty (غرم) in the Quran, with 6 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

غرم

Debt / Penalty

Root: غ - ر - م

Quranic language 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Debt / Penalty

Al-ghurm: what befalls man in his property as damage without his fault, or with fault.

The Almighty says: 'Its punishment is permanent' (Al-Furqan 65). 'The debtors' (At-Tawba 60): those who have debts.

Debt / Penalty in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

At-Tawba 2

Al-Furqan 1

At-Tur 1

Al-Waqi'a 1

Al-Qalam 1

Surah At-Tawba : 60 Medinan

﴿إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾

Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.

Surah At-Tawba : 98 Medinan

﴿وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ مَغْرَمًا وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ ٱلدَّوَآئِرَ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾

And among the bedouins are some who consider what they spend as a loss and await for you turns of misfortune. Upon them will be a misfortune of evil. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

Surah Al-Furqan : 65 Meccan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا﴾

And those who say, "Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering;

Surah At-Tur : 40 Meccan

﴿أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ﴾

Or do you, [O Muhammad], ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?

Surah Al-Waqi'a : 66 Meccan

﴿إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ﴾

[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;

Surah Al-Qalam : 46 Meccan

﴿أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ﴾

Or do you ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?