What does « Dust / To remain » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Dust / To remain (غبر) in the Quran, with 8 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

غبر

Dust / To remain

Root: غ - ب - ر

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 8 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 4 min read

Definition of Dust / To remain

Al-ghabir: what remains after the departure of what was with it.

The Almighty says: 'except an old woman among those who remained' (Ash-Shu'ara 171).

Lot's wife stayed and was destroyed with the criminals.

Dust / To remain in the Quran (8)

Meccan: 8 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-'Ankabut 2

Al-A'raf 1

Al-Hijr 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

An-Naml 1

As-Saffat 1

'Abasa 1

Surah Al-A'raf : 83 Meccan

﴿فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ﴾

So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].

Surah Al-Hijr : 60 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَآ إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ﴾

Except his wife." Allah decreed that she is of those who remain behind.

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 171 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِى ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ﴾

Except an old woman among those who remained behind.

Surah An-Naml : 57 Meccan

﴿فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ قَدَّرْنَٰهَا مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ﴾

So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; We destined her to be of those who remained behind.

Surah Al-'Ankabut : 32 Meccan

﴿قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ﴾

[Abraham] said, "Indeed, within it is Lot." They said, "We are more knowing of who is within it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife. She is to be of those who remain behind."

Surah Al-'Ankabut : 33 Meccan

﴿وَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ﴾

And when Our messengers came to Lot, he was distressed for them and felt for them great discomfort. They said, "Fear not, nor grieve. Indeed, we will save you and your family, except your wife; she is to be of those who remain behind.

Surah As-Saffat : 135 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِى ٱلْغَٰبِرِينَ﴾

Except his wife among those who remained [with the evildoers].

Surah 'Abasa : 40 Meccan

﴿وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌ﴾

And [other] faces, that Day, will have upon them dust.