What does « Envelope / Sheath » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Envelope / Sheath (غلف) 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.

غلف

Envelope / Sheath

Root: غ - ل - ف

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Envelope / Sheath

The Almighty says: 'Our hearts are covered' (Al-Baqara 88).

It is said to be the plural of aghlaf and ghalfa'.

Al-ghilaf: the cover.

They claimed their hearts were covered and did not receive guidance.

Envelope / Sheath in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

An-Nisa 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 88 Medinan

﴿وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ بَل لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَقَلِيلًا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾

And they said, "Our hearts are wrapped." But, [in fact], Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is it that they believe.

Surah An-Nisa : 155 Medinan

﴿فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا﴾

And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allah and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped". Rather, Allah has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.