What does « To erase / To nullify » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To erase / To nullify (محو) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

محو

To erase / To nullify

Root: م - ح

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To erase / To nullify

Al-Maḥw refers to erasure.

The Almighty says: 'Allah eliminates what He wills and confirms' (Ar-Ra'd 39).

Maḥā means to erase.

Al-mumḥā is the erased.

The Almighty says: 'And We have made the sign of the night erased' (Al-Isra 12).

To erase / To nullify in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Ar-Ra'd 1

Al-Isra 1

Ash-Shura 1

Surah Ar-Ra'd : 39 Medinan

﴿يَمْحُوا۟ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِندَهُۥٓ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ﴾

Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.

Surah Al-Isra : 12 Meccan

﴿وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ءَايَتَيْنِ فَمَحَوْنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلنَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِّتَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُوا۟ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ فَصَّلْنَٰهُ تَفْصِيلًا﴾

And We have made the night and day two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day visible that you may seek bounty from your Lord and may know the number of years and the account [of time]. And everything We have set out in detail.

Surah Ash-Shura : 24 Meccan

﴿أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا فَإِن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ وَيَمْحُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَٰطِلَ وَيُحِقُّ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦٓ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ﴾

Or do they say, "He has invented about Allah a lie"? But if Allah willed, He could seal over your heart. And Allah eliminates falsehood and establishes the truth by His words. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.