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

Discover the meaning of the word To erase / To blind (طمس) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

طمس

To erase / To blind

Root: ط - م - س

Quranic language 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To erase / To blind

At-tams: erasing the trace by obliteration.

The Almighty says: 'When the stars are obliterated' (Al-Mursalat 8). 'Obliterate their wealth' (Yunus 88) Moses's supplication against Pharaoh.

Erasure removes all existence.

To erase / To blind in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nisa 1

Yunus 1

Ya-Sin 1

Al-Qamar 1

Al-Mursalat 1

Surah An-Nisa : 47 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِهَآ أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلسَّبْتِ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا﴾

O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down [to Muhammad], confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the decree of Allah accomplished.

Surah Yunus : 88 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَٰلًا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ﴾

And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."

Surah Ya-Sin : 66 Meccan

﴿وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَطَمَسْنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَعْيُنِهِمْ فَٱسْتَبَقُوا۟ ٱلصِّرَٰطَ فَأَنَّىٰ يُبْصِرُونَ﴾

And if We willed, We could have obliterated their eyes, and they would race to [find] the path, and how could they see?

Surah Al-Qamar : 37 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِۦ فَطَمَسْنَآ أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ﴾

And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."

Surah Al-Mursalat : 8 Meccan

﴿فَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ﴾

So when the stars are obliterated