What does « To flee » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To flee (فر) in the Quran, with 10 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

فر

To flee

Root: ف - ر

Creed (aqida) 10 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To flee

The origin of al-farr is examining an animal's tooth.

One says: farartu firāran.

From this: farra ad-dahr 'an anābihi (time revealed its canines), meaning it showed its severity.

Farr also means fleeing.

The Almighty says: 'You turned back in retreat' (At-Tawbah 25).

To flee in the Quran (10)

Meccan: 7 Medinan: 3

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Ahzab 2

Al-Kahf 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Adh-Dhariyat 1

Al-Jumu'a 1

Nuh 1

Al-Muddaththir 1

Al-Qiyama 1

'Abasa 1

Surah Al-Kahf : 18 Meccan

﴿وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًۭا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌۭ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌۭ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًۭا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًۭا﴾

And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror.

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 21 Meccan

﴿فَفَرَرْتُ مِنكُمْ لَمَّا خِفْتُكُمْ فَوَهَبَ لِى رَبِّى حُكْمًۭا وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ﴾

So I fled from you when I feared you. Then my Lord granted me wisdom and prophethood and appointed me [as one] of the messengers.

Surah Al-Ahzab : 13 Medinan

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۚ وَيَسْتَـْٔذِنُ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌۭ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا﴾

And when a faction of them said, "O people of Yathrib, there is no stability for you [here], so return [home]." And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses are unprotected," while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.

Surah Al-Ahzab : 16 Medinan

﴿قُل لَّن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلْفِرَارُ إِن فَرَرْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْمَوْتِ أَوِ ٱلْقَتْلِ وَإِذًۭا لَّا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا﴾

Say, [O Muhammad], "Never will fleeing benefit you if you should flee from death or killing; and then [if you did], you would not be given enjoyment [of life] except for a little."

Surah Adh-Dhariyat : 50 Meccan

﴿فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ﴾

So flee to Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.

Surah Al-Jumu'a : 8 Medinan

﴿قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْمَوْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مُلَـٰقِيكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ﴾

Say, "Indeed, the death from which you flee - indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do."

Surah Nuh : 6 Meccan

﴿فَلَمْ يَزِدْهُمْ دُعَآءِىٓ إِلَّا فِرَارًۭا﴾

But my invitation increased them not except in flight.

Surah Al-Muddaththir : 51 Meccan

﴿فَرَّتْ مِن قَسْوَرَةٍۭ﴾

Fleeing from a lion?

Surah Al-Qiyama : 10 Meccan

﴿يَقُولُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَيْنَ ٱلْمَفَرُّ﴾

Man will say on that Day, "Where is the [place of] escape?"

Surah 'Abasa : 34 Meccan

﴿يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ﴾

On the Day a man will flee from his brother