What does « Gentleness / Kindness » mean in the Quran?
Discover the meaning of the word Gentleness / Kindness (لطف) 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.
لطف
Gentleness / Kindness
Root: ل - ط - ف
Creed (aqida) 8 verses
Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM
📖 2 min read
Definition of Gentleness / Kindness
Al-Luṭf refers to gentleness, subtlety, and hidden kindness.
The Almighty says: 'Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills' (Yusuf 100).
Al-Laṭīf is one of Allah's Names, the One whose kindness is subtle.
And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.
And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you.
[And Luqman said], "O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.