What does « Hollow / Depth » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Hollow / Depth (غور) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

غور

Hollow / Depth

Root: غ - ر

Quranic language 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Hollow / Depth

Al-Ghawr refers to what is depressed or low-lying in the earth.

One says: ghāra ar-rajul (the man descended) and aghāra.

Ghārat 'aynuhu ghawr means the eye became sunken.

The Almighty says: 'Or its water becomes sunken deep' (Al-Kahf 41), and: 'Say: Have you considered - if your water were to become sunken' (Al-Mulk 30), meaning it would go into the depths of the earth.

Hollow / Depth in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

At-Tawba 2

Al-Kahf 1

Al-Mulk 1

Surah At-Tawba : 40 Medinan

﴿إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾

If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Surah At-Tawba : 57 Medinan

﴿لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَـًٔا أَوْ مَغَٰرَٰتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوْا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ﴾

If they could find a refuge or some caves or any place to enter [and hide], they would turn to it while they run heedlessly.

Surah Al-Kahf : 41 Meccan

﴿أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَآؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَن تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُۥ طَلَبًا﴾

Or its water will become sunken [into the earth], so you would never be able to seek it."

Surah Al-Mulk : 30 Meccan

﴿قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَآؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَآءٍ مَّعِينٍۭ﴾

Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?"

Words from the same root as Hollow / Depth

To turn away / To scheme

To attract / To seduce

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم