What does « Impure / Defiled » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Impure / Defiled (نجس) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

نجس

Impure / Defiled

Root: ن - ج - س

Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Impure / Defiled

An-Najas refers to impurity.

The Almighty says: 'The polytheists are impure' (At-Tawbah 28).

Najisa means to become impure.

An-najāsah is ritual impurity.

An-najis is the impure.

Impure / Defiled in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 1

Surah At-Tawba : 28 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا يَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلْمَسْجِدَ ٱلْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَيْلَةً فَسَوْفَ يُغْنِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ إِن شَآءَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾

O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Wise.