What does « Light / Swift » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Light / Swift (خف) 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.

خف

Light / Swift

Root: خ - ف

Quranic language 8 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Light / Swift

Al-khafîf: the opposite of heavy.

Said sometimes by comparison, sometimes by nature.

Allah says: 'Go forth light (khifâfan) and heavy' (At-Tawba: 41).

That is, in all your conditions, whether easy or difficult to leave.

Light / Swift in the Quran (8)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 5

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 2

Âl 'Imrân 1

An-Nisa 1

Al-Anfal 1

An-Nahl 1

Fatir 1

Ghafir 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 86 Medinan

﴿أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ﴾

Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.

Surah Al-Baqara : 162 Medinan

﴿خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ﴾

Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 88 Medinan

﴿خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ﴾

Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.

Surah An-Nisa : 28 Medinan

﴿يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُخَفِّفَ عَنكُمْ ۚ وَخُلِقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ضَعِيفًۭا﴾

And Allah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak.

Surah Al-Anfal : 66 Medinan

﴿ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ خَفَّفَ ٱللَّهُ عَنكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًۭا ۚ فَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّا۟ئَةٌۭ صَابِرَةٌۭ يَغْلِبُوا۟ مِا۟ئَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ أَلْفٌۭ يَغْلِبُوٓا۟ أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ﴾

Now, Allah has lightened [the hardship] for you, and He knows that among you is weakness. So if there are from you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you a thousand, they will overcome two thousand by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the steadfast.

Surah An-Nahl : 85 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا رَءَا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ﴾

And when those who wronged see the punishment, it will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.

Surah Fatir : 36 Meccan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَهُمْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا۟ وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى كُلَّ كَفُورٍۢ﴾

And for those who disbelieve will be the fire of Hell. [Death] is not decreed for them so they may die, nor will its torment be lightened for them. Thus do we recompense every ungrateful one.

Surah Ghafir : 49 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ يُخَفِّفْ عَنَّا يَوْمًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ﴾

And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, "Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment."