What does « To lower / To humiliate » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To lower / To humiliate (خفض) 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.

خفض

To lower / To humiliate

Root: خ - ف - ض

Creed (aqida) 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To lower / To humiliate

Al-khafd: the opposite of raising.

Al-khafd also means rest and gentle walking.

Allah says: 'And lower (ikhfid) to them the wing of humility' (Al-Isrâ': 24).

The son must humble himself before his parents out of respect.

To lower / To humiliate in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Hijr 1

Al-Isra 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Al-Waqi'a 1

Surah Al-Hijr : 88 Meccan

﴿لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَٱخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾

Do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [certain] categories of the disbelievers, and do not grieve over them. And lower your wing to the believers

Surah Al-Isra : 24 Meccan

﴿وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًا﴾

And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 215 Meccan

﴿وَٱخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾

And lower your wing to those who follow you of the believers.

Surah Al-Waqi'a : 3 Meccan

﴿خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ﴾

It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].