What does « Mind / Preoccupation » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Mind / Preoccupation (بال) 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.

بال

Mind / Preoccupation

Root: ب - ل

Quranic language 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Mind / Preoccupation

Al-bâl: the state one cares about.

Hence one says 'mâ bâlaytu bi-kadhâ bâlatan' (I did not care about such thing).

Allah says: 'He will reform your condition (bâlakum)' (Muhammad: 5), and: 'What is on his mind (bâluhu)?' (An-Nâzi'ât: 42).

The expression 'khatara bi-bâlî' means: it came to my mind.

Al-bâl refers to what preoccupies the heart and mind.

Mind / Preoccupation in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Muhammad 2

Yusuf 1

Ta-Ha 1

Surah Yusuf : 50 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌۭ﴾

And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."

Surah Ta-Ha : 51 Meccan

﴿قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ ٱلْقُرُونِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ﴾

[Pharaoh] said, "Then what is the case of the former generations?"

Surah Muhammad : 2 Medinan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَءَامَنُوا۟ بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍۢ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۙ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ﴾

And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition.

Surah Muhammad : 5 Medinan

﴿سَيَهْدِيهِمْ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَهُمْ﴾

He will guide them and amend their condition