What does « Near / Imminent » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Near / Imminent (أزف) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

أزف

Near / Imminent

Root: ء - ز - ف

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Near / Imminent

Al-azf: rapid approach.

Allah says: 'The Approaching has approached (azifat)' (An-Najm: 57), meaning the Hour has drawn near.

Allah says: 'Warn them of the Approaching Day (al-âzifa)' (Ghâfir: 18).

Al-âzifa is a name for the Resurrection because it is near.

Near / Imminent in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Ghafir 1

An-Najm 1

Surah Ghafir : 18 Meccan

﴿وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْءَازِفَةِ إِذِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ لَدَى ٱلْحَنَاجِرِ كَٰظِمِينَ مَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِنْ حَمِيمٍ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ يُطَاعُ﴾

And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Approaching Day, when hearts are at the throats, filled [with distress]. For the wrongdoers there will be no devoted friend and no intercessor [who is] obeyed.

Surah An-Najm : 57 Meccan

﴿أَزِفَتِ ٱلْءَازِفَةُ﴾

The Approaching Day has approached.