What does « To pass / To elapse » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To pass / To elapse (مضى) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

مضى

To pass / To elapse

Root: م - ض

Quranic language 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To pass / To elapse

Al-Muḍiyy refers to passing and continuing.

The Almighty says: 'Have they not seen what preceded them of generations' (Maryam 98).

Maḍā means to pass.

Al-māḍī is the past.

Al-muḍiyy is resolute advancement.

To pass / To elapse in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Anfal 1

Al-Hijr 1

Al-Kahf 1

Ya-Sin 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

Surah Al-Anfal : 38 Medinan

﴿قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.

Surah Al-Hijr : 65 Meccan

﴿فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱتَّبِعْ أَدْبَٰرَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَٱمْضُوا۟ حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ﴾

So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded."

Surah Al-Kahf : 60 Meccan

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا﴾

And [mention] when Moses said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period."

Surah Ya-Sin : 67 Meccan

﴿وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَمَسَخْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِهِمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ مُضِيًّا وَلَا يَرْجِعُونَ﴾

And if We willed, We could have deformed them, [paralyzing them] in their places so they would not be able to proceed, nor could they return.

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 8 Meccan

﴿فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشًا وَمَضَىٰ مَثَلُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

And We destroyed greater than them in [striking] power, and the example of the former peoples has preceded.