What does « Passionate love » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Passionate love (شغف) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شغف
Passionate love
Root: ش - غ - ف
Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Passionate love

The Almighty says: 'He has impassioned her' (Yusuf 30), meaning he reached the shighaf of her heart.

The shighaf is the heart's covering (pericardium).

This means love penetrated to the membrane surrounding the heart, expressing intense love.

Passionate love in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0
Surah Yusuf : 30 Meccan
﴿وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
And women in the city said, "The wife of al-'Azeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error."

Words from the same root as Passionate love

Share

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم
هلال متناقص Waning Crescent Day 25.1 / 29.5
Illumination 20%
New moon in 4 days
حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل Allah is sufficient for us, the best guardian