What does « To return / To repent » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To return / To repent (أوب) in the Quran, with 17 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

أوب

To return / To repent

Root: ء - ب

Creed (aqida) 17 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of To return / To repent

Al-awb (the return): returning to one's original state.

Âba ya'ûbu: he returned.

Allah says: 'And the birds assembled, all to Him returning (awwâb)' (Sâd: 19).

Al-awwâb: one who frequently returns to Allah through repentance.

Al-ma'âb: the place of return.

Allah says: 'To Us is the return (ma'âb)' (Âl 'Imrân: 14).

To return / To repent in the Quran (17)

Meccan: 14 Medinan: 3

Distribution of verses by surah

Sad 8

Ar-Ra'd 2

An-Naba 2

Âl 'Imrân 1

Al-Isra 1

Saba 1

Qaf 1

Al-Ghashiya 1

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 14 Medinan

﴿زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱلْقَنَٰطِيرِ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ وَٱلْخَيْلِ ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ وَٱلْحَرْثِ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلْمَـَٔابِ﴾

Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.

Surah Ar-Ra'd : 29 Medinan

﴿ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍ﴾

Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return.

Surah Ar-Ra'd : 36 Medinan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ﴾

And [the believers among] those to whom We have given the [previous] Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], but among the [opposing] factions are those who deny part of it. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allah and not associate [anything] with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return."

Surah Al-Isra : 25 Meccan

﴿رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِى نُفُوسِكُمْ إِن تَكُونُوا۟ صَٰلِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِلْأَوَّٰبِينَ غَفُورًا﴾

Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.

Surah Saba : 10 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا يَٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِى مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيْرَ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلْحَدِيدَ﴾

And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron,

Surah Sad : 17 Meccan

﴿ٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُۥدَ ذَا ٱلْأَيْدِ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ﴾

Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah].

Surah Sad : 19 Meccan

﴿وَٱلطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً كُلٌّ لَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ﴾

And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises].

Surah Sad : 25 Meccan

﴿فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍ﴾

So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.

Surah Sad : 30 Meccan

﴿وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُۥدَ سُلَيْمَٰنَ نِعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ﴾

And to David We gave Solomon. An excellent servant, indeed he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].

Surah Sad : 40 Meccan

﴿وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍ﴾

And indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.

Surah Sad : 44 Meccan

﴿وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٰهُ صَابِرًا نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ﴾

[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].

Surah Sad : 49 Meccan

﴿هَٰذَا ذِكْرٌ وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍ﴾

This is a reminder. And indeed, for the righteous is a good place of return

Surah Sad : 55 Meccan

﴿هَٰذَا وَإِنَّ لِلطَّٰغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَٔابٍ﴾

This [is so]. But indeed, for the transgressors is an evil place of return -

Surah Qaf : 32 Meccan

﴿هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ﴾

[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]

Surah An-Naba : 22 Meccan

﴿لِّلطَّٰغِينَ مَـَٔابًا﴾

For the transgressors, a place of return,