What does « Slowness / Tolerance » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Slowness / Tolerance (مهل) 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.

مهل

Slowness / Tolerance

Root: م - ه - ل

Quranic language 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Slowness / Tolerance

Al-Mahl refers to delay and respite.

The Almighty says: 'So give respite to them' (At-Tariq 17).

Amhala means to grant a delay.

Al-muhl is also molten metal.

The Almighty says: 'Like molten metal' (Al-Ma'arij 8).

Slowness / Tolerance in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Kahf 1

Ad-Dukhan 1

Al-Ma'arij 1

Al-Muzzammil 1

At-Tariq 1

Surah Al-Kahf : 29 Meccan

﴿وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا۟ يُغَاثُوا۟ بِمَآءٍ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى ٱلْوُجُوهَ بِئْسَ ٱلشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا﴾

And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.

Surah Ad-Dukhan : 45 Meccan

﴿كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَغْلِى فِى ٱلْبُطُونِ﴾

Like murky oil, it boils within bellies

Surah Al-Ma'arij : 8 Meccan

﴿يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ﴾

On the Day the sky will be like murky oil,

Surah Al-Muzzammil : 11 Meccan

﴿وَذَرْنِى وَٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ أُو۟لِى ٱلنَّعْمَةِ وَمَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا﴾

And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little.

Surah At-Tariq : 17 Meccan

﴿فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا﴾

So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.