What does « Temptation / To beautify » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Temptation / To beautify (سول) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

سول

Temptation / To beautify

Root: س - ل

Creed (aqida) 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Temptation / To beautify

As-su'l: the need that the soul ardently desires.

The Almighty says: 'You have been granted your request, O Moses' (Ta-Ha 36).

At-taswil: embellishing to the soul what it desires. 'No! Your souls have embellished something to you' (Yusuf 18), said Jacob when his sons told him Joseph's story.

Temptation / To beautify in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Yusuf 2

Ta-Ha 1

Muhammad 1

Surah Yusuf : 18 Meccan

﴿وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ﴾

And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."

Surah Yusuf : 83 Meccan

﴿قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ﴾

[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."

Surah Ta-Ha : 96 Meccan

﴿قَالَ بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ يَبْصُرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةً مِّنْ أَثَرِ ٱلرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتْ لِى نَفْسِى﴾

He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger and threw it, and thus did my soul entice me."

Surah Muhammad : 25 Medinan

﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱرْتَدُّوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَٰرِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلْهُدَى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمْ وَأَمْلَىٰ لَهُمْ﴾

Indeed, those who reverted back [to disbelief] after guidance had become clear to them - Satan enticed them and prolonged hope for them.

Words from the same root as Temptation / To beautify

بسل

Forbidden / Sacrifice

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم