What does « Treachery / Deception » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Treachery / Deception (ختر) 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.

ختر

Treachery / Deception

Root: خ - ت - ر

Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Treachery / Deception

Al-khatr: betrayal in which the person weakens and breaks due to his effort of concealment.

Allah says: 'Every treacherous (khattâr) ingrate' (Luqmân: 32).

The traitor hides his betrayal while displaying loyalty.

Treachery / Deception in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Luqman : 32 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا غَشِيَهُم مَّوْجٌ كَٱلظُّلَلِ دَعَوُا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّىٰهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْبَرِّ فَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَّا كُلُّ خَتَّارٍ كَفُورٍ﴾

And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, there are [some] of them who are moderate [in faith]. And none rejects Our signs except everyone treacherous and ungrateful.