What does « To weaken / To slow down » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To weaken / To slow down (فتر) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

فتر

To weaken / To slow down

Root: ف - ت - ر

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To weaken / To slow down

Al-Futūr refers to calm after intensity, softness after hardness, and weakness after strength.

The Almighty says: 'O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger after an interval of messengers' (Al-Ma'idah 19).

The Almighty also says about the angels: 'They do not become weary' (Al-Anbiya 20).

To weaken / To slow down in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Maida 1

Al-Anbiya 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

Surah Al-Maida : 19 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ عَلَىٰ فَتْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا جَآءَنَا مِنۢ بَشِيرٍ وَلَا نَذِيرٍ فَقَدْ جَآءَكُم بَشِيرٌ وَنَذِيرٌ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ﴾

O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger to make clear to you [the religion] after a period [of suspension] of messengers, lest you say, "There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner." But there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allah is over all things competent.

Surah Al-Anbiya : 20 Meccan

﴿يُسَبِّحُونَ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ﴾

They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken.

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 75 Meccan

﴿لَا يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ﴾

It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair.