Discover the meaning of the term Al-ṭrf (طرف) in Islamic vocabulary.
Contents :
Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readWith two fathas — language: a part of a thing, its side and end; it is the direction and portion of a thing, and the extremity of everything is its term and end.
With movement: the side of a thing, used for bodies, times and others. Hence the figurative use: "karim at-tarafayn", noble on both sides, i.e. by father and mother; and it was said: the dhikr and the tongue, alluding to modesty.
With fatha and sukun: the glance, hence "qasirat at-tarf", those of lowered gaze. The movement of the eyelid: "and in you an eye that blinks", i.e. moves its lid. The hastening of steps, hence in the story of the Isra: "he sets — the Buraq — his hoof at its edge", i.e. the swiftness of steps like that of the glance.
﴿لِيَقْطَعَ طَرَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْ يَكْبِتَهُمْ فَيَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَآئِبِينَ﴾
« That He might cut down a section of the disbelievers or suppress them so that they turn back disappointed. »
Surah آل عمران : 127
﴿وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَـٰتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّٰكِرِينَ﴾
« And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember. »
Surah هود : 114
﴿مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌۭ﴾
« Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void. »
Surah ابراهيم : 43
﴿قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّۭ كَرِيمٌۭ﴾
« Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous." »
Surah النمل : 40
﴿وَعِندَهُمْ قَـٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ عِينٌۭ﴾
« And with them will be women limiting [their] glances, with large, [beautiful] eyes, »
Surah الصافات : 48
﴿۞ وَعِندَهُمْ قَـٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ﴾
« And with them will be women limiting [their] glances and of equal age. »
Surah ص : 52
This term appears in 8 verses of the Quran.