What does « Ḥfar » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ḥfar (حفر) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

حفر
Ḥfar
Root: ح - ف - ر
Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Ḥfar

Allah says: 'And you were on the edge of a pit (hufra) of fire' (Âl 'Imrân: 103).

Al-hufra: the hole dug in the ground, the pit.

Arabs before Islam were on the brink of Hell due to their ignorance.

Islam saved them.

Ḥfar in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 1
Distribution of verses by surah
Âl 'Imrân 1
An-Nazi'at 1
Surah Âl 'Imrân : 103 Medinan
﴿وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ﴾
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.
Surah An-Nazi'at : 10 Meccan
﴿يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِى ٱلْحَافِرَةِ﴾
They are [presently] saying, "Will we indeed be returned to [our] former state [of life]?

Words from the same root as Ḥfar

بحر
Baḥr
برح
Bariḥa
ترف
Traf
جرح
Jaraḥa
جرف
Jurf
حبر
Ḥibr
حجر
Ḥajr
حذر
Ḥdhar

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 2 Jumada al-Thani
الجمعة 2 جمادى الآخرة
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لا إله إلا الله There is no god but Allah

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ