What does « Ḥwāyā » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ḥwāyā (حوايا) 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.

حوايا

Ḥwāyā

Root: ح

Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Ḥwāyā

Al-hawâyâ: plural of 'hawiyya', the intestines.

The cloth wrapped around the camel's hump is also called 'hawiyya'.

Allah says: 'Or the entrails (al-hawâyâ)' (Al-An'âm: 146).

Intestinal fat was forbidden to Jews as punishment.

Ḥwāyā in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Al-An'am : 146 Meccan

﴿وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا كُلَّ ذِى ظُفُرٍۢ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْبَقَرِ وَٱلْغَنَمِ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ شُحُومَهُمَآ إِلَّا مَا حَمَلَتْ ظُهُورُهُمَآ أَوِ ٱلْحَوَايَآ أَوْ مَا ٱخْتَلَطَ بِعَظْمٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيْنَـٰهُم بِبَغْيِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ﴾

And to those who are Jews We prohibited every animal of uncloven hoof; and of the cattle and the sheep We prohibited to them their fat, except what adheres to their backs or the entrails or what is joined with bone. [By] that We repaid them for their injustice. And indeed, We are truthful.