What does « Ṣafr » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ṣafr (صفر) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

صفر
Ṣafr
Root: ص - ف - ر
Creed (aqida) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Ṣafr

As-sufra: a color between black and white, close to earth.

The Almighty says: 'A yellow cow, bright in color' (Al-Baqara 69).

The month of Safar may come from the fact that Mecca was emptied of its inhabitants who left on expeditions.

Ṣafr in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 2
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Baqara 1
Ar-Rum 1
Az-Zumar 1
Al-Hadid 1
Al-Mursalat 1
Surah Al-Baqara : 69 Medinan
﴿قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَآءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ ٱلنَّٰظِرِينَ﴾
They said, "Call upon your Lord to show us what is her color." He said, "He says, 'It is a yellow cow, bright in color - pleasing to the observers.' "
Surah Ar-Rum : 51 Meccan
﴿وَلَئِنْ أَرْسَلْنَا رِيحًا فَرَأَوْهُ مُصْفَرًّا لَّظَلُّوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ يَكْفُرُونَ﴾
But if We should send a [bad] wind and they saw [their crops] turned yellow, they would remain thereafter disbelievers.
Surah Az-Zumar : 21 Meccan
﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَٰمًا إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ﴾
Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
Surah Al-Hadid : 20 Medinan
﴿ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَٰمًا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ﴾
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
Surah Al-Mursalat : 33 Meccan
﴿كَأَنَّهُۥ جِمَٰلَتٌ صُفْرٌ﴾
As if they were yellowish [black] camels.

Words from the same root as Ṣafr

أصر
Aṣr
برص
Braṣ
بصر
Bṣir
ترف
Traf
جرف
Jurf
حرص
Ḥirṣ
حرف
Ḥarf
حصر
Ḥaṣr

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

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Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ