What does « Bakhʿ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Bakhʿ (بخع) 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.

بخع
Bakhʿ
Root: ب - خ - ع
Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Bakhʿ

Al-bakh': to kill oneself from grief.

Allah says: 'Perhaps you would destroy yourself (bâkhi' nafsak)' (Al-Kahf: 6), urging the Prophet ﷺ not to destroy himself from grief over those who do not believe.

This term expresses the intensity of sadness that can lead to self-destruction.

It denotes extreme grief that deeply affects one's being.

Bakhʿ in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Kahf 1
Ash-Shu'ara 1
Surah Al-Kahf : 6 Meccan
﴿فَلَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا﴾
Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.
Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 3 Meccan
﴿لَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ﴾
Perhaps, [O Muhammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers.

Words from the same root as Bakhʿ

أصبع
Aṣbʿ
بخس
Bakhs
بخل
Bukhl
بدع
Badiʿ
بضع
Baḍʿ
بعث
Baʿth
بعثر
Buʿthira
بعد
Buʿd

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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