# Sad-Fe-Vav — صفو (Sfw)

> Occurs in 17 verses of the Quran.

- **Source:** https://quran.so/root/Sfw

- **Meaning:** it became clear/limpid/pure (often said of a drink), opposite of Kaf-Dal-Ra, free from turbidness/thickness/muddiness, free from admixture, became cloudless (said of air/atmosphere, but also said of love/life/mind/heart), clear/pure/best/choice/favoured part/potion, clear/clarify, true/sincere, distinguish particularly/specially, select/elect/prefer, serenity of life, comfort, reciprocal sincerity/purity.
- **Derived forms:** أَصْفَىٰ (2) · صَفْوَان (1) · مُصْطَفَيْن (1) · مُّصَفًّى (1) · ٱصْطَفَىٰ (12)

## Verses containing this root

### 2. Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 130

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَيْنَـٰهُ — iṣ'ṭafaynāhu · "We chose him"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 1st person, plural · past tense

وَمَنْ يَرْغَبُ عَنْ مِلَّةِ اِبْرٰه۪يمَ اِلَّا مَنْ سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُۜ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَاۚ وَاِنَّهُ فِي الْاٰخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِح۪ينَ

Waman yarghabu AAan millati ibraheemailla man safiha nafsahu walaqadi istafaynahufee addunya wa-innahu fee al-akhiratilamina assaliheen

And who is averse to the creed of Abraham save he who befools himself? And We chose him in the World; and in the Hereafter he is among the righteous.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-baqarah/verse-130.md_

### 2. Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 132

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَىٰ — iṣ'ṭafā · "has chosen"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

وَوَصّٰى بِهَٓا اِبْرٰه۪يمُ بَن۪يهِ وَيَعْقُوبُۜ يَا بَنِيَّ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰى لَكُمُ الدّ۪ينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ اِلَّا وَاَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَۜ

Wawassa biha ibraheemubaneehi wayaAAqoobu ya baniyya inna Allaha istafalakumu addeena fala tamootunna illa waantummuslimoon

The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons, as did Jacob: “O my sons: God has chosen the doctrine for you; so die not save when you are submitting.”

_https://quran.so/surah-al-baqarah/verse-132.md_

### 2. Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 247

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَىٰهُ — iṣ'ṭafāhu · "has chosen him"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكاًۜ قَالُٓوا اَنّٰى يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ اَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِنَ الْمَالِۜ قَالَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰيهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِۜ وَاللّٰهُ يُؤْت۪ي مُلْكَهُ مَنْ يَشَٓاءُۜ وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَل۪يمٌ

Waqala lahum nabiyyuhum inna Allahaqad baAAatha lakum taloota malikan qaloo annayakoonu lahu almulku AAalayna wanahnu ahaqqubilmulki minhu walam yu/ta saAAatan mina almali qalainna Allaha istafahu AAalaykum wazadahubastatan fee alAAilmi waljismi wallahuyu/tee mulkahu man yashao wallahu wasiAAunAAaleem

And their prophet said to them: “God has raised up for you Saul as king.” They said: “How can he have dominion over us when we are worthier of dominion than he, when he has not been given abundance of wealth?” He said: “God has chosen him over you, and increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature.” And God gives His dominion to whom He wills; and God is encompassing and knowing.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-baqarah/verse-247.md_

### 2. Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 264

- **Form in this verse:** صَفْوَانٍ — ṣafwānin · "(that of a) smooth rock"
  - **Grammar:** noun · masculine · genitive case · indefinite

يَٓا اَيُّهَا الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالْاَذٰىۙ كَالَّذ۪ي يُنْفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَٓاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِۜ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَاَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْداًۜ لَا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلٰى شَيْءٍ مِمَّا كَسَبُواۜ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِر۪ينَ

Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoola tubtiloo sadaqatikum bilmanniwal-atha kallathee yunfiqu malahuri-aa annasi wala yu/minu billahiwalyawmi al-akhiri famathaluhu kamathali safwaninAAalayhi turabun faasabahu wabilunfatarakahu saldan la yaqdiroona AAalashay-in mimma kasaboo wallahu layahdee alqawma alkafireen

O you who heed warning: make not your charity vain through condescension and hindrance, like one who spends his wealth to be seen of men and believes not in God and the Last Day. And his likeness is as the likeness of a rock whereon is dust: a downpour fell upon it leaving it bare; they possess nothing from what they have earned; and God guides not the people of the false claimers of guidance.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-baqarah/verse-264.md_

### 3. Surah Ali 'Imran, Verse 33

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ — iṣ'ṭafā · "chose"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰٓى اٰدَمَ وَنُوحاً وَاٰلَ اِبْرٰه۪يمَ وَاٰلَ عِمْرٰنَ عَلَى الْعَالَم۪ينَۙ

Inna Allaha istafa adamawanoohan waala ibraheema waala AAimranaAAala alAAalameen

God chose Adam and Noah and the house of Abraham and the house of ʿImrān above all mankind:

_https://quran.so/surah-ali-imran/verse-33.md_

### 3. Surah Ali 'Imran, Verse 42

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَىٰكِ — iṣ'ṭafāki · "(has) chosen you"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

وَاِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰيكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفٰيكِ عَلٰى نِسَٓاءِ الْعَالَم۪ينَ

Wa-ith qalati almala-ikatuya maryamu inna Allaha istafaki watahharakiwastafaki AAala nisa-i alAAalameen

And when the angels said: “O Mary: God has chosen thee and purified thee, and chosen thee above the women of all mankind.

_https://quran.so/surah-ali-imran/verse-42.md_

### 3. Surah Ali 'Imran, Verse 42

- **Form in this verse:** وَٱصْطَفَىٰكِ — wa-iṣ'ṭafāki · "and chosen you"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

وَاِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اصْطَفٰيكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَاصْطَفٰيكِ عَلٰى نِسَٓاءِ الْعَالَم۪ينَ

Wa-ith qalati almala-ikatuya maryamu inna Allaha istafaki watahharakiwastafaki AAala nisa-i alAAalameen

And when the angels said: “O Mary: God has chosen thee and purified thee, and chosen thee above the women of all mankind.

_https://quran.so/surah-ali-imran/verse-42.md_

### 7. Surah Al-A'raf, Verse 144

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ — iṣ'ṭafaytuka · "have chosen you"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 1st person, singular · past tense

قَالَ يَا مُوسٰٓى اِنِّي اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَالَات۪ي وَبِكَلَام۪يۘ فَخُذْ مَٓا اٰتَيْتُكَ وَكُنْ مِنَ الشَّاكِر۪ينَ

Qala ya moosa innee istafaytukaAAala annasi birisalateewabikalamee fakhuth ma ataytuka wakunmina ashshakireen

Said He: “O Moses: I have chosen thee above mankind, by My messages and by My words; so hold thou to what I have given thee, and be thou among the grateful.”

_https://quran.so/surah-al-araf/verse-144.md_

### 17. Surah Al-Isra, Verse 40

- **Form in this verse:** أَفَأَصْفَىٰكُمْ — afa-aṣfākum · "Then has your Lord chosen (for) you"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of if'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

اَفَاَصْفٰيكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِالْبَن۪ينَ وَاتَّخَذَ مِنَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ اِنَاثاًۜ اِنَّكُمْ لَتَقُولُونَ قَوْلاً عَظ۪يماً۟

Afaasfakum rabbukum bilbaneenawattakhatha mina almala-ikati inathaninnakum lataqooloona qawlan AAatheema

Has then your Lord chosen for you sons and taken from among the angels females? You speak a monstrous word.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-isra/verse-40.md_

### 22. Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 75

- **Form in this verse:** يَصْطَفِى — yaṣṭafī · "chooses"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · present tense

اَللّٰهُ يَصْطَف۪ي مِنَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلاً وَمِنَ النَّاسِۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَم۪يعٌ بَص۪يرٌۚ

Allahu yastafee mina almala-ikatirusulan wamina annasi inna Allaha sameeAAunbaseer

God chooses from the angels messengers, and from men; God is hearing and seeing.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-hajj/verse-75.md_

### 27. Surah An-Naml, Verse 59

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ ۗ — iṣ'ṭafā · "He has chosen"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَسَلَامٌ عَلٰى عِبَادِهِ الَّذ۪ينَ اصْطَفٰىۜ آٰللّٰهُ خَيْرٌ اَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَۜ

Quli alhamdu lillahi wasalamunAAala AAibadihi allatheena istafaallahu khayrun amma yushrikoon

Say thou: “Praise belongs to God, and peace be upon His servants whom He has chosen!” Is God better, or that to which they ascribe a partnership?

_https://quran.so/surah-an-naml/verse-59.md_

### 35. Surah Fatir, Verse 32

- **Form in this verse:** ٱصْطَفَيْنَا — iṣ'ṭafaynā · "We have chosen"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 1st person, plural · past tense

ثُمَّ اَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذ۪ينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَاۚ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِنَفْسِه۪ۚ وَمِنْهُمْ مُقْتَصِدٌۚ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ بِاِذْنِ اللّٰهِۜ ذٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْكَب۪يرُۜ

Thumma awrathna alkitaba allatheenaistafayna min AAibadina faminhum thalimunlinafsihi waminhum muqtasidun waminhum sabiqun bilkhayratibi-ithni Allahi thalika huwa alfadlualkabeer

Then We caused to inherit the Writ those whom We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs his soul, and among them is one lukewarm, and among them are the frontrunners in good deeds by the leave of God; that is the great favour.

_https://quran.so/surah-fatir/verse-32.md_

### 37. Surah As-Saffat, Verse 153

- **Form in this verse:** أَصْطَفَى — aṣṭafā · "Has He chosen"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

اَصْطَفَى الْبَنَاتِ عَلَى الْبَن۪ينَۜ

Astafa albanati AAalaalbaneen

Chose He daughters over sons?

_https://quran.so/surah-as-saffat/verse-153.md_

### 38. Surah Sad, Verse 47

- **Form in this verse:** ٱلْمُصْطَفَيْنَ — l-muṣ'ṭafayna · "the chosen ones"
  - **Grammar:** noun · pattern of ifti'al · passive · masculine, plural · genitive case

وَاِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَنَا لَمِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْاَخْيَارِ

Wa-innahum AAindana lamina almustafaynaal-akhyar

And they are in Our sight among the chosen, the excellent.

_https://quran.so/surah-sad/verse-47.md_

### 39. Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 4

- **Form in this verse:** لَّٱصْطَفَىٰ — la-iṣ'ṭafā · "surely, He (could) have chosen"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of ifti'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

لَوْ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ اَنْ يَتَّخِذَ وَلَداً لَاصْطَفٰى مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَٓاءُۙ سُبْحَانَهُۜ هُوَ اللّٰهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ

Law arada Allahu an yattakhithawaladan lastafa mimma yakhluqu mayashao subhanahu huwa Allahu alwahidualqahhar

Had God willed to take a son, He would have chosen from what He created what He willed. Glory be to Him! He is God, the One, the Vanquishing!

_https://quran.so/surah-az-zumar/verse-4.md_

### 43. Surah Az-Zukhruf, Verse 16

- **Form in this verse:** وَأَصْفَىٰكُم — wa-aṣfākum · "and He has chosen (for) you"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of if'al · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

اَمِ اتَّخَذَ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ بَنَاتٍ وَاَصْفٰيكُمْ بِالْبَن۪ينَ۟

Ami ittakhatha mimma yakhluqubanatin waasfakum bilbaneen

If He has taken of what He creates daughters, and chosen for you sons,

_https://quran.so/surah-az-zukhruf/verse-16.md_

### 47. Surah Muhammad, Verse 15

- **Form in this verse:** مُّصَفًّۭى ۖ — muṣaffan · "purified"
  - **Grammar:** noun · pattern of tef'il · passive · masculine · genitive case · indefinite

مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّت۪ي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَۜ ف۪يهَٓا اَنْهَارٌ مِنْ مَٓاءٍ غَيْرِ اٰسِنٍۚ وَاَنْهَارٌ مِنْ لَبَنٍ لَمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُۚ وَاَنْهَارٌ مِنْ خَمْرٍ لَذَّةٍ لِلشَّارِب۪ينَۚ وَاَنْهَارٌ مِنْ عَسَلٍ مُصَفًّىۜ  وَلَهُمْ ف۪يهَا مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْۜ   كَمَنْ هُوَ خَالِدٌ فِي النَّارِ وَسُقُوا مَٓاءً حَم۪يماً فَقَطَّعَ اَمْعَٓاءَهُمْ

Mathalu aljannati allatee wuAAidaalmuttaqoona feeha anharun min ma-in ghayri asininwaanharun min labanin lam yataghayyar taAAmuhuwaanharun min khamrin laththatin lishsharibeenawaanharun min AAasalin musaffan walahum feehamin kulli aththamarati wamaghfiratun min rabbihimkaman huwa khalidun fee annari wasuqoo maanhameeman faqattaAAa amAAaahum

(The likeness of the Garden which is promised those of prudent fear: therein are rivers of water incorruptible, and rivers of milk of unchanging taste, and rivers of wine delightful to the drinkers, and rivers of purified honey; and they have therein every fruit, and pardon from their Lord.) — like: him who abides eternally in the Fire, and they are given to drink scalding water that lacerates their bowels?

_https://quran.so/surah-muhammad/verse-15.md_

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