# Kh-Ta-Fe — خطف (xTf)

> Occurs in 7 verses of the Quran.

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

- **Meaning:** To seize/take/carry off something by force, snatch something away quickly, suddenly take something away, move along quickly (quickness in pace or going), cut something short (such as a discourse or narrative), barely miss something (and also to nearly hit something), be lean or lank in the belly (lightness of the flesh of the sides), to be mad or diabolically possessed.
- **Derived forms:** خَطِفَ (3) · خَطْفَة (1) · يَتَخَطَّفَ (3)

## Verses containing this root

### 2. Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 20

- **Form in this verse:** يَخْطَفُ — yakhṭafu · "snatches away"
  - **Grammar:** verb · 3rd person, masculine, singular · present tense

يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ اَبْصَارَهُمْۜ  كُلَّمَٓا اَضَٓاءَ لَهُمْ مَشَوْا ف۪يهِۙ وَاِذَٓا اَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواۜ وَلَوْ شَٓاءَ اللّٰهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَاَبْصَارِهِمْۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَد۪يرٌ۟

Yakadu albarqu yakhtafu absarahumkullama adaa lahum mashaw feehi wa-itha athlamaAAalayhim qamoo walaw shaa Allahu lathahababisamAAihim waabsarihim inna Allaha AAalakulli shay-in qadeer

The lightning nigh snatches away their sight; whenever it gives them light, they walk therein; and when it darkens over them, they stand still. And had God willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight; God is over all things powerful.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-baqarah/verse-20.md_

### 8. Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 26

- **Form in this verse:** يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ — yatakhaṭṭafakumu · "might do away with you"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of tefa'ul · 3rd person, masculine, singular · present tense

وَاذْكُـرُٓوا اِذْ اَنْتُمْ قَل۪يلٌ مُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْاَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ اَنْ يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَاٰوٰيكُمْ وَاَيَّدَكُمْ بِنَصْرِه۪ وَرَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Wathkuroo ith antumqaleelun mustadAAafoona fee al-ardi takhafoonaan yatakhattafakumu annasu faawakumwaayyadakum binasrihi warazaqakum mina attayyibatilaAAallakum tashkuroon

And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that the people would snatch you away, but He gave you refuge, and strengthened you with His help, and provided you with good things, that you might be grateful.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-anfal/verse-26.md_

### 22. Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 31

- **Form in this verse:** فَتَخْطَفُهُ — fatakhṭafuhu · "and (had) snatched him"
  - **Grammar:** verb · 3rd person, feminine, singular · present tense

حُنَفَٓاءَ لِلّٰهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِك۪ينَ بِه۪ۜ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللّٰهِ فَكَاَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَٓاءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّيْرُ اَوْ تَهْو۪ي بِهِ الرّ۪يحُ ف۪ي مَكَانٍ سَح۪يقٍ

Hunafaa lillahi ghayramushrikeena bihi waman yushrik billahi fakaannamakharra mina assama-i fatakhtafuhu attayruaw tahwee bihi arreehu fee makanin saheeq

Inclining towards God, not ascribing a partnership to Him. And whoso ascribes a partnership to God, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, then the birds snatch him away, or the wind sweeps him away to a far-off place.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-hajj/verse-31.md_

### 28. Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 57

- **Form in this verse:** نُتَخَطَّفْ — nutakhaṭṭaf · "we would be swept"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of tefa'ul · passive · 1st person, plural · present tense

وَقَالُٓوا اِنْ نَتَّبِـعِ الْهُدٰى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ اَرْضِنَاۜ اَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حَرَماً اٰمِناً يُجْبٰٓى اِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِزْقاً مِنْ لَدُنَّا وَلٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Waqaloo in nattabiAAi alhudamaAAaka nutakhattaf min ardina awa lamnumakkin lahum haraman aminan yujba ilayhithamaratu kulli shay-in rizqan min ladunna walakinnaaktharahum la yaAAlamoon

And they say: “If we follow the guidance with thee, we will be swept from our land.” Have We not established for them a sanctuary secure whereto are collected the fruits of all things as a provision from Us? But most of them know not.

_https://quran.so/surah-al-qasas/verse-57.md_

### 29. Surah Al-'Ankabut, Verse 67

- **Form in this verse:** وَيُتَخَطَّفُ — wayutakhaṭṭafu · "while are being taken away"
  - **Grammar:** verb · pattern of tefa'ul · passive · 3rd person, masculine, singular · present tense

اَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا اَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَماً اٰمِناً وَيُتَخَطَّفُ النَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْۜ اَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ اللّٰهِ يَكْفُرُونَ

Awa lam yaraw anna jaAAalna haramanaminan wayutakhattafu annasu min hawlihimafabilbatili yu/minoona wabiniAAmati Allahiyakfuroon

Have they not considered that We appointed a sanctuary secure, while men were swept away round about them? Do they then believe in vanity, and deny the favour of God?

_https://quran.so/surah-al-ankabut/verse-67.md_

### 37. Surah As-Saffat, Verse 10

- **Form in this verse:** خَطِفَ — khaṭifa · "snatches"
  - **Grammar:** verb · 3rd person, masculine, singular · past tense

اِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَاَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ

Illa man khatifa alkhatfatafaatbaAAahu shihabun thaqib

Save he who snatches a fragment; and a piercing flame follows him.

_https://quran.so/surah-as-saffat/verse-10.md_

### 37. Surah As-Saffat, Verse 10

- **Form in this verse:** ٱلْخَطْفَةَ — l-khaṭfata · "(by) theft"
  - **Grammar:** noun · feminine · accusative case

اِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَاَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ

Illa man khatifa alkhatfatafaatbaAAahu shihabun thaqib

Save he who snatches a fragment; and a piercing flame follows him.

_https://quran.so/surah-as-saffat/verse-10.md_

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14
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