What does « Bad omen / Ominous » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Bad omen / Ominous (نحس) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

نحس

Bad omen / Ominous

Root: ن - ح - س

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Bad omen / Ominous

An-Naḥs refers to misfortune and ill luck.

The Almighty says: 'On days of misfortune' (Fussilat 16).

Naḥs is the opposite of sa'd (fortune).

Yawm naḥis is a day of bad luck.

An-nuḥūs is continuous misfortune.

Bad omen / Ominous in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Fussilat 1

Al-Qamar 1

Ar-Rahman 1

Surah Fussilat : 16 Meccan

﴿فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ نَّحِسَاتٍ لِّنُذِيقَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَخْزَىٰ وَهُمْ لَا يُنصَرُونَ﴾

So We sent upon them a screaming wind during days of misfortune to make them taste the punishment of disgrace in the worldly life; but the punishment of the Hereafter is more disgracing, and they will not be helped.

Surah Al-Qamar : 19 Meccan

﴿إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا فِى يَوْمِ نَحْسٍ مُّسْتَمِرٍّ﴾

Indeed, We sent upon them a screaming wind on a day of continuous misfortune,

Surah Ar-Rahman : 35 Meccan

﴿يُرْسَلُ عَلَيْكُمَا شُوَاظٌ مِّن نَّارٍ وَنُحَاسٌ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ﴾

There will be sent upon you a flame of fire and smoke, and you will not defend yourselves.