What does « Both » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Both (كلا) in the Quran, with 30 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

كلا
Both
Root: ك - ل
Quranic language 30 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 4 min read

Definition of Both

Kallā is a particle of emphatic negation and reprimand.

The Almighty says: 'No! Man transgresses' ('Alaq 6).

Kallā expresses rejection and refutation.

It is stronger than simple 'lā'.

Both in the Quran (30)

Meccan: 30 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Muddaththir 4
Al-Mutaffifin 4
Al-Qiyama 3
Al-'Alaq 3
Maryam 2
Ash-Shu'ara 2
Al-Ma'arij 2
An-Naba 2
'Abasa 2
Al-Fajr 2
+ 4 more surahs
Surah Al-Isra : 23 Meccan
﴿۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
Surah Maryam : 79 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا ۚ سَنَكْتُبُ مَا يَقُولُ وَنَمُدُّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ مَدًّۭا
No! We will record what he says and extend for him from the punishment extensively.
Surah Maryam : 82 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا ۚ سَيَكْفُرُونَ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضِدًّا
No! Those "gods" will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgement].
Surah Al-Mu'minun : 100 Meccan
﴿لَعَلِّىٓ أَعْمَلُ صَـٰلِحًۭا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ ۚ كَلَّآ ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَا ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.
Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 15 Meccan
﴿قَالَ كَلَّا ۖ فَٱذْهَبَا بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّسْتَمِعُونَ
[Allah] said, "No. Go both of you with Our signs; indeed, We are with you, listening.
Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 62 Meccan
﴿قَالَ كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ
[Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."
Surah Saba : 27 Meccan
﴿قُلْ أَرُونِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَلْحَقْتُم بِهِۦ شُرَكَآءَ ۖ كَلَّا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Say, "Show me those whom you have attached to Him as partners. No! Rather, He [alone] is Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
Surah Al-Ma'arij : 15 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ
No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell],
Surah Al-Ma'arij : 39 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ
No! Indeed, We have created them from that which they know.
Surah Al-Muddaththir : 16 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا عَنِيدًۭا
No! Indeed, he has been toward Our verses obstinate.
Surah Al-Muddaththir : 32 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا وَٱلْقَمَرِ
No! By the moon
Surah Al-Muddaththir : 53 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ
No! But they do not fear the Hereafter.
Surah Al-Muddaththir : 54 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِنَّهُۥ تَذْكِرَةٌۭ
No! Indeed, the Qur'an is a reminder
Surah Al-Qiyama : 11 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ
No! There is no refuge.
Surah Al-Qiyama : 20 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا بَلْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ
No! But you love the immediate
Surah Al-Qiyama : 26 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلتَّرَاقِىَ
No! When the soul has reached the collar bones
Surah An-Naba : 4 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ
No! They are going to know.
Surah An-Naba : 5 Meccan
﴿ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَ
Then, no! They are going to know.
Surah 'Abasa : 11 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌۭ
No! Indeed, these verses are a reminder;
Surah 'Abasa : 23 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا لَمَّا يَقْضِ مَآ أَمَرَهُۥ
No! Man has not yet accomplished what He commanded him.
Surah Al-Infitar : 9 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا بَلْ تُكَذِّبُونَ بِٱلدِّينِ
No! But you deny the Recompense.
Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 7 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِنَّ كِتَـٰبَ ٱلْفُجَّارِ لَفِى سِجِّينٍۢ
No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in sijjeen.
Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 14 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.
Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 15 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ
No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned.
Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 18 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِنَّ كِتَـٰبَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ لَفِى عِلِّيِّينَ
No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in 'illiyyun.
Surah Al-Fajr : 17 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا تُكْرِمُونَ ٱلْيَتِيمَ
No! But you do not honor the orphan
Surah Al-Fajr : 21 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِذَا دُكَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ دَكًّۭا دَكًّۭا
No! When the earth has been leveled - pounded and crushed -
Surah Al-'Alaq : 6 Meccan
﴿كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses
Surah Al-'Alaq : 15 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock -
Surah Al-'Alaq : 19 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩
No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allah].

Words from the same root as Both

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