What does « Certainty » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Certainty (يقن) in the Quran, with 28 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

يقن

Certainty

Root: ق - ن

Quranic language 28 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 4 min read

Definition of Certainty

Al-Yaqin refers to absolute certainty without any doubt.

The Almighty says: 'And worship your Lord until certainty comes to you' (Al-Hijr 99), meaning death.

Al-Yaqin has three degrees: 'ilm al-yaqin (certainty through knowledge), 'ayn al-yaqin (certainty through vision) and haqq al-yaqin (certainty through experience).

Certainty in the Quran (28)

Meccan: 23 Medinan: 5

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Naml 4

Al-Jathiya 3

Al-Baqara 2

As-Sajda 2

Al-Muddaththir 2

At-Takathur 2

An-Nisa 1

Al-Maida 1

Al-An'am 1

Ar-Ra'd 1

+ 9 more surahs

Surah Al-Baqara : 4 Medinan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ﴾

And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].

Surah Al-Baqara : 118 Medinan

﴿وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ لَوْلَا يُكَلِّمُنَا ٱللَّهُ أَوْ تَأْتِينَآ ءَايَةٌ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ تَشَٰبَهَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ﴾

Those who do not know say, "Why does Allah not speak to us or there come to us a sign?" Thus spoke those before them like their words. Their hearts resemble each other. We have shown clearly the signs to a people who are certain [in faith].

Surah An-Nisa : 157 Medinan

﴿وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا ٱلْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًۢا﴾

And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.

Surah Al-Maida : 50 Medinan

﴿أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ﴾

Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allah in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].

Surah Al-An'am : 75 Meccan

﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُوقِنِينَ﴾

And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith]

Surah Ar-Ra'd : 2 Medinan

﴿ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ﴾

It is Allah who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see; then He established Himself above the Throne and made subject the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may, of the meeting with your Lord, be certain.

Surah Al-Hijr : 99 Meccan

﴿وَٱعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ ٱلْيَقِينُ﴾

And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 24 Meccan

﴿قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ﴾

[Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."

Surah An-Naml : 3 Meccan

﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ﴾

Who establish prayer and give zakah, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].

Surah An-Naml : 14 Meccan

﴿وَجَحَدُوا۟ بِهَا وَٱسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ﴾

And they rejected them, while their [inner] selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So see how was the end of the corrupters.

Surah An-Naml : 22 Meccan

﴿فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍۭ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ﴾

But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.

Surah An-Naml : 82 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا وَقَعَ ٱلْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَآبَّةً مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ﴾

And when the word befalls them, We will bring forth for them a creature from the earth speaking to them, [saying] that the people were, of Our verses, not certain [in faith].

Surah Ar-Rum : 60 Meccan

﴿فَٱصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَا يَسْتَخِفَّنَّكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ﴾

So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And let them not disquiet you who are not certain [in faith].

Surah Luqman : 4 Meccan

﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ﴾

Who establish prayer and give zakah, and they, of the Hereafter, are certain [in faith].

Surah As-Sajda : 12 Meccan

﴿وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا۟ رُءُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَآ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَٱرْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ﴾

If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain."

Surah As-Sajda : 24 Meccan

﴿وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ﴾

And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.

Surah Ad-Dukhan : 7 Meccan

﴿رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ﴾

Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain.

Surah Al-Jathiya : 4 Meccan

﴿وَفِى خَلْقِكُمْ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِن دَآبَّةٍ ءَايَٰتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ﴾

And in the creation of yourselves and what He disperses of moving creatures are signs for people who are certain [in faith].

Surah Al-Jathiya : 20 Meccan

﴿هَٰذَا بَصَٰٓئِرُ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ﴾

This [Qur'an] is enlightenment for mankind and guidance and mercy for a people who are certain [in faith].

Surah Al-Jathiya : 32 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا قُلْتُم مَّا نَدْرِى مَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ إِن نَّظُنُّ إِلَّا ظَنًّا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُسْتَيْقِنِينَ﴾

And when it was said, 'Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth and the Hour [is coming] - no doubt about it,' you said, 'We know not what is the Hour. We assume only assumption, and we are not convinced.' "

Surah Adh-Dhariyat : 20 Meccan

﴿وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَٰتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ﴾

And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]

Surah At-Tur : 36 Meccan

﴿أَمْ خَلَقُوا۟ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ﴾

Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.

Surah Al-Waqi'a : 95 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ﴾

Indeed, this is the true certainty,

Surah Al-Haqqa : 51 Meccan

﴿وَإِنَّهُۥ لَحَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ﴾

And indeed, it is the truth of certainty.

Surah Al-Muddaththir : 31 Meccan

﴿وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَٰٓئِكَةً وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنًا وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَمَا هِىَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ﴾

And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allah intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity.

Surah Al-Muddaththir : 47 Meccan

﴿حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰنَا ٱلْيَقِينُ﴾

Until there came to us the certainty."

Surah At-Takathur : 5 Meccan

﴿كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ ٱلْيَقِينِ﴾

No! If you only knew with knowledge of certainty...

Surah At-Takathur : 7 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ ٱلْيَقِينِ﴾

Then you will surely see it with the eye of certainty.