What does « Darkness / Pus » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Darkness / Pus (غسق) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

غسق

Darkness / Pus

Root: غ - س - ق

Creed (aqida) 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Darkness / Pus

Ghasaq al-layl: the intensity of its darkness.

The Almighty says: 'until the darkness of night' (Al-Isra 78).

The time of evening prayer extends until total darkness.

Dark night is a sign of divine creation.

Darkness / Pus in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Isra 1

Sad 1

An-Naba 1

Al-Falaq 1

Surah Al-Isra : 78 Meccan

﴿أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا﴾

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.

Surah Sad : 57 Meccan

﴿هَٰذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ وَغَسَّاقٌ﴾

This - so let them taste it - is scalding water and [foul] purulence.

Surah An-Naba : 25 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا حَمِيمًا وَغَسَّاقًا﴾

Except scalding water and [foul] purulence -

Surah Al-Falaq : 3 Meccan

﴿وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ﴾

And from the evil of darkness when it settles