What does « Difficulty / Crack » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Difficulty / Crack (شق) in the Quran, with 6 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شق

Difficulty / Crack

Root: ش - ق

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Difficulty / Crack

Ash-shaqq: the crack in something.

One says: I split it in two.

The Almighty says: 'Then We split the earth' (Abasa 26).

Al-mushaqqa: difficulty. 'Does not cause you hardship' (Al-Ma'ida 6).

Ash-shiqq: the half.

Splitting means dividing into two parts.

Difficulty / Crack in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 6 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Ta-Ha 3

Hud 1

An-Nahl 1

'Abasa 1

Surah Hud : 106 Meccan

﴿فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌۭ وَشَهِيقٌ﴾

As for those who were [destined to be] wretched, they will be in the Fire. For them therein is [violent] exhaling and inhaling.

Surah An-Nahl : 7 Meccan

﴿وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍۢ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ﴾

And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful.

Surah Ta-Ha : 2 Meccan

﴿مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ﴾

We have not sent down to you the Qur'an that you be distressed

Surah Ta-Ha : 117 Meccan

﴿فَقُلْنَا يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا عَدُوٌّۭ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰٓ﴾

So We said, "O Adam, indeed this is an enemy to you and to your wife. Then let him not remove you from Paradise so you would suffer.

Surah Ta-Ha : 123 Meccan

﴿قَالَ ٱهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًۢا ۖ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّۭ ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًۭى فَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ﴾

[Allah] said, "Descend from Paradise - all, [your descendants] being enemies to one another. And if there should come to you guidance from Me - then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter].

Surah 'Abasa : 26 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ شَقًّۭا﴾

Then We broke open the earth, splitting [it with sprouts],

Words from the same root as Difficulty / Crack

شرق

East / Rising (sun)

شفق

Compassion / Twilight

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم