What does « Distraction / Amusement » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Distraction / Amusement (لهى) 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.

لهى

Distraction / Amusement

Root: ل - ه

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Distraction / Amusement

Al-Lahw refers to entertainment that diverts from the essential.

The Almighty says: 'And among the people is he who buys the amusement of speech' (Luqman 6).

Lahā 'an means to be distracted from.

At-talāhī is excessive amusement.

Distraction / Amusement in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nur 1

Al-'Ankabut 1

At-Takathur 1

Surah An-Nur : 37 Medinan

﴿رِجَالٌۭ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَـٰرَةٌۭ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءِ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ ۙ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًۭا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ﴾

[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -

Surah Al-'Ankabut : 64 Meccan

﴿وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌۭ وَلَعِبٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.

Surah At-Takathur : 1 Meccan

﴿أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ﴾

Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you