What does « Fat / Greasy » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Fat / Greasy (سمن) 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.

سمن

Fat / Greasy

Root: س - م - ن

Quranic language 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Fat / Greasy

As-siman: the opposite of leanness.

One says: samin and siman (fat).

The Almighty says: 'Give us the interpretation of seven fat cows' (Yusuf 46).

As-samn: clarified butter.

Fat symbolizes abundance and prosperity in Pharaoh's dream.

Fat / Greasy in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Yusuf 2

Adh-Dhariyat 1

Al-Ghashiya 1

Surah Yusuf : 43 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنۢبُلَٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَٰتٍ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُءْيَٰىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّءْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ﴾

And [subsequently] the king said, "Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions."

Surah Yusuf : 46 Meccan

﴿يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people; perhaps they will know [about you]."

Surah Adh-Dhariyat : 26 Meccan

﴿فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ﴾

Then he went to his family and came with a fat [roasted] calf

Surah Al-Ghashiya : 7 Meccan

﴿لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِن جُوعٍ﴾

Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.