What does « Fish / Whale » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Fish / Whale (حوت) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

حوت

Fish / Whale

Root: ح - ت

Creed (aqida) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Fish / Whale

Allah says: 'They forgot their fish (hûtahumâ)' (Al-Kahf: 61).

And: 'The fish (al-hût) swallowed him' (As-Sâffât: 142).

Moses' and his companion's fish miraculously escaped.

Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish.

Fish / Whale in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Kahf 2

Al-A'raf 1

As-Saffat 1

Al-Qalam 1

Surah Al-A'raf : 163 Meccan

﴿وَسْـَٔلْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ﴾

And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.

Surah Al-Kahf : 61 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا﴾

But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.

Surah Al-Kahf : 63 Meccan

﴿قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا﴾

He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly".

Surah As-Saffat : 142 Meccan

﴿فَٱلْتَقَمَهُ ٱلْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ﴾

Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.

Surah Al-Qalam : 48 Meccan

﴿فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ﴾

Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed.