What does « Food / Sustenance » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Food / Sustenance (قوت) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

قوت

Food / Sustenance

Root: ق - ت

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Food / Sustenance

Al-Qūt refers to essential food that sustains the body.

The Almighty says: 'And He determined therein its sustenance in four days' (Fussilat 10).

Qātahu means to give him his sustenance.

Al-Muqīt is the One who gives food, a Name of Allah.

Food / Sustenance in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nisa 1

Fussilat 1

Surah An-Nisa : 85 Medinan

﴿مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَٰعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُۥ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَٰعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَّهُۥ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقِيتًا﴾

Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a reward therefrom; and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a burden therefrom. And ever is Allah, over all things, a Keeper.

Surah Fussilat : 10 Meccan

﴿وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَٰرَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَآ أَقْوَٰتَهَا فِىٓ أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَآءً لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ﴾

And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information] of those who ask.