What does « Gaze / Lightning » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Gaze / Lightning (لمح) 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.

لمح

Gaze / Lightning

Root: ل - م - ح

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Gaze / Lightning

Al-Lamḥ refers to a quick glance, a blink of an eye.

The Almighty says: 'Like a glance of the eye or even closer' (An-Nahl 77), describing the swiftness of the Hour.

Lamaḥa means to take a quick glance.

Gaze / Lightning in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nahl 1

Al-Qamar 1

Surah An-Nahl : 77 Meccan

﴿وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَآ أَمْرُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ إِلَّا كَلَمْحِ ٱلْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ﴾

And to Allah belongs the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And the command for the Hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

Surah Al-Qamar : 50 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍۭ بِٱلْبَصَرِ﴾

And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.