What does « Hunger / Famine » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Hunger / Famine (سغب) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

سغب
Hunger / Famine
Root: س - غ - ب
Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Hunger / Famine

The Almighty says: 'Or feeding on a day of hunger' (Al-Balad 14).

Al-masghabah: intense hunger.

Saghiba: he was very hungry.

One says: a hungry child, a country struck by famine.

Feeding in times of famine is a particularly meritorious deed.

Hunger / Famine in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0
Surah Al-Balad : 14 Meccan
﴿أَوْ إِطْعَٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ
Or feeding on a day of severe hunger

Words from the same root as Hunger / Famine

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