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

Discover the meaning of the word Hunger / Famine (جوع) 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.

جوع

Hunger / Famine

Root: ج - ع

Quranic language 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Hunger / Famine

Al-jû': the pain that reaches an animal when the stomach is empty of food.

Al-majâ'a: general famine.

Allah says: 'Who has fed them against hunger (jû')' (Quraysh: 4).

Food security is one of the favors mentioned for the Quraysh.

Hunger / Famine in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

An-Nahl 1

Ta-Ha 1

Al-Ghashiya 1

Quraysh 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 155 Medinan

﴿وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ﴾

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,

Surah An-Nahl : 112 Meccan

﴿وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَٰقَهَا ٱللَّهُ لِبَاسَ ٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ﴾

And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.

Surah Ta-Ha : 118 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعْرَىٰ﴾

Indeed, it is [promised] for you not to be hungry therein or be unclothed.

Surah Al-Ghashiya : 7 Meccan

﴿لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِن جُوعٍ﴾

Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.

Surah Quraysh : 4 Meccan

﴿ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ﴾

Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear.