What does « Idol / Statue » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Idol / Statue (صنم) 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.

صنم

Idol / Statue

Root: ص - ن - م

Creed (aqida) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Idol / Statue

As-sanam: a statue made of silver, copper or wood that the ancients worshipped.

The Almighty says: 'You leave idols that you worship' (Ash-Shu'ara 71). 'Will they cling to idols' (Al-A'raf 138).

Idolatry is the opposite of monotheism.

Idol / Statue in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-An'am 1

Al-A'raf 1

Ibrahim 1

Al-Anbiya 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Surah Al-An'am : 74 Meccan

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا ءَالِهَةً إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ﴾

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."

Surah Al-A'raf : 138 Meccan

﴿وَجَٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ يَٰمُوسَى ٱجْعَل لَّنَآ إِلَٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ﴾

And We took the Children of Israel across the sea; then they came upon a people intent in devotion to [some] idols of theirs. They said, "O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods." He said, "Indeed, you are a people behaving ignorantly.

Surah Ibrahim : 35 Meccan

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ﴾

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

Surah Al-Anbiya : 57 Meccan

﴿وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَٰمَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ﴾

And [I swear] by Allah, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away."

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 71 Meccan

﴿قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَٰكِفِينَ﴾

They said, "We worship idols and remain to them devoted."