What does « To know / To be acquainted » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To know / To be acquainted (درى) in the Quran, with 28 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

درى

To know / To be acquainted

Root: د - ر

Creed (aqida) 28 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 4 min read

Definition of To know / To be acquainted

Al-dirâya: knowledge acquired through effort of cunning or reflection.

One says 'daraytu' (I knew).

Allah says: 'And what will make you know (mâ adrâka) what the Night of Decree is?' (Al-Qadr: 2).

This formula indicates the immensity of what follows.

To know / To be acquainted in the Quran (28)

Meccan: 25 Medinan: 3

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Anbiya 2

Ash-Shura 2

Al-Haqqa 2

Al-Jinn 2

Al-Infitar 2

Al-Mutaffifin 2

Al-Qari'a 2

An-Nisa 1

Yunus 1

Luqman 1

+ 11 more surahs

Surah An-Nisa : 11 Medinan

﴿يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَوْلَٰدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءً فَوْقَ ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَٰحِدَةً فَلَهَا ٱلنِّصْفُ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُۥٓ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلثُّلُثُ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُۥٓ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلسُّدُسُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِى بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا﴾

Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

Surah Yunus : 16 Meccan

﴿قُل لَّوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَآ أَدْرَىٰكُم بِهِۦ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًا مِّن قَبْلِهِۦٓ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ﴾

Say, "If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a lifetime before it. Then will you not reason?"

Surah Al-Anbiya : 109 Meccan

﴿فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٍ وَإِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ﴾

But if they turn away, then say, "I have announced to [all of] you equally. And I know not whether near or far is that which you are promised.

Surah Al-Anbiya : 111 Meccan

﴿وَإِنْ أَدْرِى لَعَلَّهُۥ فِتْنَةٌ لَّكُمْ وَمَتَٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ﴾

And I know not; perhaps it is a trial for you and enjoyment for a time."

Surah Luqman : 34 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ﴾

Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

Surah Al-Ahzab : 63 Medinan

﴿يَسْـَٔلُكَ ٱلنَّاسُ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ تَكُونُ قَرِيبًا﴾

People ask you concerning the Hour. Say," Knowledge of it is only with Allah. And what may make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near."

Surah Ash-Shura : 17 Meccan

﴿ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ﴾

It is Allah who has sent down the Book in truth and [also] the balance. And what will make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near.

Surah Ash-Shura : 52 Meccan

﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِى مَا ٱلْكِتَٰبُ وَلَا ٱلْإِيمَٰنُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلْنَٰهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ﴾

And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path -

Surah Al-Jathiya : 32 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا قُلْتُم مَّا نَدْرِى مَا ٱلسَّاعَةُ إِن نَّظُنُّ إِلَّا ظَنًّا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُسْتَيْقِنِينَ﴾

And when it was said, 'Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth and the Hour [is coming] - no doubt about it,' you said, 'We know not what is the Hour. We assume only assumption, and we are not convinced.' "

Surah Al-Ahqaf : 9 Meccan

﴿قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدْرِى مَا يُفْعَلُ بِى وَلَا بِكُمْ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ﴾

Say, "I am not something original among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner."

Surah At-Talaq : 1 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا﴾

O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter.

Surah Al-Haqqa : 3 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْحَآقَّةُ﴾

And what can make you know what is the Inevitable Reality?

Surah Al-Haqqa : 26 Meccan

﴿وَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهْ﴾

And had not known what is my account.

Surah Al-Jinn : 10 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّا لَا نَدْرِىٓ أَشَرٌّ أُرِيدَ بِمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ أَرَادَ بِهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ رَشَدًا﴾

And we do not know [therefore] whether evil is intended for those on earth or whether their Lord intends for them a right course.

Surah Al-Jinn : 25 Meccan

﴿قُلْ إِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ أَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَمَدًا﴾

Say, "I do not know if what you are promised is near or if my Lord will grant for it a [long] period."

Surah Al-Muddaththir : 27 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا سَقَرُ﴾

And what can make you know what is Saqar?

Surah Al-Mursalat : 14 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ﴾

And what can make you know what is the Day of Judgement?

Surah 'Abasa : 3 Meccan

﴿وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُۥ يَزَّكَّىٰٓ﴾

But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified

Surah Al-Infitar : 17 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ﴾

And what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?

Surah Al-Infitar : 18 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ مَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ﴾

Then, what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?

Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 8 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ﴾

And what can make you know what is sijjeen?

Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 19 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا عِلِّيُّونَ﴾

And what can make you know what is 'illiyyun?

Surah At-Tariq : 2 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ﴾

And what can make you know what is the night comer?

Surah Al-Balad : 12 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ﴾

And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass?

Surah Al-Qadr : 2 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ﴾

And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?

Surah Al-Qari'a : 3 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ﴾

And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?

Surah Al-Qari'a : 10 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهْ﴾

And what can make you know what that is?

Surah Al-Humaza : 5 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْحُطَمَةُ﴾

And what can make you know what is the Crusher?

Words from the same root as To know / To be acquainted

بدر

Full moon / To hasten

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم