What does « To laugh » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To laugh (ضحك) in the Quran, with 10 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

ضحك

To laugh

Root: ض - ح - ك

Quranic language 10 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of To laugh

Ad-dahik: the beaming of the face and showing of teeth from the soul's joy.

At its appearance, laughing is called tabsim (smiling).

The Almighty says: 'He smiled at her words' (An-Naml 19) for Solomon. 'She laughed' (Hud 71) for Ibrahim's wife.

To laugh in the Quran (10)

Meccan: 9 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Najm 2

Al-Mutaffifin 2

At-Tawba 1

Hud 1

Al-Mu'minun 1

An-Naml 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

'Abasa 1

Surah At-Tawba : 82 Medinan

﴿فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ﴾

So let them laugh a little and [then] weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.

Surah Hud : 71 Meccan

﴿وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَٰهَا بِإِسْحَٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ﴾

And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 110 Meccan

﴿فَٱتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰٓ أَنسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِى وَكُنتُم مِّنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ﴾

But you took them in mockery to the point that they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.

Surah An-Naml : 19 Meccan

﴿فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَٰلِحًا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ﴾

So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants."

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 47 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَضْحَكُونَ﴾

But when he brought them Our signs, at once they laughed at them.

Surah An-Najm : 43 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ﴾

And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep

Surah An-Najm : 60 Meccan

﴿وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ﴾

And you laugh and do not weep

Surah 'Abasa : 39 Meccan

﴿ضَاحِكَةٌ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌ﴾

Laughing, rejoicing at good news.