What does « Line / To write » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Line / To write (سطر) in the Quran, with 16 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

سطر

Line / To write

Root: س - ط - ر

Quranic language 16 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Line / To write

As-satr and as-satar: the line of writing, and the row of planted trees or men.

The Almighty says: 'By the pen and what they write' (Al-Qalam 1). 'These are but legends of the former peoples' (Al-An'am 25): written tales.

Al-mastur: what is written. 'And a book inscribed' (At-Tur 2).

Line / To write in the Quran (16)

Meccan: 14 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

At-Tur 2

Al-Qalam 2

Al-An'am 1

Al-Anfal 1

An-Nahl 1

Al-Isra 1

Al-Mu'minun 1

Al-Furqan 1

An-Naml 1

Al-Ahzab 1

+ 4 more surahs

Surah Al-An'am : 25 Meccan

﴿وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples."

Surah Al-Anfal : 31 Medinan

﴿وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتُنَا قَالُوا۟ قَدْ سَمِعْنَا لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَقُلْنَا مِثْلَ هَٰذَآ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, "We have heard. If we willed, we could say [something] like this. This is not but legends of the former peoples."

Surah An-Nahl : 24 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

And when it is said to them, "What has your Lord sent down?" They say, "Legends of the former peoples,"

Surah Al-Isra : 58 Meccan

﴿وَإِن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًا﴾

And there is no city but that We will destroy it before the Day of Resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment. That has ever been in the Register inscribed.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 83 Meccan

﴿لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا نَحْنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا هَٰذَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before; this is not but legends of the former peoples."

Surah Al-Furqan : 5 Meccan

﴿وَقَالُوٓا۟ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ٱكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِىَ تُمْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا﴾

And they say, "Legends of the former peoples which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon."

Surah An-Naml : 68 Meccan

﴿لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا هَٰذَا نَحْنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before. This is not but legends of the former peoples."

Surah Al-Ahzab : 6 Medinan

﴿ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَسْطُورًا﴾

The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allah than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book inscribed.

Surah Al-Ahqaf : 17 Meccan

﴿وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

But one who says to his parents, "Uff to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allah for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former people" -

Surah At-Tur : 2 Meccan

﴿وَكِتَٰبٍ مَّسْطُورٍ﴾

And [by] a Book inscribed

Surah At-Tur : 37 Meccan

﴿أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ ٱلْمُصَۣيْطِرُونَ﴾

Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?

Surah Al-Qamar : 53 Meccan

﴿وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُّسْتَطَرٌ﴾

And every small and great [thing] is inscribed.

Surah Al-Qalam : 1 Meccan

﴿نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ﴾

Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe,