What does « Monkey » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Monkey (قرد) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

قرد

Monkey

Root: ق - ر - د

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Monkey

Al-Qird refers to the monkey.

The Almighty says: 'Be despised apes' (Al-Baqarah 65), and: 'And made of them apes and pigs' (Al-Ma'idah 60).

This refers to the transformation of those who transgressed the Sabbath.

Monkey in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

Al-Maida 1

Al-A'raf 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 65 Medinan

﴿وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعْتَدَوْا۟ مِنكُمْ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ﴾

And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised."

Surah Al-Maida : 60 Medinan

﴿قُلْ هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ مِّن ذَٰلِكَ مَثُوبَةً عِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ وَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْقِرَدَةَ وَٱلْخَنَازِيرَ وَعَبَدَ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضَلُّ عَن سَوَآءِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ﴾

Say, "Shall I inform you of [what is] worse than that as penalty from Allah? [It is that of] those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He became angry and made of them apes and pigs and slaves of Taghut. Those are worse in position and further astray from the sound way."

Surah Al-A'raf : 166 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا۟ عَن مَّا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ﴾

So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."