What does « To pierce / To run through » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To pierce / To run through (ثقب) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

ثقب

To pierce / To run through

Root: ث - ق - ب

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To pierce / To run through

Al-thâqib: the bright one that pierces with its light and brilliance what it falls upon.

Allah says: 'The piercing star (al-thâqib)' (At-Târiq: 3).

The star is called 'thâqib' because its intense light seems to pierce the darkness of night.

It may refer to a shooting star or a very bright star.

To pierce / To run through in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

As-Saffat 1

At-Tariq 1

Surah As-Saffat : 10 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ ٱلْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ﴾

Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness].

Surah At-Tariq : 3 Meccan

﴿ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ﴾

It is the piercing star -

Words from the same root as To pierce / To run through

أبق

Flight (slave)

بث

To spread / To scatter

بحث

To search / To rummage

To resurrect / To send

بعثر

To scatter / To strew

بقر

Cows / Cattle

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم