What does « Rest / Sabbath » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Rest / Sabbath (سبت) in the Quran, with 7 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

سبت

Rest / Sabbath

Root: س - ب - ت

Creed (aqida) 7 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Rest / Sabbath

As-sabt originally means to cut.

One says: he cut the road, he shaved his hair, he cut off his nose.

Then it refers to rest from work.

The Sabbath is the day when Jews cease work. 'the day of the Sabbath' (An-Nisa 47). 'those who transgressed the Sabbath' (Al-Baqara 65).

As-subat: deep sleep as a cutting off of consciousness.

Rest / Sabbath in the Quran (7)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 3

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nisa 2

Al-Baqara 1

Al-A'raf 1

An-Nahl 1

Al-Furqan 1

An-Naba 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 An-Nisa : 47 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِهَآ أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلسَّبْتِ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا﴾

O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down [to Muhammad], confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the decree of Allah accomplished.

Surah An-Nisa : 154 Medinan

﴿وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ ٱلطُّورَ بِمِيثَٰقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا۟ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَٰقًا غَلِيظًا﴾

And We raised over them the mount for [refusal of] their covenant; and We said to them, "Enter the gate bowing humbly", and We said to them, "Do not transgress on the sabbath", and We took from them a solemn covenant.

Surah Al-A'raf : 163 Meccan

﴿وَسْـَٔلْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ﴾

And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.

Surah An-Nahl : 124 Meccan

﴿إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ ٱلسَّبْتُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ﴾

The sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it. And indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.

Surah Al-Furqan : 47 Meccan

﴿وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ لِبَاسًا وَٱلنَّوْمَ سُبَاتًا وَجَعَلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ نُشُورًا﴾

And it is He who has made the night for you as clothing and sleep [a means for] rest and has made the day a resurrection.

Surah An-Naba : 9 Meccan

﴿وَجَعَلْنَا نَوْمَكُمْ سُبَاتًا﴾

And made your sleep [a means for] rest