What does « Rock / Stone » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Rock / Stone (صخر) 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.

صخر
Rock / Stone
Root: ص - خ - ر
Jurisprudence (fiqh) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Rock / Stone

As-sakhr: the hard stone.

The Almighty says: 'Even if it were in a rock' (Luqman 16), illustrating that nothing escapes God. 'The Thamud carved out the rocks in the valley' (Al-Fajr 9).

Rock symbolizes hardness and permanence.

Rock / Stone in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Kahf 1
Luqman 1
Al-Fajr 1
Surah Al-Kahf : 63 Meccan
﴿قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا
He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly".
Surah Luqman : 16 Meccan
﴿يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ أَوْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ
[And Luqman said], "O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.
Surah Al-Fajr : 9 Meccan
﴿وَثَمُودَ ٱلَّذِينَ جَابُوا۟ ٱلصَّخْرَ بِٱلْوَادِ
And [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley?

Words from the same root as Rock / Stone

Share

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم
هلال متناقص Waning Crescent Day 25.2 / 29.5
Illumination 20%
New moon in 4 days
اللهم صل على محمد O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad