What does « Saba / South » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Saba / South (سبأ) 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.

سبأ

Saba / South

Root: س - ب

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Saba / South

The Almighty says: 'I have come to you from Sheba with certain news' (An-Naml 22).

Saba' is the name of a country or tribe in Yemen, mentioned in the story of the Queen of Sheba and Prophet Solomon.

Surah 34 bears this name.

The expression saba'tuhu means that I struck him in the face or that I made him undergo something.

Saba / South in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Naml 1

Saba 1

Surah An-Naml : 22 Meccan

﴿فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍۭ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ﴾

But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.

Surah Saba : 15 Meccan

﴿لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِى مَسْكَنِهِمْ ءَايَةٌ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ كُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ﴾

There was for [the tribe of] Saba' in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."