What does « To scatter / To strew » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To scatter / To strew (نثر) 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.

نثر

To scatter / To strew

Root: ن - ث - ر

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To scatter / To strew

An-Nathr refers to scattering.

The Almighty says: 'And when the stars fall, scattering' (Al-Infitar 2).

Nathara means to scatter.

Al-manthūr is the scattered.

It is a sign of the Last Day.

To scatter / To strew in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Furqan 1

Al-Insan 1

Al-Infitar 1

Surah Al-Furqan : 23 Meccan

﴿وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُ هَبَآءً مَّنثُورًا﴾

And We will regard what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.

Surah Al-Insan : 19 Medinan

﴿وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَّنثُورًا﴾

There will circulate among them young boys made eternal. When you see them, you would think them [as beautiful as] scattered pearls.

Surah Al-Infitar : 2 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا ٱلْكَوَاكِبُ ٱنتَثَرَتْ﴾

And when the stars fall, scattering,

Words from the same root as To scatter / To strew

Inheritance / Succession

ثبر

To perish / To go astray

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم