What does « To scatter (herd) » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To scatter (herd) (نفش) 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.

نفش

To scatter (herd)

Root: ن - ف - ش

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To scatter (herd)

An-Nafsh refers to dispersal and fluffing.

The Almighty says: 'Like fluffed wool' (Al-Qari'ah 5).

Nafasha means to card and disperse.

Al-manfūsh is the dispersed.

Mountains will be like carded wool.

To scatter (herd) in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Anbiya 1

Al-Qari'a 1

Surah Al-Anbiya : 78 Meccan

﴿وَدَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ إِذْ يَحْكُمَانِ فِى ٱلْحَرْثِ إِذْ نَفَشَتْ فِيهِ غَنَمُ ٱلْقَوْمِ وَكُنَّا لِحُكْمِهِمْ شَٰهِدِينَ﴾

And [mention] David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field - when the sheep of a people overran it [at night], and We were witness to their judgement.

Surah Al-Qari'a : 5 Meccan

﴿وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ ٱلْمَنفُوشِ﴾

And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up.