What does « Shooting star » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Shooting star (شهب) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شهب

Shooting star

Root: ش - ه - ب

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Shooting star

Ash-shihab: the bright flame from kindled fire, and from celestial phenomena.

The Almighty says: 'or I will bring you a burning torch' (An-Naml 7). 'Except one who snatches a hearing, he is then pursued by a piercing flame' (Al-Hijr 18).

Meteors protect the sky.

Shooting star in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Jinn 2

Al-Hijr 1

An-Naml 1

As-Saffat 1

Surah Al-Hijr : 18 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا مَنِ ٱسْتَرَقَ ٱلسَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٌ مُّبِينٌ﴾

Except one who steals a hearing and is pursued by a clear burning flame.

Surah An-Naml : 7 Meccan

﴿إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا سَـَٔاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ﴾

[Mention] when Moses said to his family, "Indeed, I have perceived a fire. I will bring you from there information or will bring you a burning torch that you may warm yourselves."

Surah As-Saffat : 10 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ ٱلْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ﴾

Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness].

Surah Al-Jinn : 8 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّا لَمَسْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ فَوَجَدْنَٰهَا مُلِئَتْ حَرَسًا شَدِيدًا وَشُهُبًا﴾

And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames.

Surah Al-Jinn : 9 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَٰعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ فَمَن يَسْتَمِعِ ٱلْءَانَ يَجِدْ لَهُۥ شِهَابًا رَّصَدًا﴾

And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.

Words from the same root as Shooting star

To confound / To astonish

بهج

Beauty / Radiance

بهل

To curse / To abandon

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