What does « Smoke » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Smoke (دخن) 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.

دخن

Smoke

Root: د - خ - ن

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Smoke

Al-dukhân is like vapor accompanied by flame.

Allah says: 'Then He turned to the sky while it was smoke (dukhân)' (Fussilat: 11).

The primordial sky was smoke before Allah fashioned it into seven heavens.

Smoke in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Fussilat 1

Ad-Dukhan 1

Surah Fussilat : 11 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ﴾

Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."

Surah Ad-Dukhan : 10 Meccan

﴿فَٱرْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِى ٱلسَّمَآءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُّبِينٍ﴾

Then watch for the Day when the sky will bring a visible smoke.