What does « Star / Celestial body » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Star / Celestial body (نجم) in the Quran, with 13 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

نجم

Star / Celestial body

Root: ن - ج - م

Quranic language 13 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Star / Celestial body

An-Najm refers to the star and the trunkless plant.

The Almighty says: 'By the star when it descends' (An-Najm 1).

Surah An-Najm bears this name.

An-nujūm are stars.

The Almighty says: 'And the stars and trees prostrate' (Ar-Rahman 6).

Star / Celestial body in the Quran (13)

Meccan: 12 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nahl 2

Al-An'am 1

Al-A'raf 1

Al-Hajj 1

As-Saffat 1

At-Tur 1

An-Najm 1

Ar-Rahman 1

Al-Waqi'a 1

Al-Mursalat 1

+ 2 more surahs

Surah Al-An'am : 97 Meccan

﴿وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلنُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا۟ بِهَا فِى ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know.

Surah Al-A'raf : 54 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍۭ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ وَٱلْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ﴾

Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Surah An-Nahl : 12 Meccan

﴿وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ﴾

And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.

Surah An-Nahl : 16 Meccan

﴿وَعَلَٰمَٰتٍ وَبِٱلنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ﴾

And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided.

Surah Al-Hajj : 18 Medinan

﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ وَٱلنُّجُومُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ وَٱلدَّوَآبُّ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَمَن يُهِنِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ﴾

Do you not see that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom Allah humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allah does what He wills.

Surah As-Saffat : 88 Meccan

﴿فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِى ٱلنُّجُومِ﴾

And he cast a look at the stars

Surah At-Tur : 49 Meccan

﴿وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَٰرَ ٱلنُّجُومِ﴾

And in a part of the night exalt Him and after [the setting of] the stars.

Surah An-Najm : 1 Meccan

﴿وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ﴾

By the star when it descends,

Surah Ar-Rahman : 6 Meccan

﴿وَٱلنَّجْمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ﴾

And the stars and trees prostrate.