What does « To swallow / To engulf » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To swallow / To engulf (بلع) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

بلع

To swallow / To engulf

Root: ب - ل - ع

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To swallow / To engulf

Al-bal' (swallowing): gulping something down.

Bala'a: he swallowed.

Allah says: 'O earth, swallow (ibla'î) your water' (Hûd: 44).

Inbala'a: it was swallowed.

To swallow / To engulf in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Hud : 44 Meccan

﴿وَقِيلَ يَٰٓأَرْضُ ٱبْلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَٰسَمَآءُ أَقْلِعِى وَغِيضَ ٱلْمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ وَٱسْتَوَتْ عَلَى ٱلْجُودِىِّ وَقِيلَ بُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴾

And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people."