What does « To take / To stoke » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To take / To stoke (قبس) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

قبس

To take / To stoke

Root: ق - ب - س

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To take / To stoke

Al-Qabs refers to taking fire from a fire.

The Almighty says: 'Or find at the fire a brand' (Ta-Ha 10), meaning a piece of burning fire.

Iqtabasa minhu 'ilman means to take knowledge from him.

Al-miqbās is what is used to take fire.

To take / To stoke in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Ta-Ha 1

An-Naml 1

Al-Hadid 1

Surah Ta-Ha : 10 Meccan

﴿إِذْ رَءَا نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًى﴾

When he saw a fire and said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance."

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 Al-Hadid : 13 Medinan

﴿يَوْمَ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَٰفِقَٰتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱنظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ٱرْجِعُوا۟ وَرَآءَكُمْ فَٱلْتَمِسُوا۟ نُورًا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُۥ بَابٌۢ بَاطِنُهُۥ فِيهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةُ وَظَٰهِرُهُۥ مِن قِبَلِهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ﴾

On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.