What does « Throne / Couch » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Throne / Couch (أريك) 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.

أريك

Throne / Couch

Root: ء - ر - ك

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Throne / Couch

Al-arîka: the bride's bed in the bridal chamber, plural 'arâ'ik'.

Allah says: 'On couches, observing' (Al-Mutaffifîn: 23).

The couches (arâ'ik) are covered seats in alcoves.

Throne / Couch in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Mutaffifin 2

Al-Kahf 1

Ya-Sin 1

Al-Insan 1

Surah Al-Kahf : 31 Meccan

﴿أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍۢ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًۭا مِّن سُندُسٍۢ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍۢ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًۭا﴾

Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.

Surah Ya-Sin : 56 Meccan

﴿هُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُمْ فِى ظِلَـٰلٍ عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ مُتَّكِـُٔونَ﴾

They and their spouses - in shade, reclining on adorned couches.

Surah Al-Insan : 13 Medinan

﴿مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۖ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًۭا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًۭا﴾

[They will be] reclining therein on adorned couches. They will not see therein any [burning] sun or [freezing] cold.

Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 23 Meccan

﴿عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ يَنظُرُونَ﴾

On adorned couches, observing.

Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 35 Meccan

﴿عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ يَنظُرُونَ﴾

On adorned couches, observing.