What does « To transform / Metamorphosis » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To transform / Metamorphosis (مسخ) 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.

مسخ

To transform / Metamorphosis

Root: م - س - خ

Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To transform / Metamorphosis

Al-Maskh refers to transformation into an ugly form.

The Almighty says: 'Be despised apes' (Al-Baqarah 65).

Masakha means to transform into a degraded form.

Al-masmūkh is the one who is metamorphosed.

To transform / Metamorphosis in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Ya-Sin : 67 Meccan

﴿وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَمَسَخْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِهِمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ مُضِيًّا وَلَا يَرْجِعُونَ﴾

And if We willed, We could have deformed them, [paralyzing them] in their places so they would not be able to proceed, nor could they return.

Words from the same root as To transform / Metamorphosis

بخس

To wrong / To diminish

To chase / To drive away

خسر

Loss / Failure

خسف

To sink / To collapse

خصم

Adversary / Dispute

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