What does « Twin / Alike » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Twin / Alike (صنو) 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.

صنو

Twin / Alike

Root: ص - ن

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Twin / Alike

As-sinw: the branch emerging from the tree's base.

One says: they are two branches from the same tree, for brothers.

The Almighty says: 'date palms with twin or single trunks' (Ar-Ra'd 4).

Twin branches share the same root.

Twin / Alike in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 1

Surah Ar-Ra'd : 4 Medinan

﴿وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَٰوِرَٰتٌ وَجَنَّٰتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَٰبٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَآءٍ وَٰحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِى ٱلْأُكُلِ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ﴾

And within the land are neighboring plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a root or otherwise, watered with one water; but We make some of them exceed others in [quality of] fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.