What does « Whistling » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Whistling (مكا) 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.

مكا

Whistling

Root: م - ك

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Whistling

Al-Mukā' refers to whistling.

The Almighty says: 'Their prayer at the House was not but whistling and clapping of hands' (Al-Anfal 35).

Makā means to whistle.

The polytheists whistled around the Ka'ba.

Whistling in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 1

Surah Al-Anfal : 35 Medinan

﴿وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ ٱلْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَآءًۭ وَتَصْدِيَةًۭ ۚ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ﴾

And their prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping. So taste the punishment for what you disbelieved.

Words from the same root as Whistling

To pile up / To accumulate

Generosity / Nobility

كظم

To hold back / To swallow

كلم

Word / Wound

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