What does « With / Near » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word With / Near (لدى) in the Quran, with 21 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

لدى

With / Near

Root: ل - د

Creed (aqida) 21 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of With / Near

Ladā refers to being in the presence of.

The Almighty says: 'With Us is a Book that speaks the truth' (Al-Mu'minun 62).

Ladaynā means with Us.

It is close to 'inda but more exclusive.

With / Near in the Quran (21)

Meccan: 20 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Qaf 5

Yusuf 3

Al-Mu'minun 2

Ya-Sin 2

Az-Zukhruf 2

Âl 'Imrân 1

Al-Kahf 1

An-Naml 1

Ar-Rum 1

Ghafir 1

+ 2 more surahs

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 44 Medinan

﴿ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ﴾

That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.

Surah Yusuf : 25 Meccan

﴿وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍۢ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ﴾

And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"

Surah Yusuf : 54 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِى ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌۭ﴾

And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself." And when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you are today established [in position] and trusted."

Surah Yusuf : 102 Meccan

﴿ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ﴾

That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal, [O Muhammad], to you. And you were not with them when they put together their plan while they conspired.

Surah Al-Kahf : 91 Meccan

﴿كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًۭا﴾

Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 53 Meccan

﴿فَتَقَطَّعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ زُبُرًۭا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ﴾

But the people divided their religion among them into sects - each faction, in what it has, rejoicing.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 62 Meccan

﴿وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَـٰبٌۭ يَنطِقُ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ﴾

And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.

Surah An-Naml : 10 Meccan

﴿وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّۭ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًۭا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّى لَا يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ﴾

And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allah said], "O Moses, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear.

Surah Ar-Rum : 32 Meccan

﴿مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ شِيَعًۭا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ﴾

[Or] of those who have divided their religion and become sects, every faction rejoicing in what it has.

Surah Ya-Sin : 32 Meccan

﴿وَإِن كُلٌّۭ لَّمَّا جَمِيعٌۭ لَّدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ﴾

And indeed, all of them will yet be brought present before Us.

Surah Ya-Sin : 53 Meccan

﴿إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَإِذَا هُمْ جَمِيعٌۭ لَّدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ﴾

It will not be but one blast, and at once they are all brought present before Us.

Surah Ghafir : 18 Meccan

﴿وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔازِفَةِ إِذِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ لَدَى ٱلْحَنَاجِرِ كَـٰظِمِينَ ۚ مَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ حَمِيمٍۢ وَلَا شَفِيعٍۢ يُطَاعُ﴾

And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Approaching Day, when hearts are at the throats, filled [with distress]. For the wrongdoers there will be no devoted friend and no intercessor [who is] obeyed.

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 4 Meccan

﴿وَإِنَّهُۥ فِىٓ أُمِّ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ﴾

And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 80 Meccan

﴿أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ﴾

Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers are with them recording.

Surah Qaf : 18 Meccan

﴿مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌۭ﴾

Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].

Surah Qaf : 23 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ هَـٰذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ﴾

And his companion, [the angel], will say, "This [record] is what is with me, prepared."

Surah Qaf : 28 Meccan

﴿قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا۟ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ﴾

[Allah] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning.

Surah Qaf : 29 Meccan

﴿مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّـٰمٍۢ لِّلْعَبِيدِ﴾

The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."

Surah Qaf : 35 Meccan

﴿لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيدٌۭ﴾

They will have whatever they wish therein, and with Us is more.

Surah Al-Jinn : 28 Meccan

﴿لِّيَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ أَبْلَغُوا۟ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَحَاطَ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ وَأَحْصَىٰ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عَدَدًۢا﴾

That he may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord; and He has encompassed whatever is with them and has enumerated all things in number.

Surah Al-Muzzammil : 12 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ لَدَيْنَآ أَنكَالًۭا وَجَحِيمًۭا﴾

Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire