What does « Writing / Book » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Writing / Book (زبر) in the Quran, with 11 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

زبر

Writing / Book

Root: ز - ب - ر

Quranic language 11 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 4 min read

Definition of Writing / Book

Al-zubra: a large piece of iron.

Plural: zubar.

Allah says: 'Bring me blocks (zubar) of iron' (Al-Kahf: 96).

Dhû al-Qarnayn used iron blocks to build the barrier against Gog and Magog.

Writing / Book in the Quran (11)

Meccan: 9 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Qamar 2

Âl 'Imrân 1

An-Nisa 1

An-Nahl 1

Al-Isra 1

Al-Kahf 1

Al-Anbiya 1

Al-Mu'minun 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Fatir 1

Surah Âl 'Imrân : 184 Medinan

﴿فَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ جَآءُو بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ وَٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلْمُنِيرِ﴾

Then if they deny you, [O Muhammad] - so were messengers denied before you, who brought clear proofs and written ordinances and the enlightening Scripture.

Surah An-Nisa : 163 Medinan

﴿إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَٰرُونَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًا﴾

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].

Surah An-Nahl : 44 Meccan

﴿بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾

[We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.

Surah Al-Isra : 55 Meccan

﴿وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًا﴾

And your Lord is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And We have made some of the prophets exceed others [in various ways], and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].

Surah Al-Kahf : 96 Meccan

﴿ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا﴾

Bring me sheets of iron" - until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, "Blow [with bellows]," until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper."

Surah Al-Anbiya : 105 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّٰلِحُونَ﴾

And We have already written in the book [of Psalms] after the [previous] mention that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 53 Meccan

﴿فَتَقَطَّعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ زُبُرًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ﴾

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

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 196 Meccan

﴿وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِى زُبُرِ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ﴾

And indeed, it is [mentioned] in the scriptures of former peoples.

Surah Fatir : 25 Meccan

﴿وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَبِٱلزُّبُرِ وَبِٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلْمُنِيرِ﴾

And if they deny you - then already have those before them denied. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs and written ordinances and with the enlightening Scripture.

Surah Al-Qamar : 43 Meccan

﴿أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٌ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ﴾

Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scripture?

Surah Al-Qamar : 52 Meccan

﴿وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ﴾

And everything they did is in written records.