What does « Shkhṣ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Shkhṣ (شخص) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شخص

Shkhṣ

Root: ش - خ - ص

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Shkhṣ

Ash-shakhs: the black silhouette of a standing person seen from afar.

Shakhasa: he rose from his place.

One says: his gaze became fixed.

The Almighty says: 'with staring eyes' (Ibrahim 42) from terror. 'The eyes will be staring' (Al-Anbiya 97) on the Day of Resurrection.

Shkhṣ in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Ibrahim 1

Al-Anbiya 1

Surah Ibrahim : 42 Meccan

﴿وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ﴾

And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].

Surah Al-Anbiya : 97 Meccan

﴿وَٱقْتَرَبَ ٱلْوَعْدُ ٱلْحَقُّ فَإِذَا هِىَ شَٰخِصَةٌ أَبْصَٰرُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَٰوَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَٰذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ﴾

And [when] the true promise has approached; then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will be staring [in horror, while they say], "O woe to us; we had been unmindful of this; rather, we were wrongdoers."