What does « Ḥūt » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ḥūt (حوت) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

حوت

Ḥūt

Root: ح - ت

Creed (aqida) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Ḥūt

Allah says: 'They forgot their fish (hûtahumâ)' (Al-Kahf: 61).

And: 'The fish (al-hût) swallowed him' (As-Sâffât: 142).

Moses' and his companion's fish miraculously escaped.

Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish.

Ḥūt in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Kahf 2

Al-A'raf 1

As-Saffat 1

Al-Qalam 1

Surah Al-A'raf : 163 Meccan

﴿وَسْـَٔلْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ﴾

And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.

Surah Al-Kahf : 61 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا﴾

But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.

Surah Al-Kahf : 63 Meccan

﴿قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا﴾

He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly".

Surah As-Saffat : 142 Meccan

﴿فَٱلْتَقَمَهُ ٱلْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ﴾

Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.

Surah Al-Qalam : 48 Meccan

﴿فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ ٱلْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ﴾

Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of the fish when he called out while he was distressed.

Words from the same root as Ḥūt

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 26 Rabi' al-Thani
الجمعة 26 ربيع الآخر

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ

What does « Ḥūt » mean in the Quran?

Definition of Ḥūt

Ḥūt in the Quran (5)

Words from the same root as Ḥūt

What does « Ḥūt » mean in the Quran?