What does « Ṣḥaf » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ṣḥaf (صحف) in the Quran, with 9 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

صحف

Ṣḥaf

Root: ص - ح - ف

Creed (aqida) 9 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Ṣḥaf

As-sahifa: what is spread out, like the face's surface.

As-sahifa: the page on which one writes, plural suhuf.

The Almighty says: 'in honored scriptures' (Abasa 13). 'The scriptures of Ibrahim and Moses' (Al-A'la 19).

The revealed Scriptures.

Ṣḥaf in the Quran (9)

Meccan: 8 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-A'la 2

Ta-Ha 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

An-Najm 1

Al-Muddaththir 1

'Abasa 1

At-Takwir 1

Al-Bayyina 1

Surah Ta-Ha : 133 Meccan

﴿وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا يَأْتِينَا بِـَٔايَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦٓ أَوَلَمْ تَأْتِهِم بَيِّنَةُ مَا فِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ﴾

And they say, "Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?" Has there not come to them evidence of what was in the former scriptures?

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 71 Meccan

﴿يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِصِحَافٍ مِّن ذَهَبٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ ٱلْأَعْيُنُ وَأَنتُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ﴾

Circulated among them will be plates and vessels of gold. And therein is whatever the souls desire and [what] delights the eyes, and you will abide therein eternally.

Surah An-Najm : 36 Meccan

﴿أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِى صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ﴾

Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses

Surah Al-Muddaththir : 52 Meccan

﴿بَلْ يُرِيدُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُؤْتَىٰ صُحُفًا مُّنَشَّرَةً﴾

Rather, every person among them desires that he would be given scriptures spread about.

Surah 'Abasa : 13 Meccan

﴿فِى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ﴾

[It is recorded] in honored sheets,

Surah At-Takwir : 10 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ﴾

And when the pages are made public

Surah Al-A'la : 18 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِى ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ﴾

Indeed, this is in the former scriptures,

Surah Al-A'la : 19 Meccan

﴿صُحُفِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ﴾

The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.

Surah Al-Bayyina : 2 Medinan

﴿رَسُولٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًا مُّطَهَّرَةً﴾

A Messenger from Allah, reciting purified scriptures

Words from the same root as Ṣḥaf

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 « Ṣḥaf » mean in the Quran?

Definition of Ṣḥaf

Ṣḥaf in the Quran (9)

Words from the same root as Ṣḥaf

What does « Ṣḥaf » mean in the Quran?