What does « LʾLʾ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word LʾLʾ (لؤلؤ) in the Quran, with 6 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

لؤلؤ

LʾLʾ

Root: ل - ؤ - ل

Quranic language 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of LʾLʾ

Al-Lu'lu' refers to the precious pearl.

The Almighty says: 'From both of them emerge pearl and coral' (Ar-Rahman 22).

And: 'As if they were pearls well-protected' (Al-Waqi'ah 23).

Paradise pearls are of incomparable beauty.

LʾLʾ in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Hajj 1

Fatir 1

At-Tur 1

Ar-Rahman 1

Al-Waqi'a 1

Al-Insan 1

Surah Al-Hajj : 23 Medinan

﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ﴾

Indeed, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein will be silk.

Surah Fatir : 33 Meccan

﴿جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ﴾

[For them are] gardens of perpetual residence which they will enter. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk.

Surah At-Tur : 24 Meccan

﴿وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ غِلْمَانٌ لَّهُمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لُؤْلُؤٌ مَّكْنُونٌ﴾

There will circulate among them [servant] boys [especially] for them, as if they were pearls well-protected.

Surah Ar-Rahman : 22 Meccan

﴿يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا ٱللُّؤْلُؤُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ﴾

From both of them emerge pearl and coral.

Surah Al-Waqi'a : 23 Meccan

﴿كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ﴾

The likenesses of pearls well-protected,

Surah Al-Insan : 19 Medinan

﴿وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَّنثُورًا﴾

There will circulate among them young boys made eternal. When you see them, you would think them [as beautiful as] scattered pearls.