What does « Qrʿ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Qrʿ (قرع) 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.

قرع

Qrʿ

Root: ق - ر - ع

Creed (aqida) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Qrʿ

Al-Qar' refers to striking one thing against another.

The Almighty says: 'Al-Qāri'ah, what is the Qāri'ah?' (Al-Qari'ah 1-2), meaning the Day that strikes hearts with terror.

Qara'a al-bāb means to knock on the door.

Qrʿ in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Qari'a 3

Ar-Ra'd 1

Al-Haqqa 1

Surah Ar-Ra'd : 31 Medinan

﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْءَانًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ ٱلْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بَل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا أَفَلَمْ يَا۟يْـَٔسِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن لَّوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَى ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُوا۟ قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ وَعْدُ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ﴾

And if there was any qur'an by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, [it would be this Qur'an], but to Allah belongs the affair entirely. Then have those who believed not accepted that had Allah willed, He would have guided the people, all of them? And those who disbelieve do not cease to be struck, for what they have done, by calamity - or it will descend near their home - until there comes the promise of Allah. Indeed, Allah does not fail in [His] promise.

Surah Al-Haqqa : 4 Meccan

﴿كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ وَعَادٌۢ بِٱلْقَارِعَةِ﴾

Thamud and 'Aad denied the Striking Calamity.

Surah Al-Qari'a : 1 Meccan

﴿ٱلْقَارِعَةُ﴾

The Striking Calamity -

Surah Al-Qari'a : 2 Meccan

﴿مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ﴾

What is the Striking Calamity?

Surah Al-Qari'a : 3 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ﴾

And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?