What does « Shawk » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Shawk (شوك) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شوك
Shawk
Root: ش - ك
Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Shawk

Ash-shawk: what is thin and has a hard point among plants.

Ash-shawka is used for the force of arms.

The Almighty says: 'You wished that the unarmed one would be yours' (Al-Anfal 7).

Thorns wound like weapons.

Shawk in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 1
Surah Al-Anfal : 7 Medinan
﴿وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ إِحْدَى ٱلطَّآئِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ ٱلشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُحِقَّ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ﴾
[Remember, O believers], when Allah promised you one of the two groups - that it would be yours - and you wished that the unarmed one would be yours. But Allah intended to establish the truth by His words and to eliminate the disbelievers

Words from the same root as Shawk

شرك
Sharak
شكا
Shkā
شكر
Shukr
شكس
Shshaks
شكك
Shakak
شكل
Shakl
كشط
Kashṭ
كشف
Kshif

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لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله There is no power nor strength except with Allah

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