What does « Sl » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Sl (سل) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

سل

Root: س - ل

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Sl

Sall ash-shay' min ash-shay': withdrawing something from another, like unsheathing a sword from its scabbard, removing hair from dough.

The Almighty says: 'Put your hand into the opening of your robe' (An-Naml 12).

As-sall can also mean discreet theft.

Al-musalla: the unsheathed weapon.

Sl in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Mu'minun 1

An-Nur 1

As-Sajda 1

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 12 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن سُلَـٰلَةٍۢ مِّن طِينٍۢ﴾

And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.

Surah An-Nur : 63 Medinan

﴿لَّا تَجْعَلُوا۟ دُعَآءَ ٱلرَّسُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ كَدُعَآءِ بَعْضِكُم بَعْضًۭا ۚ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنكُمْ لِوَاذًۭا ۚ فَلْيَحْذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِۦٓ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ﴾

Do not make [your] calling of the Messenger among yourselves as the call of one of you to another. Already Allah knows those of you who slip away, concealed by others. So let those beware who dissent from the Prophet's order, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.

Surah As-Sajda : 8 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسْلَهُۥ مِن سُلَـٰلَةٍۢ مِّن مَّآءٍۢ مَّهِينٍۢ﴾

Then He made his posterity out of the extract of a liquid disdained.