What does « Ḍḥak » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ḍḥak (ضحك) in the Quran, with 10 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

ضحك

Ḍḥak

Root: ض - ح - ك

Quranic language 10 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Ḍḥak

Ad-dahik: the beaming of the face and showing of teeth from the soul's joy.

At its appearance, laughing is called tabsim (smiling).

The Almighty says: 'He smiled at her words' (An-Naml 19) for Solomon. 'She laughed' (Hud 71) for Ibrahim's wife.

Ḍḥak in the Quran (10)

Meccan: 9 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Najm 2

Al-Mutaffifin 2

At-Tawba 1

Hud 1

Al-Mu'minun 1

An-Naml 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

'Abasa 1

Surah At-Tawba : 82 Medinan

﴿فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ﴾

So let them laugh a little and [then] weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.

Surah Hud : 71 Meccan

﴿وَٱمْرَأَتُهُۥ قَآئِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَٰهَا بِإِسْحَٰقَ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسْحَٰقَ يَعْقُوبَ﴾

And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 110 Meccan

﴿فَٱتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰٓ أَنسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِى وَكُنتُم مِّنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ﴾

But you took them in mockery to the point that they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.

Surah An-Naml : 19 Meccan

﴿فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَٰلِحًا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ﴾

So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants."

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 47 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَضْحَكُونَ﴾

But when he brought them Our signs, at once they laughed at them.

Surah An-Najm : 43 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ﴾

And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep

Surah An-Najm : 60 Meccan

﴿وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ﴾

And you laugh and do not weep

Surah 'Abasa : 39 Meccan

﴿ضَاحِكَةٌ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌ﴾

Laughing, rejoicing at good news.

Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 29 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا۟ كَانُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يَضْحَكُونَ﴾

Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed.

Surah Al-Mutaffifin : 34 Meccan

﴿فَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَ﴾

So Today those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers,

Words from the same root as Ḍḥak

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Mon 21 Jumada al-Awwal
الاثنين 21 جمادى الأولى

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 « Ḍḥak » mean in the Quran?

Definition of Ḍḥak

Ḍḥak in the Quran (10)

Words from the same root as Ḍḥak

What does « Ḍḥak » mean in the Quran?