What does « Ḥaṭm » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ḥaṭm (حطم) 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.

حطم
Ḥaṭm
Root: ح - ط - م
Creed (aqida) 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Ḥaṭm

Al-hatm: breaking something like smashing.

Then used for all total destruction.

Allah says: 'Lest he crush you (yahtimannakum)' (An-Naml: 18).

The ant warns its fellows not to be crushed by Solomon and his armies.

Ḥaṭm in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 1
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Humaza 2
An-Naml 1
Az-Zumar 1
Al-Waqi'a 1
Al-Hadid 1
Surah An-Naml : 18 Meccan
﴿حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمْلُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مَسَٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ﴾
Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not."
Surah Az-Zumar : 21 Meccan
﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَٰمًا إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ﴾
Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
Surah Al-Waqi'a : 65 Meccan
﴿لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَٰهُ حُطَٰمًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ﴾
If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,
Surah Al-Hadid : 20 Medinan
﴿ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَٰمًا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ﴾
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
Surah Al-Humaza : 4 Meccan
﴿كَلَّا لَيُنۢبَذَنَّ فِى ٱلْحُطَمَةِ﴾
No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.
Surah Al-Humaza : 5 Meccan
﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْحُطَمَةُ﴾
And what can make you know what is the Crusher?

Words from the same root as Ḥaṭm

جحم
Juḥma
جمح
Jmaḥ
حبط
Ḥbiṭ
حتم
Ḥatm
حرم
Ḥarram
حسم
Ḥasm
حطب
Ḥaṭab
حكم
Ḥkam

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Mon 21 Jumada al-Awwal
الاثنين 21 جمادى الأولى
أحدب متناقص Waning Gibbous Day 22 / 29.5
Illumination 52%
New moon in 8 days
الحمد لله Praise be to 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