What does « Ṣdaʿ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Ṣdaʿ (صدع) 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.

صدع
Ṣdaʿ
Root: ص - د - ع
Jurisprudence (fiqh) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Ṣdaʿ

As-sad': the crack in hard bodies like glass and iron.

The Almighty says: 'Proclaim what you are commanded' (Al-Hijr 94), meaning manifest it clearly. 'By the sky that cracks' (At-Tariq 11).

The crack separates and reveals.

Ṣdaʿ in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 1
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Hijr 1
Ar-Rum 1
Al-Waqi'a 1
Al-Hashr 1
At-Tariq 1
Surah Al-Hijr : 94 Meccan
﴿فَٱصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾
Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists.
Surah Ar-Rum : 43 Meccan
﴿فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ ٱلْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ﴾
So direct your face toward the correct religion before a Day comes from Allah of which there is no repelling. That Day, they will be divided.
Surah Al-Waqi'a : 19 Meccan
﴿لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ﴾
No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
Surah Al-Hashr : 21 Medinan
﴿لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُۥ خَٰشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾
If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought.
Surah At-Tariq : 12 Meccan
﴿وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ﴾
And [by] the earth which cracks open,

Words from the same root as Ṣdaʿ

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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 51%
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اللهم صل على محمد O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad

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