What does « Sfin » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Sfin (سفن) 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.

سفن
Sfin
Root: س - ف - ن
Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Sfin

As-safan: planing the exterior of something, like planing wood and leather.

Wind that sweeps dust is called safan.

As-safina: the ship.

The Almighty says: 'the owner of the ship' (Al-Kahf 79), 'the ships that sail on the sea' (Al-Baqara 164).

Ships are so named because they skim the water.

Sfin in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-Kahf 2
Al-'Ankabut 1
Surah Al-Kahf : 71 Meccan
﴿فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِى ٱلسَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًٔا إِمْرًا﴾
So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, al-Khidh r tore it open. [Moses] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing."
Surah Al-Kahf : 79 Meccan
﴿أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَٰكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًا﴾
As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force.
Surah Al-'Ankabut : 15 Meccan
﴿فَأَنجَيْنَٰهُ وَأَصْحَٰبَ ٱلسَّفِينَةِ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ﴾
But We saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for the worlds.

Words from the same root as Sfin

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Mon 21 Jumada al-Awwal
الاثنين 21 جمادى الأولى
أحدب متناقص Waning Gibbous Day 21.8 / 29.5
Illumination 53%
New moon in 8 days
لا إله إلا الله There is no god but 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