Qurʾānic vocabulary
Moths and locusts in the Qurʾān
Qurʾānic Vocabulary: Moths and Locusts
A moth: فَرَاشَةٌ
In the Qurʾān, the collective word الْفَرَاشُ is used:
﴿يَوْمَ يَكُونُ النَّاسُ كَالْفَرَاشِ الْمَبْثُوثِ﴾
“ On that Day, people will be like scattered moths .”
[Sūrat al-Qāriʿah: 4]
Moths fly around a flame in confusion, scattering in every direction. This describes the people’s fear, confusion and disorder on the Day of Resurrection.
A locust: جَرَادَةٌ
The collective word is الْجَرَادُ:
﴿خُشَّعًا أَبْصَارُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌ مُّنْتَشِرٌ﴾
“ With their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as though they were spreading locusts .”
[Sūrat al-Qamar: 7]
Locusts appear in enormous numbers and advance rapidly. They are pursuing a goal.
This describes the vast crowds emerging from their graves and moving swiftly toward the caller.
Imām Al-Qurṭubī (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) said:
«فَأَوَّلُ حَالِهِمْ كَالْفَرَاشِ لَا وَجْهَ لَهُ، يَتَحَيَّرُ فِي كُلِّ وَجْهٍ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُونَ كَالْجَرَادِ؛ لِأَنَّ لَهَا وَجْهًا تَقْصِدُهُ»
“ Thus, in their initial state, they are like moths, having no direction and moving confusedly in every direction.
Then they become like locusts, because locusts have a direction towards which they head .”
Al-Jāmiʿ li-Aḥkām al-Qurʾān
A moth: فَرَاشَةٌ
In the Qurʾān, the collective word الْفَرَاشُ is used:
﴿يَوْمَ يَكُونُ النَّاسُ كَالْفَرَاشِ الْمَبْثُوثِ﴾
“ On that Day, people will be like scattered moths .”
[Sūrat al-Qāriʿah: 4]
Moths fly around a flame in confusion, scattering in every direction. This describes the people’s fear, confusion and disorder on the Day of Resurrection.
A locust: جَرَادَةٌ
The collective word is الْجَرَادُ:
﴿خُشَّعًا أَبْصَارُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌ مُّنْتَشِرٌ﴾
“ With their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as though they were spreading locusts .”
[Sūrat al-Qamar: 7]
Locusts appear in enormous numbers and advance rapidly. They are pursuing a goal.
This describes the vast crowds emerging from their graves and moving swiftly toward the caller.
Imām Al-Qurṭubī (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) said:
«فَأَوَّلُ حَالِهِمْ كَالْفَرَاشِ لَا وَجْهَ لَهُ، يَتَحَيَّرُ فِي كُلِّ وَجْهٍ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُونَ كَالْجَرَادِ؛ لِأَنَّ لَهَا وَجْهًا تَقْصِدُهُ»
“ Thus, in their initial state, they are like moths, having no direction and moving confusedly in every direction.
Then they become like locusts, because locusts have a direction towards which they head .”
Al-Jāmiʿ li-Aḥkām al-Qurʾān