The Colors in the Quran

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

All Praises are due solely to Allah, He is alone and hasn’t any partners. I attest to the fact the whomsoever Allah guides no one can mislead him and everyone Allah leads astray no one or nothing can guide him. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, his family, his companions and everyone who follows their path until the Last Day.

Among the amazing things that has reached through the Quran is the mentioning of certain colors in certain places. Briefly in this article I’ve translated the colors mentioned in Allah’s Speech.

The colors that are mentioned in the Quran are:

• Yellow

This the first color mentioned in the Quran and it’s mentioned 5 times in 5 different verses.

• It’s a pleasing color to the eyes

إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَاقِعٌ لَوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ النَّاظِرِينَ

‘It is a yellow cow, bright in its color, pleasing to the beholders

[ Al-Baqarah :69]

• Corruption and destruction

وَلَئِنْ أَرْسَلْنَا رِيحًا فَرَأَوْهُ مُصْفَرًّا

We send a wind [which would spoil the green growth (tilth) brought up by the previous rain], and they see (their tilth) turn yellow..[Ar-Rum 51]

• Stiffness, drought and straw

كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا

as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw.[Al-Hadid:20]

• White  

This color has been mentioned in the Quran 12 times in 12 verses and some of things its represents and illustrates are

• Luminance and brightness of the sun at the time of dawn and the morning

حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الفجر

until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night),[ Al-Baqarah :187]

• The color for the people’s faces of Jannah.

وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ابْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِي رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

And for those whose faces will become white, they will be in Allah’s Mercy (Paradise), therein they shall dwell forever.[Ale-Imran:107]

• A sickness in the eyes caused by severe sadness

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

And he turned away from them and said: “Alas, my grief for Yusuf (Joseph)!” And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.[Yusuf :84]

• The Miracle of Musa

وَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ بَيْضَاءُ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ

And he drew out his hand, and behold! it was white (with radiance) for the beholders[ Al-‘Araf:108]

• The Streak between the Mountains

وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌٌ

and among the mountains are streaks white.[Fatir:27]

• The color of the drinks for the People in Jannah.

بَيْضَاءَ لَذَّةٍ لِلشَّارِبِينَ

White, delicious to the drinkers [As-Saffaat:46]

• Black

   This is the 3^rd color mentioned in the Quran and it has been mentioned  8 times in 7 verses .

• The Darkness of the Night

حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِن الفجرَ

until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night),[ Al-Baqarah :187]

• The Color of the people’s faces in Hell

وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ اسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ

some faces will become black; as for those whose faces will become black (to them will be said): “Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Then taste the torment (in Hell) for rejecting Faith.”[Ale-Imran:106]

• Anguish and worry and sadness

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُمْ بِالْأُنْثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief![An-Nahl:58]

• Dry stalks and straw

فَجَعَلَهُ غُثَاءً أَحْوَى

And then makes it dark stubble.[Al-‘Ala :5]

• The Color of some Mountains

..وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ

varying colors and (others) very black.[Fatir:27]

• Green

 The 4^th color mentioned in the Quran is Green and it’s mentioned  8 times.

• The Color of the Earth, Trees and Plants after rain.

وَسَبْعَ سُنْبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ

and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry.[ Yusuf :43]

• The Clothing of the People in Jannah

عَالِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُنْدُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ

Their garments will be of fine green silk, and gold embroidery…[Al-Insan :21]

• The Color for the Covers and Pillows in Jannah

﴿مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ﴾

Reclining on green cushions and rich beautiful mattresses.[ Ar-Rahman:76]

• Blue

Blue is the 5^th color in the Quran and it’s only mentioned once

• The color of the faces of the Kuffar from the fear and terror on the Day of Judgment.

يَوْمَ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ ۚ وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ زُرْقًا

The Day when the Trumpet will be blown (the second blowing): that Day, We shall gather the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, etc.) Zurqa: (blue or blind eyed with black faces).[Ta-Ha:102]

• Red

Red is the 6^th color mentioned in the Quran.

• A Color of the path between the Mountains, Dates, and the Tress.

وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَاٌ

and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black.[Fatir:27]

• Pink

This is the 7^th color mentioned in the Quran and it is only cited once.

• The color of the sky when it is split and torn apart on the Day of Judgment.

فَإِذَا انْشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَالدِّهَانِ

Then when the heaven is rent asunder, and it becomes rosy or red like red-oil, or red hide.[Ar-Rahman :37]

• Dark Green

The color dark green is the 8^th color mentioned in the Allah’s Book and He only mentioned it one time.

• The color of the trees in Jannah.

  {مُدْهَامَّتَانِ}

Dark green (in colour)[ Ar-Rahman :64]

Oh Allah allow us to enter Jannah peacefully on the Day of Judgment.

Translated and prepared by

Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Battle

Doha, Qatar,1438H ©

On going classes in Qatar for the English speaking Muslims

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