There are 20 instances of nafakha and its derived form in the Quran based on the grammatical forms as shown in the table below, which are reviewed to better understand their meanings in different contexts, while we know that an Arabic word may have different meanings in different contexts:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
- Details of instances of nafakha in verb form I meaning to blow/breathe
[3:49] And a messenger to the Children of Israel (said to them) that I (Jesus) have certainly come to you with a sign from your Lord that I can design for you from the clay like a shape of the bird, then I can breathe into it that it will become a bird by permission of God (fa-anfukhu feehi fa-yakuunu tayran bi-idh’ni allahi). And I can cure the blind and the leper, and can give life to the dead by permission of God. And I can inform you of what you eat and what you store in your homes. Indeed, in that there is surely, a sign for you, if you have been believers.
[5:110] When God said, “O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I had supported you with the Holy Spirit to speak to the people in the crib and in maturity; and when I had taught you the scripture and the wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you make from the clay like a shape of the bird by My permission, then you breathe into it that it becomes a (live) bird by My permission (fa-tanfakhu feehaa fatakuunu tayran bi-idhnii), and you heal the blind and the leper by My permission; and when you bring forth the dead by My permission; and when I had restrained the Children of Israel from you when you had come to them with the clear proofs, then those who had disbelieved from them said, ‘This is not but a clear magic.’”
[6:73] And He is the One who has created the heavens and the earth with the truth, and a day He says, “Be,” then it is; His word is the truth. To Him belongs the dominion; a day will be blown in the trumpet (yawma yunfakhu fee al-suuri). He is Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He is the Wise, the Cognizant.
[15:29] Then when I had designed him (Adam) and had breathed into him from My spirit (fa-idhaa sawwaytuhu wa-nafakhtuhu feehi min nuurii) that you shall fall down to him as prostrators.”
[18:96] “Bring me (Dhul Qarnain) the iron sheets,” until when he had filled the gap between the two mountain walls, he said, “Blow,” until when he had made it a fire (unfukhuu hattaa idhaa ja`alanahu naaran), he said, “Bring me tar that I can pour over it.”
[18:99] And we had left of them till that day to invade with one another, and has been blown in the trumpet that we have gathered them all together (wa-nufikha fee al-suuri fa-jama`naahum jam`an).
[20:102] A day will be blown in the trumpet (yawma yunfakhu fee al-suuri), and we will gather the criminals on that day blue-eyed.
[21:91] And the one who (Mary) had protected her chastity that we breathed into her from our spirit (fa-nafakhnaa feehaa min ruuhinaa), and we made her and her son a sign for the people of the world.
[23:101] Then when has been blown in the trumpet (fa-idhaa nufikha fee al-suuri) that there will be no relationship between themselves that day, nor will they ask for one another.
[27:87] And a day will be blown in the trumpet (wa-yawma yunfakhu fee al-suuri) when has terrified whoever is in the heavens and the earth except for whom God has willed. And all has come to Him being humbled.
[32:9] Then He has shaped him (Adam) and has breathed into him from His spirit (wa-nafakha feehi min ruuhihi). And He has made for you the hearing, and the eyesight, and the understanding; rarely are you thankful.
[36:51] And has been blown in the trumpet (wa-nufikha fee al-suuri) then when they will hasten from the graves towards their Lord.
[38:72] Then when I have designed him (Adam) and have breathed into him from My spirit (wa-nafakhtu feehi min ruuhii) that you shall fall down to him as prostrators.”
[39:68] And it has been blown in the trumpet (wa-nufikha fee al-suuri) that whoever in the heavens and whoever is in the earth have fallen dead except whom God has willed. Then it has been blown in it second time (thumma nufikha feehi ukh’raa) then when they will be standing while looking.
[50:20] And it has been blown in the trumpet (wa-nufikha fee al-suuri). That is a day of the warning.
[66:12] And Mary, daughter of Imran who had guarded her chastity that we had breathed into it (womb) from our Spirit (fa-nafakhnaa feehi min ruuhinaa). And she had believed in words of her Lord and His scriptures, and she had been among the obedient.
[69:13] Then when has been blown in the trumpet was a single blow (fa-idhaa nufikha fee al suuri nafkhatun waahidatun).
[78:18] A day will be blown in the trumpet (yawma yunfakhu fee al-suuri) that you come in throngs.
- Details of instance of nafkhat in noun form meaning blast
[69:13] Then when has been blown in the trumpet was a single blow (fa-idhaa nufikha fee al suuri nafkhatun waahidatun).
The core messages from 20 instances of nafakha and its derived forms found in 18 verses of 17 surahs in the Quran are: Jesus had come to the people of Israel with a sign of giving life to a shape of bird made from clay by permission of God and I can cure the blind and the leper and can give life to the dead by permission of God and can inform you of what you eat and what you store in your homes; God had designed Adam and breathed into him from His spirit that all the angels fall down before him; Dhul Qarnain will blow until to make a fire to fill the gap between the two mountain walls with the iron sheets to be a barrier between the two communities of corruptors and the believers, then they will invade one another when has been blown in the trumpet to gather them all; God breathed into Mary who had maintained her chastity, God will gather us all when the trumpet will be blown; a day will be blown in the trumpet when the criminals will be gathered blue eyed; there will have no relationship between people when has been blown in the trumpet; a day will be blown in the trumpet when has been terrified whoever is in the heaves and the earth except for whom God has willed; when has been blown in the trumpet first time has fallen dead whoever is in the heaves and the earth except for whom God has willed; when has been blown in the trumpet second time then they will be standing while looking; when has been blown in the trumpet then they will hasten from the graves towards their Lord and a day has been blown in the trumpet when all will come to God in throngs.
This review is a warning for us all that a day we will be gathered before God when has been blown in the trumpet twice coming to Him in things, even hastening from the graves towards our Lord when there will have no relationship, nor will there have any help from other.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (7/31/26).