Gems and Jewels in the Quran: More Than Just Sparkling Stones

The Quran, Islam’s holy book, is a profound text filled with guidance, parables, and vivid imagery. Among its beautiful imagery are descriptions of gems, pearls, and precious stones. These are not mentioned for mere decoration or to list worldly riches. Instead, they serve as powerful spiritual symbols, signs of God’s creative power, and captivating descriptions of the ultimate reward in the afterlife.

Let’s explore the precious stones of the Quran and uncover the deeper meanings they hold for every believer.

1. The Pearl (Lu’lu’): The Symbol of Purity and Hidden Beauty

The pearl is the most frequently mentioned gem in the Quran. Its natural formation—a thing of exquisite beauty emerging from a humble oyster in the deep, dark sea—makes it a perfect spiritual metaphor.

The Protective Barrier: In a famous verse describing God’s supreme majesty, the Quran says: “He created the heavens and the earth in truth. He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. Unquestionably, He is the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver. … He has released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? From both of them emerge pearl and coral.” (Quran 55:19-22).

Here, pearls (and coral) are presented as marvels that emerge from the meeting of two vast, powerful seas kept separate by an invisible divine barrier. This points to the hidden, delicate wonders God creates within the grand system of the universe.
The Reward of Paradise: Pearls are used to describe the bliss and perfection of Paradise. The companions of Paradise will be adorned with bracelets of pearls (22:23). More beautifully, the gates of Paradise itself are described as being made of pearls. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) elaborated in a hadith, stating the gate of Paradise is “a single pearl.”
Spiritual Lesson: The pearl symbolizes:
- Purity: Its pristine, white lusterness represents the purity of faith, deeds, and the inhabitants of Paradise.
- Hidden Reward: Just as a pearl is hidden in an oyster at the bottom of the sea, the true reward for faith and good deeds is unseen in this world but awaits in the hereafter.
- Beauty from Difficulty: A pearl is formed through a process of irritation and layering. Similarly, a believer’s patience through trials can lead to a beautiful, polished character.

2. Coral (Marjan): The Beauty of Organic Creation

Often paired with pearls, coral (Marjan) is mentioned in the same verse (55:22). Coral is a unique substance—part animal, part mineral, forming vast, beautiful, and intricate reef structures underwater.

Its Significance: While pearls represent hidden, individual beauty, coral represents complex, communal, and architectural beauty. Its mention alongside the “two seas” highlights the diversity and artistry of God’s creation in the marine world, which was largely unseen and unexplored by 7th-century desert Arabs. This served as a powerful sign (ayah) of God’s knowledge and creative power in realms beyond human observation.
In Descriptions of Paradise: Coral is also used to describe the beauty of the companions of Paradise. They will be like “hidden pearls [and] coral” (52:24, 55:58), implying a complexion and radiance that is breathtakingly beautiful, natural, and precious.

3. Gold (Dhahab): The Test of Worldly Desire

Gold is mentioned prominently in the Quran, but often with a cautionary tone regarding this world, and a celebratory one regarding the next.

A Trial in this World: Gold (along with silver) is described as an adornment and a treasure of this worldly life. It is a test: “Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire – of women and children, stacked-up piles of gold and silver, fine branded horses, cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but God has with Him the best return [i.e., Paradise].” (3:14). The pursuit of gold can distract from the pursuit of God.
The Fools’ Gold of False Eternity: In the gripping story of Prophet Moses and the Samaritan, the people melt their gold jewelry to create a calf idol, which then miraculously seems to low like a calf (20:87-88). This gold became a symbol of misguided worship and fleeting, false divinity.
Perfected in the Hereafter: In contrast, gold in Paradise is purified of all worldly negative associations. It becomes a pure, eternal blessing. The Quran describes Paradise where “they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls” (22:23), and where even the utensils and thrones are made of gold (43:71, 76:15-16). This shows that the objects we desire in this world are but pale imitations of the real, perfected versions in God’s eternal kingdom.

4. The Foundations of Society: A Metaphor of Value

While not “gems” in the literal sense, two other precious materials are repeatedly mentioned in a powerful societal metaphor.

Gold, Silver, Iron, and Copper: The Quran asks: “Do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, ‘When is the help of God?’ Unquestionably, the help of God is near. … [Remember] when you were on the near side of the valley [of Uhud] and they were on the farther side… *God would have established the truth by His words, [even] if the criminals disliked it. …[This is] so that God might make evident those who believe and [might] take to Himself from among you martyrs – and God does not like the wrongdoers – And that He might purify the believers and destroy the disbelievers. Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while God has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast?” (Various parts of Surah Al-Imran, 3).

In elaborating on this, scholars and interpreters often use a metaphor found in prophetic teachings: a society is like a mine. “People are like mines of gold and silver,” said the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The best of them in pre-Islamic times (Jahiliyyah) are the best in Islam if they understand it deeply. This means intrinsic value (like gold and silver in a mine) exists in people. Faith and piety are the refining process that brings out that pure, precious character. The “criminals” or disbelievers are likened to the dross or worthless rock that is discarded.

5. The Greatest Treasure: The “Two Treasures” (Khazinatain)

The most valuable “gems” in the Quran are not physical at all. In a profound verse, God says:

**”And for those who fear their Lord are gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide, and a welcome from God. And what is with God is best for the righteous. And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in God and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, [being] humbly submissive to God. They do not exchange the verses of God for a small price. It is they who will have their reward with their Lord. Indeed, God is swift in account.” (3:198-199)

The “two treasures” referred to by scholars here are:

“A welcome from God” (Na’imatun mina Allah): The direct, personal greeting and pleasure of the Almighty. This is the ultimate accolade.
“What is with God” (Ma ‘inda Allah): The eternal, unimaginable reward of Paradise that He has kept with Him.

These are the ultimate, priceless jewels that no amount of worldly pearls, gold, or diamonds can ever match.

Conclusion: From Earthly Metaphors to Heavenly Reality

The gems and precious stones in the Quran serve a masterful purpose:

As Signs (Ayat): They point to the incredible artistry, hidden wisdom, and boundless power of the Creator. The pearl in the deep sea is a proof for the reflective mind.
As Parables (Amthal): They help us understand abstract spiritual truths. The formation of a pearl teaches us about patience and hidden reward. Gold tests our priorities.
As Promises (Bushra): Their description in Paradise makes the promise of the hereafter tangible, desirable, and real, motivating believers towards righteous action.

In the end, the Quran uses the most beautiful and desired objects of this world to point toward something infinitely more beautiful and eternal. It teaches that while we may marvel at a pearl or desire gold, the true seeker should focus on acquiring the “pearl of faith” in the heart and working for the “gold of Divine pleasure,” which is the only treasure that will last forever. The real jewels, the Quran concludes, are “righteous deeds” that have permanent weight and value with God, shining brighter than any gem this world can offer.