The Meaning of Kun Faya Kun (in the Quran and Pop Culture)

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A deeper look at the powerful Arabic phrase Kun Faya Kun

Co-authored by Belal Elkadri and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: March 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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Meaning & Origin

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In the Quran

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Song & Lyrics

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FAQs

The Arabic phrase kun faya kun (meaning “Be, and it is”) is an expression of faith that comes from several verses in the Quran. "Kun Faya Kun" is also the name of a song from the famous Bollywood film Rockstar. Come discover the origin and deeper meanings associated with this well-known phrase, along with how it's used in Islam and Sufism.

What does Kun Faya Kun mean?

Kun Faya Kun is an Arabic phrase originating in the Quran that means, “Be, and it is.” It symbolizes the limitless power of God’s will throughout the universe. Saying Kun Faya Kun is said to help align yourself with the will of God so your desires can become real by submitting yourself to the divine.

Section 1 of 4:

The Meaning and Origin of Kun Faya Kun

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It appears in Arabic as كُنْ فَيَكُونُ and is pronounced "KOON-fa-yaa-Koon.” Kun faya kun breaks down as follows: "Kun" (کن) means "be,” "fa" (ف) acts as a conjunction meaning "then,” and "yakun," (یکون) means "it becomes/is."
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It appears in the Quran as a reminder of Allah’s endless power. The phrase states that God has the power to create anything he wants to at the same moment he wills it. It can help you learn more about Islam by understanding that anything that happens within the universe is under Allah’s control, and happens because of him.^{[1]
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- Kun faya kun is not part of any actual prayer used in Islam, but is an expression signifying the absolute power of God. Muslims who include kun faya kun in their personal supplications or when asking dua call attention to the boundless power of God in their lives.

Section 2 of 4:

Kun Faya Kun in the Quran

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Al-Baqarah 117 "He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth! When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, "Be!" And it is!” (بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمۡرٗا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ)^{[2]
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- What it means: This phrase illustrates the supreme power of Allah over all that is.
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An-Nahl 16:40 “If we ever will something to exist, all we say is: “Be!” And it is!” (إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَـٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ)^{[3]
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- What it means: Whatever God desires, he can bring into being with just a word or a thought.
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Maryam 19:35 “It is not for Allah to take a son! Glory be to Him. When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, “Be!” And it is!” (مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍۢ ۖ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ)^{[4]
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- What it means: This phrase states that it is beneath Allah to have a son, because he can simply make anything exist solely by using his limitless will.
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Al-Imran 47 "She (Maryam) said: "How can I have a son, O Lord, when no man has touched me?" He said: "That is how God creates what He wills. When He decrees a thing, He says 'Be,' and it is." (قَالَتۡ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٞ وَلَمۡ يَمۡسَسۡنِي بَشَرٞۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمۡرٗا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ)^{[5]
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- What it means: This phrase relates to a woman who must give birth without being married and demonstrates Allah’s power over mankind and all things in creation.
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Al-Imran 59 "For God, the likeness of Jesus is as that of Adam whom He fashioned out of dust and said "Be," and he was." (إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ)^{[6]
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- What it means: Allah is describing the creation of Adam, the first man, and comparing him to Jesus, as both were said to not have a father.
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Al-Anaam 73 "It is He who created the heavens and the earth with a definite purpose. The day He will say "Be," it will be. His words are the truth, His alone the power on the day when the blast of the trumpet will be sounded. He knows the hidden and the visible. He is all-prudent and all-knowing." (وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ كُن فَيَكُونُ ۚ قَوْلُهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ۚ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ)^{[7]
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- What it means: Allah draws attention to his infinite power over all other creations.
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Ya-Sin 77-82 “Do people not see that We have created them from a sperm drop, then—behold!—they openly challenge us? And they argue with us—forgetting they were created—saying, “Who will give life to decayed bones?” Say, o prophet, “They will be revived by the one who produced them the first time, for He has perfect knowledge of every created being. He is the one who gives you fire from green trees, and—behold!—you kindle fire from them. Can the one who created the heavens and the earth not easily resurrect these deniers?” Yes, He can! For He is the master creator, all-knowing. All it takes, when He wills something to be, is simply to say to it: “Be!” And it is!” (أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ٧٧ أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ٧٧ قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۢ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ ٧٩ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ ٱلْأَخْضَرِ نَارًۭا فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ أَوَلَيْسَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ)^{[8]
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- What it means: These verses discuss the neverending power of God versus the limits of human ability in connection with the nature of all creation.^{[9]
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Ghafir 40:68 “He is the one who gives life and causes death. When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, “Be!” And it is!” (هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٦٨)^{[10]
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- What it means: This verse refers to Allah as “the forgiver,” emphasizing the fact that he can forgive sins, as well as the power to both give and take away life.

Section 3 of 4:

Kun Faya Kun Song & Lyrics

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“Kun Faya Kun” is a song from the 2011 Bollywood film Rockstar. It’s written by Indian composer A. R. Rahman and performed by Javed Ali and Mohit Chauhan as part of the movie’s soundtrack that topped the 2011 iTunes international charts. The song represents both the Sufi tradition and the power of God’s love to change hearts. It had a big impact on pop culture by igniting an interest in Sufi music and spirituality.
- For example, the lyric Kun Faya Kun, Kun Faya Kun, Sadaq Allahul-alliyul-Azeem (“He said, Be, & it is! Be, & it is! The truth is Allah, the sublime, the magnificent”) emphasizes the boundless power of Allah and how anything he creates can come into being instantly.
- The lyric, Kadam Badhaa Le, Hadon Ko Mitaa Le, Aaja Khaali Pan Mein Pee Ka Ghar Tera, Tere Bin Khaali Aaja, Khali Pan Mein, Tere Bin Khaali Aaja, Khali Pan Mein (“Take a step forward, destroy these distances, come into this void, the home of your beloved”) is an attempt to be closer to Allah and celebrate the fact that anywhere you are, God is with you.
- Sufism is a mystical religious practice within Islam that focuses on making a spiritual connection with Allah in one’s life. Music is a powerful way that Sufis connect to God. “Kun Faya Kun” uses the Qawwali musical style used by Sufi mystics to spread love for Allah.

Section 4 of 4:

Kun Faya Kun Meaning FAQ

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When did Allah say Kun Faya Kun? Kun faya kun appears multiple times when citing the Quran. Allah uses kun faya kun to demonstrate the power of creating something from nothing. The phrase emphasizes how when Allah would like something to happen, he can make it happen immediately.^{[11]
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What is the meaning of Faya in Islam? Faya is mostly used as part of the phrase, kun faya kun, where it breaks down to “fa,” a conjunction meaning “then,” and “ya,” meaning “it,” as part of “yakun.” In kun faya kun, it contributes to the overall meaning, which suggests that Allah’s limitless power can cause all things to happen.
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What does kun faya kun mean in Sufism? As in Islam, kun faya kun means “Be, and it is” in Sufism. Its meaning still revolves around the idea of God’s power being so great that it can will anything to exist. If you want to learn about Sufism by applying this phrase, you can use it to align yourself to God and surrender to his will so you can find peace and find unity with your divine creator.