What does « To abstain / To renounce » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To abstain / To renounce (نكف) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

نكف

To abstain / To renounce

Root: ن - ك - ف

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of To abstain / To renounce

Al-Istinkāf refers to proud refusal.

The Almighty says: 'The Messiah would never disdain' (An-Nisa 172).

Istankafa means to refuse with pride.

Al-mustankif is the proud one who refuses.

To abstain / To renounce in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 2

Surah An-Nisa : 172 Medinan

﴿لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّهِ وَلَا ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَمَن يَسْتَنكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعًا﴾

Never would the Messiah disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels near [to Him]. And whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant - He will gather them to Himself all together.

Surah An-Nisa : 173 Medinan

﴿فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا﴾

And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protector or helper.