What does « Boasting / Arrogance » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Boasting / Arrogance (مرح) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

مرح

Boasting / Arrogance

Root: م - ر - ح

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Boasting / Arrogance

Al-Maraḥ refers to excessive exultation and arrogance.

The Almighty says: 'And do not walk upon the earth arrogantly' (Al-Isra 37).

Al-mariḥ is one who is excessively proud.

This is blamed in the Quran.

Boasting / Arrogance in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Isra 1

Luqman 1

Ghafir 1

Surah Al-Isra : 37 Meccan

﴿وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولًا﴾

And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.

Surah Luqman : 18 Meccan

﴿وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ﴾

And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.

Surah Ghafir : 75 Meccan

﴿ذَٰلِكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَمْرَحُونَ﴾

[The angels will say], "That was because you used to exult upon the earth without right and you used to behave insolently.