What does « Brutal / Coarse » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Brutal / Coarse (عتل) 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.

عتل

Brutal / Coarse

Root: ع - ت - ل

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Brutal / Coarse

Al-'atl: seizing something in its entirety and dragging it by force, like dragging a camel.

The Almighty says: 'Seize him and drag him' (Ad-Dukhan 47). 'Brutal, greedy' (Al-Qalam 13).

The 'utull man is crude and violent.

Brutal / Coarse in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Ad-Dukhan 1

Al-Qalam 1

Surah Ad-Dukhan : 47 Meccan

﴿خُذُوهُ فَٱعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ﴾

[It will be commanded], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,

Surah Al-Qalam : 13 Meccan

﴿عُتُلٍّۭ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ زَنِيمٍ﴾

Cruel, moreover, and an illegitimate pretender.

Words from the same root as Brutal / Coarse

To swallow / To engulf

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