What does « Disgust / Repugnance » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Disgust / Repugnance (شمأز) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

شمأز

Disgust / Repugnance

Root: ش - م - ز

Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Disgust / Repugnance

The Almighty says: 'the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion' (Az-Zumar 45).

Al-ishmi'zaz: disgust and repulsion.

Their hearts contract with disgust when God alone is mentioned, but if they hear of idols, they rejoice.

Disgust / Repugnance in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Az-Zumar : 45 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ ٱشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ﴾

And when Allah is mentioned alone, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion, but when those [worshipped] other than Him are mentioned, immediately they rejoice.