What does « To explore / To spy » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To explore / To spy (جاس) 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.

جاس

To explore / To spy

Root: ج - س

Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To explore / To spy

Allah says: 'They went through (jâsû) the homes' (Al-Isrâ': 5).

That is: they traversed them and went back and forth among them.

This resembles 'jâzû' (they crossed) and 'dâsû' (they trod).

This verse describes the punitive invasion sent against the Children of Israel.

To explore / To spy in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Al-Isra : 5 Meccan

﴿فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًۭا لَّنَآ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍۢ شَدِيدٍۢ فَجَاسُوا۟ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًۭا مَّفْعُولًۭا﴾

So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.