What does « To fall to one's knees » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To fall to one's knees (جثى) 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.

جثى

To fall to one's knees

Root: ج - ث

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To fall to one's knees

Jathâ 'alâ rukbatayhi yajthû juthuwwan wa jithiyyan: he knelt.

The participle is 'jâthin', plural 'juthiyy'.

Allah says: 'You will see every nation kneeling (jâthiya)' (Al-Jâthiya: 28).

This will be the posture of peoples on Judgment Day, awaiting the verdict.

To fall to one's knees in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Surah Maryam : 68 Meccan

﴿فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَحْشُرَنَّهُمْ وَٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ ثُمَّ لَنُحْضِرَنَّهُمْ حَوْلَ جَهَنَّمَ جِثِيًّۭا﴾

So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees.

Surah Maryam : 72 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ نُنَجِّى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّنَذَرُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ فِيهَا جِثِيًّۭا﴾

Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.

Words from the same root as To fall to one's knees

جث

To fall to one's knees

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