What does « Fear / Fright » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Fear / Fright (وجس) 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.

وجس

Fear / Fright

Root: ج - س

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Fear / Fright

Al-Wajs refers to inner fear.

The Almighty says: 'And he felt apprehension' (Hud 70).

Awjasa means to feel fear.

Al-mūjis is one who fears inwardly.

Fear / Fright in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Hud 1

Ta-Ha 1

Adh-Dhariyat 1

Surah Hud : 70 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا رَءَآ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ﴾

But when he saw their hands not reaching for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot."

Surah Ta-Ha : 67 Meccan

﴿فَأَوْجَسَ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ خِيفَةً مُّوسَىٰ﴾

And he sensed within himself apprehension, did Moses.

Surah Adh-Dhariyat : 28 Meccan

﴿فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَٰمٍ عَلِيمٍ﴾

And he felt from them apprehension. They said, "Fear not," and gave him good tidings of a learned boy.