What does « To follow / Successor » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To follow / Successor (ردف) 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.

ردف

To follow / Successor

Root: ر - د - ف

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To follow / Successor

Al-ridf: the follower.

Ridf al-mar'a: the woman's rear.

Al-irdâf: making someone ride behind.

Allah says: 'Followed by the one that follows it (al-râdifa)' (An-Nâzi'ât: 7).

The second tremor follows the first.

To follow / Successor in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Anfal 1

An-Naml 1

An-Nazi'at 1

Surah Al-Anfal : 9 Medinan

﴿إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّى مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ﴾

[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another."

Surah An-Naml : 72 Meccan

﴿قُلْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ رَدِفَ لَكُم بَعْضُ ٱلَّذِى تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ﴾

Say, "Perhaps it is close behind you - some of that for which you are impatient.

Surah An-Nazi'at : 7 Meccan

﴿تَتْبَعُهَا ٱلرَّادِفَةُ﴾

There will follow it the subsequent [one].