What does « Group / Clan » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Group / Clan (رهط) 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.

رهط

Group / Clan

Root: ر - ه - ط

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Group / Clan

Al-raht: a group of less than ten people.

Some say it can mean up to forty.

Allah says: 'And there were in the city nine individuals (raht)' (An-Naml: 48).

These nine corrupted the land.

Group / Clan in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Hud 2

An-Naml 1

Surah Hud : 91 Meccan

﴿قَالُوا۟ يَٰشُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَقُولُ وَإِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِينَا ضَعِيفًا وَلَوْلَا رَهْطُكَ لَرَجَمْنَٰكَ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْنَا بِعَزِيزٍ﴾

They said, "O Shu'ayb, we do not understand much of what you say, and indeed, we consider you among us as weak. And if not for your family, we would have stoned you [to death]; and you are not to us one respected."

Surah Hud : 92 Meccan

﴿قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ أَرَهْطِىٓ أَعَزُّ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱتَّخَذْتُمُوهُ وَرَآءَكُمْ ظِهْرِيًّا إِنَّ رَبِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ﴾

He said, "O my people, is my family more respected for power by you than Allah? But you put Him behind your backs [in neglect]. Indeed, my Lord is encompassing of what you do.

Surah An-Naml : 48 Meccan

﴿وَكَانَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ﴾

And there were in the city nine family heads causing corruption in the land and not amending [its affairs].