What does « To hasten / To lower the head » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To hasten / To lower the head (هطع) 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.

هطع

To hasten / To lower the head

Root: ه - ط - ع

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To hasten / To lower the head

Al-Ihtā' refers to staring fixedly while rushing.

The Almighty says: 'Racing ahead with necks outstretched' (Ibrahim 43).

Muhtī'ūn are those rushing with heads raised without blinking.

To hasten / To lower the head in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Ibrahim 1

Al-Qamar 1

Al-Ma'arij 1

Surah Ibrahim : 43 Meccan

﴿مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌ﴾

Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void.

Surah Al-Qamar : 8 Meccan

﴿مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ يَقُولُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌ﴾

Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, "This is a difficult Day."

Surah Al-Ma'arij : 36 Meccan

﴿فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ﴾

So what is [the matter] with those who disbelieve, hastening [from] before you, [O Muhammad],

Words from the same root as To hasten / To lower the head

To attack / To criticize

Purity / Purification

طوع

To obey willingly

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم