What does « In succession / Successively » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word In succession / Successively (تترى) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

تترى

In succession / Successively

Root: ت - ت - ر

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of In succession / Successively

Tatrâ: of the form 'fa'lâ', from 'muwâtara' (succession).

Meaning to follow one after another.

Allah says: 'Then We sent Our messengers successively (tatrâ)' (Al-Mu'minûn: 44).

This indicates that the prophets succeeded one another in time, each confirming the previous one.

In succession / Successively in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 44 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَا ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةًۭ رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ ۚ فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُم بَعْضًۭا وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ ۚ فَبُعْدًۭا لِّقَوْمٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾

Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe.