What does « Laziness / Nonchalance » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Laziness / Nonchalance (كسل) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

كسل

Laziness / Nonchalance

Root: ك - س - ل

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Laziness / Nonchalance

Al-Kasal refers to laziness and lack of energy to perform actions.

The Almighty says: 'And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily' (An-Nisa 142).

Al-kaslān is the lazy one.

Al-kasūl is extremely lazy.

Laziness / Nonchalance in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

An-Nisa 1

At-Tawba 1

Surah An-Nisa : 142 Medinan

﴿إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَٰدِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا﴾

Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little,

Surah At-Tawba : 54 Medinan

﴿وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَٰتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَٰرِهُونَ﴾

And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling.