What does « Oppression / Burden » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Oppression / Burden (رهق) in the Quran, with 10 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

رهق

Oppression / Burden

Root: ر - ه - ق

Creed (aqida) 10 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Oppression / Burden

Rahiqahu al-amr: the matter overwhelmed him by force.

Allah says: 'Humiliation will cover them (yarhaqu)' (Yûnus: 27).

Humiliation will overwhelm sinners' faces on Judgment Day.

Oppression / Burden in the Quran (10)

Meccan: 10 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Yunus 2

Al-Kahf 2

Al-Jinn 2

Al-Qalam 1

Al-Ma'arij 1

Al-Muddaththir 1

'Abasa 1

Surah Yunus : 26 Meccan

﴿لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ وَزِيَادَةٌ وَلَا يَرْهَقُ وُجُوهَهُمْ قَتَرٌ وَلَا ذِلَّةٌ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ﴾

For them who have done good is the best [reward] and extra. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally

Surah Yunus : 27 Meccan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ كَسَبُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ جَزَآءُ سَيِّئَةٍۭ بِمِثْلِهَا وَتَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ مَّا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ كَأَنَّمَآ أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ قِطَعًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مُظْلِمًا أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ﴾

But they who have earned [blame for] evil doings - the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them. They will have from Allah no protector. It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night - so dark [are they]. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.

Surah Al-Kahf : 73 Meccan

﴿قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِى مِنْ أَمْرِى عُسْرًا﴾

[Moses] said, "Do not blame me for what I forgot and do not cover me in my matter with difficulty."

Surah Al-Kahf : 80 Meccan

﴿وَأَمَّا ٱلْغُلَٰمُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْيَٰنًا وَكُفْرًا﴾

And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.

Surah Al-Qalam : 43 Meccan

﴿خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلسُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَٰلِمُونَ﴾

Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.

Surah Al-Ma'arij : 44 Meccan

﴿خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ﴾

Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. That is the Day which they had been promised.

Surah Al-Jinn : 6 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّهُۥ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا﴾

And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the jinn, so they [only] increased them in burden.

Surah Al-Jinn : 13 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعْنَا ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ فَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِرَبِّهِۦ فَلَا يَخَافُ بَخْسًا وَلَا رَهَقًا﴾

And when we heard the guidance, we believed in it. And whoever believes in his Lord will not fear deprivation or burden.

Surah Al-Muddaththir : 17 Meccan

﴿سَأُرْهِقُهُۥ صَعُودًا﴾

I will cover him with arduous torment.

Surah 'Abasa : 41 Meccan

﴿تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ﴾

Blackness will cover them.

Words from the same root as Oppression / Burden

To burn / To set ablaze

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم