What does « Pledge / Hostage » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Pledge / Hostage (رهن) 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.

رهن

Pledge / Hostage

Root: ر - ه - ن

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Pledge / Hostage

Al-rahn: what is deposited as guarantee for a debt.

Al-rahîna: the pledge.

Allah says: 'Every soul is pledged (rahîna) for what it has earned' (Al-Muddaththir: 38).

Each is responsible for their deeds.

Pledge / Hostage in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

At-Tur 1

Al-Muddaththir 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 283 Medinan

﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ كَاتِبًا فَرِهَٰنٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ ٱلَّذِى ٱؤْتُمِنَ أَمَٰنَتَهُۥ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُۥٓ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ﴾

And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken. And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allah, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it - his heart is indeed sinful, and Allah is Knowing of what you do.

Surah At-Tur : 21 Meccan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَآ أَلَتْنَٰهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ﴾

And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.

Surah Al-Muddaththir : 38 Meccan

﴿كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ﴾

Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained