What does « Proof / Argument » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Proof / Argument (بره) 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.

بره

Proof / Argument

Root: ب - ر - ه

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Proof / Argument

Al-burhân: the explanation of proof.

It is a noun of the form 'fu'lân' like 'rujhân' and 'thunyân'.

Some say it is the masdar of 'barhana' (he proved).

Allah says: 'Say: Bring your proof (burhânakum)' (Al-Baqara: 111), and: 'Here is a proof (burhân) from your Lord' (An-Nisâ': 174).

Al-burhân is the decisive and clear proof that leaves no doubt.

Proof / Argument in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

An-Nisa 1

Al-Anbiya 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 111 Medinan

﴿وَقَالُوا۟ لَن يَدْخُلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَن كَانَ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۗ تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ ۗ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ﴾

And they say, "None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian." That is [merely] their wishful thinking, Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful."

Surah An-Nisa : 174 Medinan

﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُم بُرْهَـٰنٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًۭا مُّبِينًۭا﴾

O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.

Surah Al-Anbiya : 24 Meccan

﴿أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةًۭ ۖ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ ۖ هَـٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَن مَّعِىَ وَذِكْرُ مَن قَبْلِى ۗ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ فَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ﴾

Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur'an] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.