What does « Rebellion / Arrogance » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Rebellion / Arrogance (عتو) in the Quran, with 9 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

عتو

Rebellion / Arrogance

Root: ع - ت

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 9 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Rebellion / Arrogance

Al-'utuww: resistance to obedience.

One says: 'ata ya'tu 'utuwwan wa 'itiyyan.

The Almighty says: 'But they defied the command of their Lord' (Al-Haqqah 11). 'And they were arrogant' (Al-Furqan 21).

Transgression leads to destruction.

Rebellion / Arrogance in the Quran (9)

Meccan: 8 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-A'raf 2

Maryam 2

Al-Furqan 1

Adh-Dhariyat 1

At-Talaq 1

Al-Mulk 1

Al-Haqqa 1

Surah Al-A'raf : 77 Meccan

﴿فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰصَٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ﴾

So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Salih, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers."

Surah Al-A'raf : 166 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا۟ عَن مَّا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَٰسِـِٔينَ﴾

So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."

Surah Maryam : 8 Meccan

﴿قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا﴾

He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?"

Surah Maryam : 69 Meccan

﴿ثُمَّ لَنَنزِعَنَّ مِن كُلِّ شِيعَةٍ أَيُّهُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَى ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ عِتِيًّا﴾

Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence.

Surah Al-Furqan : 21 Meccan

﴿وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا لَقَدِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا﴾

And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Why were not angels sent down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?" They have certainly become arrogant within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence.

Surah Adh-Dhariyat : 44 Meccan

﴿فَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ﴾

But they were insolent toward the command of their Lord, so the thunderbolt seized them while they were looking on.

Surah At-Talaq : 8 Medinan

﴿وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ عَتَتْ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهَا وَرُسُلِهِۦ فَحَاسَبْنَٰهَا حِسَابًا شَدِيدًا وَعَذَّبْنَٰهَا عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا﴾

And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.

Surah Al-Mulk : 21 Meccan

﴿أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُۥ بَل لَّجُّوا۟ فِى عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ﴾

Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.

Surah Al-Haqqa : 6 Meccan

﴿وَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَأُهْلِكُوا۟ بِرِيحٍ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ﴾

And as for 'Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind