What does « Reward / Punishment » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Reward / Punishment (جزا) 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.

جزا

Reward / Punishment

Root: ج - ز

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of Reward / Punishment

Al-jazâ': sufficiency and compensation.

Allah says: 'A father will not compensate (lâ yajzî) for his son' (Luqmân: 33).

Al-jazâ' is retribution, good or bad, according to deeds.

Allah says: 'The recompense (jazâ') of an evil deed is an evil deed like it' (Ash-Shûrâ: 40).

Reward / Punishment in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

Al-Hijr 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 260 Medinan

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن ۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِى ۖ قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ ٱجْعَلْ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلٍۢ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًۭا ثُمَّ ٱدْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًۭا ۚ وَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ﴾

And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." [Allah] said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but [I ask] only that my heart may be satisfied." [Allah] said, "Take four birds and commit them to yourself. Then [after slaughtering them] put on each hill a portion of them; then call them - they will come [flying] to you in haste. And know that Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."

Surah Al-Hijr : 44 Meccan

﴿لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَٰبٍۢ لِّكُلِّ بَابٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌۭ مَّقْسُومٌ﴾

It has seven gates; for every gate is of them a portion designated."

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 15 Meccan

﴿وَجَعَلُوا۟ لَهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ جُزْءًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَكَفُورٌۭ مُّبِينٌ﴾

But they have attributed to Him from His servants a portion. Indeed, man is clearly ungrateful.