What does « Rot / Decomposition » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Rot / Decomposition (رفت) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

رفت

Rot / Decomposition

Root: ر - ف - ت

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Rot / Decomposition

Rafattu al-shay' arfutuhu raftan: I crumbled the thing.

Allah says: 'When we are crumbled bones (rufâtan)' (Al-Isrâ': 49).

Disbelievers doubted resurrection after being reduced to dust.

Rot / Decomposition in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Surah Al-Isra : 49 Meccan

﴿وَقَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمًا وَرُفَٰتًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا﴾

And they say, "When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected as a new creation?"

Surah Al-Isra : 98 Meccan

﴿ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَقَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمًا وَرُفَٰتًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا﴾

That is their recompense because they disbelieved in Our verses and said, "When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected [in] a new creation?"