What does « To run / To gallop » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To run / To gallop (ركض) 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.

ركض

To run / To gallop

Root: ر - ك - ض

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To run / To gallop

Al-rakd: striking with foot.

When attributed to horse, it's running.

When to rider, it's making horse run.

Allah says: 'This is not the time to flee (mâ rakd)' (Sâd: 3).

On Judgment Day, no flight is possible.

To run / To gallop in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Anbiya 2

Sad 1

Surah Al-Anbiya : 12 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّآ أَحَسُّوا۟ بَأْسَنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ﴾

And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it.

Surah Al-Anbiya : 13 Meccan

﴿لَا تَرْكُضُوا۟ وَٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَآ أُتْرِفْتُمْ فِيهِ وَمَسَٰكِنِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْـَٔلُونَ﴾

[Some angels said], "Do not flee but return to where you were given luxury and to your homes - perhaps you will be questioned."

Surah Sad : 42 Meccan

﴿ٱرْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌۢ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ﴾

[So he was told], "Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for] a cool bath and drink."

Words from the same root as To run / To gallop

To abandon / To leave

حرض

To incite / To arouse

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم