What does « To spy on / To watch » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To spy on / To watch (رصد) in the Quran, with 6 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

رصد

To spy on / To watch

Root: ر - ص - د

Creed (aqida) 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of To spy on / To watch

Al-rasad: preparation to watch.

One says 'rasada lahu' (he watched for him).

Allah says: 'Indeed your Lord is in observation (la-bi-l-mirsâd)' (Al-Fajr: 14).

Allah observes and awaits people's actions to reward them.

To spy on / To watch in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

At-Tawba 2

Al-Jinn 2

An-Naba 1

Al-Fajr 1

Surah At-Tawba : 5 Medinan

﴿فَإِذَا ٱنسَلَخَ ٱلْأَشْهُرُ ٱلْحُرُمُ فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَخَلُّوا۟ سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾

And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Surah At-Tawba : 107 Medinan

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًۢا بَيْنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَآ إِلَّا ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَٰذِبُونَ﴾

And [there are] those [hypocrites] who took for themselves a mosque for causing harm and disbelief and division among the believers and as a station for whoever had warred against Allah and His Messenger before. And they will surely swear, "We intended only the best." And Allah testifies that indeed they are liars.

Surah Al-Jinn : 9 Meccan

﴿وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَٰعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ فَمَن يَسْتَمِعِ ٱلْءَانَ يَجِدْ لَهُۥ شِهَابًا رَّصَدًا﴾

And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.

Surah Al-Jinn : 27 Meccan

﴿إِلَّا مَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَسْلُكُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ رَصَدًا﴾

Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before each messenger and behind him observers

Surah An-Naba : 21 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتْ مِرْصَادًا﴾

Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait

Surah Al-Fajr : 14 Meccan

﴿إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِٱلْمِرْصَادِ﴾

Indeed, your Lord is in observation.