What does « To submit / To implore » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To submit / To implore (ضرع) in the Quran, with 8 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

ضرع

To submit / To implore

Root: ض - ر - ع

Creed (aqida) 8 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of To submit / To implore

Ad-dar': the udder of the camel, sheep and others.

One says: the sheep has milk.

At-tadarru': humility and supplication.

The Almighty says: 'Call upon your Lord in humility' (Al-A'raf 55).

Humility in prayer implies total submission.

To submit / To implore in the Quran (8)

Meccan: 8 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-An'am 3

Al-A'raf 3

Al-Mu'minun 1

Al-Ghashiya 1

Surah Al-An'am : 42 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُم بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ﴾

And We have already sent [messengers] to nations before you, [O Muhammad]; then We seized them with poverty and hardship that perhaps they might humble themselves [to Us].

Surah Al-An'am : 43 Meccan

﴿فَلَوْلَآ إِذْ جَآءَهُم بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُوا۟ وَلَٰكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ﴾

Then why, when Our punishment came to them, did they not humble themselves? But their hearts became hardened, and Satan made attractive to them that which they were doing.

Surah Al-An'am : 63 Meccan

﴿قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُۥ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَّئِنْ أَنجَىٰنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ﴾

Say, "Who rescues you from the darknesses of the land and sea [when] you call upon Him imploring [aloud] and privately, 'If He should save us from this [crisis], we will surely be among the thankful.' "

Surah Al-A'raf : 55 Meccan

﴿ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ﴾

Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.

Surah Al-A'raf : 94 Meccan

﴿وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِىٍّ إِلَّآ أَخَذْنَآ أَهْلَهَا بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ﴾

And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allah].

Surah Al-A'raf : 205 Meccan

﴿وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ ٱلْجَهْرِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْءَاصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْغَٰفِلِينَ﴾

And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 76 Meccan

﴿وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَٰهُم بِٱلْعَذَابِ فَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ﴾

And We had gripped them with suffering [as a warning], but they did not yield to their Lord, nor did they humbly supplicate, [and will continue thus]

Surah Al-Ghashiya : 6 Meccan

﴿لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍ﴾

For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant