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

Discover the meaning of the word To submit / To humble oneself (خضع) 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.

خضع

To submit / To humble oneself

Root: خ - ض - ع

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of To submit / To humble oneself

Allah says: 'Do not be soft (lâ takhda'na) in speech' (Al-Ahzâb: 32).

Al-khudû': submission, softness in voice.

The verse forbids the Prophet's ﷺ wives seductive softness in speech.

To submit / To humble oneself in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 1

Distribution of verses by surah

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Al-Ahzab 1

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 4 Meccan

﴿إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ءَايَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَٰقُهُمْ لَهَا خَٰضِعِينَ﴾

If We willed, We could send down to them from the sky a sign for which their necks would remain humbled.

Surah Al-Ahzab : 32 Medinan

﴿يَٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِنِ ٱتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ ٱلَّذِى فِى قَلْبِهِۦ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا﴾

O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.