What does « Weakness / Ineptitude » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Weakness / Ineptitude (رعن) 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.

رعن

Weakness / Ineptitude

Root: ر - ع - ن

Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Weakness / Ineptitude

Allah says: 'Do not say 'râ'inâ'' (Al-Baqara: 104).

This word meant 'look at us' but Jews distorted it to insult the Prophet ﷺ.

Believers were ordered to say 'unzurnâ' instead.

Weakness / Ineptitude in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

An-Nisa 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 104 Medinan

﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقُولُوا۟ رَٰعِنَا وَقُولُوا۟ ٱنظُرْنَا وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ﴾

O you who have believed, say not [to Allah 's Messenger], "Ra'ina" but say, "Unthurna" and listen. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.

Surah An-Nisa : 46 Medinan

﴿مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍۢ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًۭا فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًۭا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا﴾

Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] usages and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Ra'ina," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.