Discover the meaning of the term Al-rḍa (رضا) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readThe joy of the heart in the face of bitter decrees.
Linguistically: verbal noun of the verb radiya yarda - rida - with a kasrah or a damma on the ra, as well as ridwanan - with a kasrah and a damma. It is thus said: "radiytu al-shay'a, wa radiytu 'anhu, wa 'alayhi, wa bihi, wa istardahu": he sought His pleasure. It has the meaning of: the joy of the heart and the cheerfulness of the soul, and it is the opposite of wrath and aversion. Al-rida - with an elongated alif -: is a verbal noun according to al-Akhfash, and the verbal noun of the active participle radi, in the sense of mutual action according to others, thus having the meaning of: mutual satisfaction and agreement. And ardhahu: he gave him what pleases him. Al-taradi: verbal noun of the verb tarada, and its primary meaning implies participation, as al-Qurtubi mentioned regarding His exalted statement: ﴿Except if it be a trade by mutual consent from you﴾.
The cheerfulness of the soul regarding what befalls it and what escapes it, while maintaining no alteration in the divine choice.