What does « Nāʾ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Nāʾ (ناء) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

ناء

Nāʾ

Root: ن

Quranic language 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Nāʾ

An-Naw' refers to rising with difficulty under a weight.

The Almighty says: 'Whose keys would burden a band of strong men' (Al-Qasas 76).

Nā'a bi-l-ḥaml means to rise with difficulty bearing the burden.

Nāʾ in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 3 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-An'am 1

Al-Isra 1

Fussilat 1

Surah Al-An'am : 26 Meccan

﴿وَهُمْ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَيَنْـَٔوْنَ عَنْهُ ۖ وَإِن يُهْلِكُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ﴾

And they prevent [others] from him and are [themselves] remote from him. And they do not destroy except themselves, but they perceive [it] not.

Surah Al-Isra : 83 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ ۖ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ كَانَ يَـُٔوسًۭا﴾

And when We bestow favor upon the disbeliever, he turns away and distances himself; and when evil touches him, he is ever despairing.

Surah Fussilat : 51 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَذُو دُعَآءٍ عَرِيضٍۢ﴾

And when We bestow favor upon man, he turns away and distances himself; but when evil touches him, then he is full of extensive supplication.

Words from the same root as Nāʾ

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Sat 1 Rabi' al-Awwal
السبت 1 ربيع الأول

What does « Nāʾ » mean in the Quran?

Definition of Nāʾ

Nāʾ in the Quran (3)

Words from the same root as Nāʾ

What does « Nāʾ » mean in the Quran?