What does « Khḍaʿ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Khḍaʿ (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
Khḍaʿ
Root: خ - ض - ع
Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Khḍaʿ

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.

Khḍaʿ 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.

Words from the same root as Khḍaʿ

بخع
Bakhʿ
بضع
Baḍʿ
بعض
Baʿḍ
خدع
Khdaʿ
خشع
Khashiʿa
خضد
Khaḍd
خضر
Khuḍr
خفض
Khafḍ

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Mon 21 Jumada al-Awwal
الاثنين 21 جمادى الأولى
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إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ