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Word Analysis & Comparison
13. Surah • 33. Verse
Word Analysis
أَفَمَنْ
afaman
Is then He Who
هُوَ
huwa
(He)
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
of
بِمَا
bimā
for what
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
to Allah
أَمْ
am
Or
بِمَا
bimā
of what
لَا
lā
not
فِى
fī
in
أَم
am
or
مِّنَ
mina
of
بَلْ
bal
Nay
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
to those who
عَنِ
ʿani
from
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah lets go astray
فَمَا
famā
then not
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
مِنْ
min
any
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
Is there any equal to the One who controls every single soul? Yet, they set up idols to rival GOD. Say, "Name them. Are you informing Him of something on earth that He does not know? Or, are you fabricating empty statements?" Indeed, the schemes of those who disbelieve have been adorned in their eyes. They are thus diverted from the right path. Whomever GOD sends astray can never find a guiding teacher.
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
It is He who is standing upon every soul for what it has earned; yet they set up partners with God. Say: "Name them?" Or are you informing Him of what He does not know on the earth or is it just a show of words? Indeed, to the rejecters, their scheming is made to appear pleasing, and they are repelled from the path. And whoever God misguides will have no guide.
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
Who is the One standing over every person for what it has earned? Yet they make partners with God. Say, "Name them? Or are you informing Him of what He does not know on earth? Or is it just a show of words?" But to the ingrates, their scheming is made to appear clever, and they are turned away from the path. Whoever God misguides will have no guide.
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
Is it, then, in regard to Him Who watches over the deeds of every person[1] that they are acting blasphemously by setting up His associates? Tell them: "Name those associates (if Allah Himself has made them His associates)! Or are you informing Allah of something the existence of which He does not even know?" Or do people arbitrarily utter empty words?[2] Indeed, their foul contriving[3] has been made to seem fair to the unbelievers and they have been barred from finding the Right Way.[4] Whomsoever Allah lets go astray will have none to guide him.
1
That is, they are so audacious that they set up partners with Allah Whose knowledge is All-Comprehensive and Who is aware of even the minutest details of the good and bad actions of each individual.
2
These are the audacious things they do. They ascribe partners and equals to Him. They believe that some of His creatures are a part and parcel of His Being, and have attributes and rights like Him. They presume that they shall not be called to account for whatever they do, even though they live in His kingdom.
3
That is, you give empty names to the partners you ascribe to Him for you have no real knowledge about them. For you could get this knowledge only in one of the three following ways.
4
First, you might have received some authentic information that Allah had made such and such people as His partners in His attributes, powers and rights. If it is so, let us also know their names and the source of your information.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
Is then He who standeth over every soul (and knoweth) all that it doth, (like any others)? And yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say: "But name them! is it that ye will inform Him of something he knoweth not on earth, or is it (just) a show of words?" Nay! to those who believe not, their pretence seems pleasing, but they are kept back (thereby) from the path. And those whom Allah leaves to stray, no one can guide.
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
Is then He (Allâh) Who takes charge (guards, maintains, provides) of every person and knows all that he has earned (like any other deities who know nothing)? Yet, they ascribe partners to Allâh. Say: "Name them! Is it that you will inform Him of something He knows not in the earth or is it (just) a show of false words." Nay! To those who disbelieved, their plotting is made fairseeming, and they have been hindered from the Right Path; and whom Allâh sends astray, for him there is no guide.
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
Is He who stands over every soul marking its action [in need of any partner]? Yet they ascribe partners to God. Say, ‘Name them,’ or, ‘Can you tell Him about something on the earth He does not know to exist, or is this just a display of words?’ But the things they devise are made alluring to the disbelievers and they are barred from the [right] path: no one can guide those God leaves to stray.
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
Is then He, who is watchful over everyone and over whatever he does, (equal to their false deities?) Still they have made partners with Allah. Say, "Give their names. Is it that you are informing Him of something on earth He does not know, or of just empty words?" But, their ill- designs have been made alluring for the disbelievers, and they have been barred from the Path. And for the one whom Allah deprives of guidance, there is no one to guide.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
Is He Who is aware of the deserts of every soul (as he who is aware of nothing)? Yet they ascribe unto Allah partners. Say: Name them. Is it that ye would inform Him of something which He knoweth not in the earth? Or is it but a way of speaking? Nay but their contrivance is made seeming fair for those who disbelieve and they are kept from the right road. He whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
Is ˹there any equal to˺ the Vigilant One Who knows what every soul commits? Yet the pagans have associated others with Allah ˹in worship˺. Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ "Name them! Or do you ˹mean to˺ inform Him of something He does not know on the earth? Or are these ˹gods˺ just empty words?" In fact, the disbelievers’ falsehood has been made so appealing to them that they have been turned away from the Path. And whoever Allah leaves to stray will be left with no guide.
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
What then of Him who is standing over every self seeing everything it does? Yet still they associate others with Allah! Say: ‘Name them! Or would you inform Him of something in the earth He does not know, or are they words which are simply guesswork on your part?’ However, the plotting of those who are kafir seems good to them and they bar the way. Anyone misguided by Allah has no guide.
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
Who is it therefore that standeth over every soul, to observe that which it committeth? They attribute companions unto God. Say, name them: Will ye declare unto Him that which He knoweth not in the earth? Or will ye name them in outward speech only? But the deceitful procedure of the infidels was prepared for them; and they are turned aside from the right path: For he whom God shall cause to err, shall have no director.
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
How shall He Who stands (watchful) over each and every soul as to what it accomplishes (let them go unpunished inspite of His knowledge)? And yet they ascribe to Allâh several partners. Say, `(Would) you name their attributes; and would you inform Him of something important which is on the earth but unknown to Him, or are these merely empty (and false) words?' Nay, the fact of the matter is that their designing and their activities are made fair-seeming to the disbelievers (by satan), and they have been barred from the (right) path. And he whom Allâh forsakes has no guide.
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
Is He who stands over every soul, aware of what it has earned (like others)? And yet they join partners with Allah! Say, "Name (describe) them; can you inform Him of what He does not know in the earth? Or is it for their name's sake only (that you call upon them) (Is it merely a way of speaking)? Nay, but their stratagem is made seemly to those who disbelieve, and they turn folks from the path of Allah! But whomsoever Allah does lead astray, no guide has he. "
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
So, is He Who is Ever Upright over every self for what it has earned (as any other)? And they have made up for Allah associates. Say, "Name them! Or even will you (really) inform Him of what He does not know in the earth? Or even in outward speech? No indeed, but adorned (i.e., made attractive) for the ones who have disbelieved is their scheming, (and) they are barred from the way; and whomever Allah leads into error, then in no way has he any guide."
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
Shall He who is standing over every soul (to note) what it has earned -? And they join partners with God! Say, 'Name them; can ye inform Him of what He does not know in the earth? or is it for name's sake only (that ye call upon them)? 'Nay, then, stratagem is made seemly to those who misbelieve, and they turn folks from the path of God! But whomsoever God doth lead astray, no guide has he. '
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
Is He who sustains every soul in spite of what it earns [comparable to the idols]? And yet they ascribe partners to Allah! Say, ‘Name them!’ Will you inform Him of something He does not know about on the earth, or of [what are] mere words? Rather their scheming is presented as decorous to the faithless, and they have been barred from the [right] way; and whomever Allah leads astray, has no guide.
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
What, He who stands over every soul for what it has earned? -- And yet they ascribe to God associates. Say: 'Name them! Or will you tell Him what He knows not in the earth? Or in apparent words?' Nay; but decked out fair to the unbelievers is their devising, and they are barred from the way; and whomsoever God leads astray, no guide has he.
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
They set up equals to the Lord, while He is the Only One Who is in control of every single soul. Ask them to name their adopted lords; then say: "Are you informing the Lord of something on earth that He does not know about? Is it not true that these gods of your are simply fabricated by you and that what you are saying are simply phrases void of meaning?" Their passionate defense of their religion has made the falsehood so appealing in their eyes that they are diverted from the right path. The fact of the matter is, no one can guide the one that God sends to the wrong path.
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
Who is it who stands (watch) over every soul for what it does? Yet they ascribe compeers to God. Say: "Then name them. Or are you announcing to God what He does not know on the earth? Or is it only empty talk? In fact, the unbelievers' plots are made to look attractive to them, so that they are held back from the right path. Whosoever God allows to go astray has none to show him the way.
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
IS, THEN, HE who has every living being in His almighty care, [dealing with each] according to what it deserves -[is, then, He like anything else that exists]? And yet, they ascribe to other beings a share in God's divinity! Say: "Give them any name [you please]: but do you [really think that you could] inform Him of anything on earth that He does not know-or [do you] but play with words?, Nay, goodly seems their false imagery to those who are bent on denying the truth, and so they are turned away from the [right] path: and he whom God lets go astray can never find any guide.
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
Does he who stands guard over every soul, and His sentinel angels record every deed that is done or in the making or suggested secretly to the mind and to whose knowledge everything comes instantaneously, compare with a false object of worship or a helpless creature or dumb idols whom they called holy gods! Yet they still incorporate with Allah other deities. Say to them: "Name them; or do you inform Allah of objects on earth He has no knowledge of! the fact is that the infidels' intrigues and cunning allured them to brighter worlds and led them, under the vexations of their minds, to a path other than that of righteousness. And he whom Allah misguides shall find no one to guide him thereto.
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
The One who is standing over every soul for what it has earned; yet they make partners with God. Say: "Name them, or are you informing Him of what He does not know on Earth or is it just a show of words" But to the rejecters, their scheming is made to appear clever, and they are turned away from the path. And whoever God misguides will have no guide.
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
Then, is He Who stands over every soul (and knows) all that it does, (same as others)? And yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say: "But name them! Is it that you will tell Him of something He does not know on earth, or is it (just) a show of words?" And moreover! To those who do not believe, their action seems pleasing, but they are kept away (with it) from the Path (of righteousness). And those whom Allah leaves to wander, no one can guide.
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
Then is He who is a maintainer of every soul, [knowing] what it has earned, [like any other]? But to Allah they have attributed partners. Say, "Name them. Or do you inform Him of that which He knows not upon the earth or of what is apparent of speech?" Rather, their [own] plan has been made attractive to those who disbelieve, and they have been averted from the way. And whomever Allah leaves astray - there will be for him no guide.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
Is there anyone equal to the One Who watches minutely over every being and knows all that it does? Yet, they set up idols to rival Allah. Say, "Name them! Are you educating Him about something on earth that He doesn't know? Or, do you merely utter empty words?" Nay, what they contrive, seems fair to the rejecters of the Truth, for they have been hindered (by their own fault) from the Way. Whoever goes astray for violating the Divine Laws of Guidance, for him there is no guide. (4:88).
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
Is then He who stands over every soul for what it earns[...]? But they have made for God partners. Say thou: “Name them: — if you would inform Him of what He knows not in the earth; or if it is a show of speaking.” The truth is: their scheme has been made fair to those who ignore warning, and they have been turned away from the path; and whom God sends astray, for him there is no guide;