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Word Analysis & Comparison
16. Surah • 21. Verse
Word Analysis
وَمَا
wamā
And not
أَيَّانَ
ayyāna
when
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
They are dead, not alive, and they have no idea how or when they will be resurrected.
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
They are dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
They are dead, not alive, and they will not know when they are resurrected.
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
they are dead, not living. They do not even know when they will be resurrected.[1]
1
The words employed here to refute man made deities clearly indicate that these deities were deceased prophets, saints, martyrs and pious and other extraordinary beings buried in their graves and not angels, jinns, devils or idols. For the angels and devils are alive: therefore, the words, "They are dead, not living" cannot apply to them, and it is out of the question to say about idols of stone or wood that “They do not know at all when they shall again be raised to life” in the Hereafter. As regards the objection to this version that there were no such deities in Arabia, this is based on the lack of knowledge of the history of the pre- Islamic period. It is well known that there was a large number of Jews and Christians living among many clans of Arabia, who used to invoke and worship their Prophets, saints, etc. It is also a fact that many gods of the mushriks of Arabia were human beings, whose idols they had set up for worship after their death. According to a tradition cited in Bukhari on the authority of Ibn Abbas: “Wadd, Sua, Yaghuth, Yauq, and Nasr were pious human beings, whom the succeeding generations had made gods.” In another tradition, related by Aishah: “Asaf and Nailah were human beings.” There are also traditions to the same effect about Lat, Munat and Uzza. So much so that according to some traditions of the mushriks, Lat and Uzza were the beloved ones of Allah who used to pass His winter with Lat and summer with Uzza. But Allah is absolutely free from such absurd things they attribute to Him.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
(They are) dead, not living. And they know not when they will be raised.
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
(They are) dead, not alive; and they know not when they will be raised up.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
(They are things) dead, lifeless: nor do they know when they will be raised up.
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
They are dead, not living. They do not know when they will be raised up.
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
they are dead, having no life, and they do not know when they shall be raised again.
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
They are dead, not alive—not even knowing when their followers will be resurrected.
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
They are dead, not alive, and they are not aware of when they will be raised.
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
dead, not alive; and are not aware when they shall be raised.
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
Dead, not living, nor can they perceive! When shall they be raised?
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
Dead, not alive, (i. e. other than being alive) and in no way are they aware whence they will be made to rise again.
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
They are dead, not living, and are not aware when they will be resurrected.
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
They are dead, not alive. And they do not perceive when they shall be raised (to life again).
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
They are dead, and not living; neither do they understand when they shall be raised.
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
Dead, not living, nor can they know when they shall be raised.
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
Such idols are dead. They do not have any spirit. They have no idea when they will be resurrected.
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
Dead, without life they are, and do not know when they will be raised.
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
they are dead, not living, and they do not [even] know when they will be raised from the dead!
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
They are dead, not alive, and they will not know when they are resurrected.
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
Inanimate dumb idols and lifeless objects insensible to feeling and knowing, unaffected by anything specified. They do not perceive resurrection nor when shall their devotees be resurrected.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
(Powerless are the so-called saints, mystics and monks, whom you make holier and holier with the passage of time. ) They are dead, disintegrated bodies, not living. They are not even aware when they will be raised. (And you still call upon them for help!)
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
(They are) dead, lifeless: And they do not know when they will be raised up (themselves).
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
They are, [in fact], dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
Dead, not living; and they perceive not when they will be raised.