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Word Analysis & Comparison
17. Surah • 46. Verse
Word Analysis
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
أَن
an
lest
وَفِىٓ
wafī
and in
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
فِى
fī
in
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
on
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone, they run away in aversion.,
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
And we place shields over their hearts, that they should not understand it, and a deafness in their ears. And if you mention your Lord in the Qur'an alone, they run away turning their backs in aversion.
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
We place shields over their hearts, that they should not understand it, and deafness in their ears. If you mention your Lord in the Quran alone, they run away turning their backs in aversion.
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
and We put covers on their hearts barring them from understanding it, and (We put) deafness in their ears; and when you refer to your Lord alone (without referring to their presumed deities,) in the Qur’ān, they turn their backs in aversion.
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
And We have put coverings over their hearts lest they should understand it (the Qur’ân), and in their ears deafness. And when you make mention of your Lord Alone [Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh) Islâmic Monotheism (توحيد الله)] in the Qur’ân, they turn on their backs, fleeing in extreme dislike.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
And We place upon their hearts veils lest they should understand it, and in their ears a deafness; and when thou makest mention of thy Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn their backs in aversion.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
And We put coverings over their hearts (and minds) lest they should understand the Qur'an, and deafness into their ears: when thou dost commemorate thy Lord and Him alone in the Qur'an, they turn on their backs, fleeing (from the Truth).
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
and We place a covering on their hearts so that they do not comprehend it, and We cause a heaviness in their ears;[1] and when you mention your Lord, the Only True Lord, in the Qur'an, they turn their backs in aversion.[2]
1
This refers to the divine law according to which those people, who do not believe in the Hereafter, cannot benefit from the Quran. Allah has attributed this law to Himself, as if to say: The natural result of disbelief in the Hereafter is that the heart of such a man becomes dull and his ears become deaf to the message of the Quran, for Quran bases its invitation on the belief in the Hereafter. So it warns the people that they should not be deluded by this apparent aspect of the worldly life if there appears to be none to call them to account here; for it does not mean they are not at all accountable and answerable to anyone. Likewise if Allah allows freedom of belief to practice shirk, atheism, disbelief or Tauhid with impunity in this world, and their practice does not appear to make any practical difference in this world, it does not mean that these things do not produce any results at all. For, in fact, everyone shall be accountable and answerable after death in the next world. Then everyone will realize that the doctrine of Tauhid alone is true and all other doctrines are false. For, if at present the consequences of deeds do not appear after death, they shall inevitably appear, but the reality has now been hidden behind an invisible curtain. There is an inevitable moral law according to which submission to it will bear its fruit and disobedience shall incur its losses. As decisions according to this moral law will be made in the Hereafter. You should not be enticed by the charms of this transitory life. You should, therefore, keep in view that ultimately you shall have to render an account of all your deeds in this world before your Lord, and adopt that true creed and moral attitude which may be conducive to your success in the Hereafter.
2
From this it must have become obvious that if a man does not believe in the Hereafter, he will never consider the message of the Quran worth his while but will hanker after this world and its joys which he can feel and experience. Naturally his ears will not listen to the message and it will never reach the depths of his heart. Allah has stated this psychological fact in this verse.
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
We have put covers on their hearts that prevent them from understanding it, and heaviness in their ears. When you mention your Lord in the Quran, and Him alone, they turn their backs and run away.
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
We have cast veils over their hearts—leaving them unable to comprehend it—and deafness in their ears. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Quran, they turn their backs in aversion.
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
We have placed covers on their hearts, preventing them from understanding it, and heaviness in their ears. When you mention your Lord alone in the Qur’an, they turn their backs and run away.
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
and We lay veils upon their hearts lest they understand it, and in their ears heaviness. And when thou mentionest thy Lord only in the Koran, they turn in their traces in aversion.
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
And We make lids upon their hearts so that they could not comprehend it, and (we make) in their ears an obstruction. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn their backs in repulsion.
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
And We cover their hearts with veils and plug their ears with something heavy, lest they should understand it. And when you mention the name of your Lord Who is the Only One, in the Qur'ân, they turn their backs (on it) in aversion.
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
And We place covers upon their heart, lest they should understand it, and deafness in their ears. And when you do mention your Lord alone in the Quran they turn their backs in aversion.
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
and we put coverings over their hearts, lest they should understand it, and in their ears thickness of hearing. And when thou makest mention, in repeating the Koran, of thy Lord only, they turn their backs, flying the doctrine of his unity.
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
I have covered their mind with a shield so that they do not understand and made their ears deaf in order not to hear. Therefore, when you use the Qur’an in your discussion, they turn away, fleeing with disenchantment.
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
and We cast veils on their hearts, lest they should understand it, and a deafness into their ears. When you mention your Lord alone in the Qur’ān, they turn their backs in aversion.
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
And we place covers upon their hearts, lest they should understand, and dulness in their ears. And when thou dost mention in the Qur'an thy Lord by Himself they turn their backs in aversion.
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
And We put covers over their hearts and deafness in their ears that they should not understand it. So when you invoke your Lord alone in the Qur'an they turn their backs and walk away.
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
for, over their hearts We have laid veils which prevent them from grasping its purport, and into their ears, deafness. And so, whenever thou dost mention, while reciting the Qur'an, thy Sustainer as the one and only Divine Being, they turn their backs [upon thee] in aversion.
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
We enshrouded their hearts to preclude them from exercising intellectual power or understanding and struck them deaf so that nothing that engages the intellect would come to their hearing. These are the people whose hearts dare rise defiant against Allah; when you recite the Quran and Allah is mentioned as the sole Omnipotent and Exclusive Authority, they insolently turn their backs upon you with a mental attitude of opposition and repugnance.
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
And we place shields over their hearts, that they should not understand it, and a deafness in their ears. And if you mention your Lord in the Quran alone, they run away turning their backs in aversion.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
It is Allah's Law that people who do not use their faculties, lose them. Their minds, hearts, and ears act impermeable when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur'an. And, they turn their backs in disgust. (They wish to hear about other deities and false 'authorities').
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
And We put coverings over their hearts (and minds) that they may (even) understand the Quran, and (We put) deafness into their ears: When you say the Praise of your Lord (and Him) Alone, in the Quran; They turn their backs, running away (from Truth).
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
And We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn back in aversion.
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
And We have placed upon their hearts coverings lest they should understand it, and in their ears deafness. And when thou rememberest thy Lord alone in the Qur’an, they turn their backs in aversion.