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Word Analysis & Comparison
2. Surah • 26. Verse
Word Analysis
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
(is) not
أَن
an
to
مَّا
mā
(like) even
فَمَا
famā
and (even) something
فَأَمَّا
fa-ammā
Then as for
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
أَنَّهُ
annahu
that it
مِن
min
from
وَأَمَّا
wa-ammā
And as for
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
مَاذَآ
mādhā
what
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِهَـٰذَا
bihādhā
by this
بِهِۦ
bihi
by it
بِهِۦ
bihi
by it
وَمَا
wamā
And not
بِهِۦٓ
bihi
by it
إِلَّا
illā
except
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
GOD does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory , from the tiny mosquito and greater. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did GOD mean by such an allegory?" He misleads many thereby, and guides many thereby. But He never misleads thereby except the wicked,
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
God does not shy away from putting forth the example of a mosquito, or anything above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for the rejecters, they say: "What does God intend with this example?" He strays many by it, and He guides many by it; but He only strays by it the wicked.
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
God does not shy away from citing the example of a mosquito, or anything above it. As for those who acknowledge, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for the unappreciative, they say, "What does God want with this example?" He lets many stray by it, and He guides many, but He only lets stray the evildoers.
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
Surely Allah does not shy away from using the parable of a mosquito or what is even smaller. As for the believers, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. And as for the disbelievers, they argue, "What does Allah mean by such a parable?" Through this ˹test˺, He leaves many to stray, and guides many. And He leaves none to stray except the rebellious—
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
Lo! Allah disdaineth not to coin the similitude even of a gnat. Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those who disbelieve say: What doth Allah wish (to teach) by such a similitude? He misleadeth many thereby, and He guideth many thereby; and He misleadeth thereby only miscreants;
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
Behold! Allah is not ashamed to propound the parable of a gnat, or even of something more lowly.[1] On hearing these parables the believers know that it is the truth from their Lord, while those bent on denying the Truth say: "What does Allah mean by these parables?" Thus He causes many to go astray just as He directs many to the Right Way.[2] And He thereby causes to go astray only the transgressors,[3]
1
Here an objection is indirectly refuted. At several places in the Qur'an, spiders, flies, gnats and so on are mentioned in order to elucidate certain points. Opponents objected to this on the grounds that such objects were too lowly to find a place in the Book of God. They indicated that had the Qur'an indeed been a revelation from God it would not have mentioned such trivial objects.
2
Those who do not wish to understand things and are not motivated by the urge to seek the truth become enmeshed in superficial questions relating to the Book of God, draw altogether erroneous conclusions when they encounter references to apparently insignificant things such as gnats, and are thereby thrown further and further away from the Truth. Those who seek the Truth and possess true perception, on the other hand, penetrate through these superficialities and perceive the gems of wisdom that they embody. This appreciation makes their hearts attest that such wisdom could have no other source than God Himself.
3
Fasiq means transgressor, disobedient. See also (n 33 below )
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
Indeed, Allah does not feel shy in citing any parable, be it that of a gnat or of something above it (in meanness). Now, as for those who believe, they know it is the truth from their Lord; while those who disbelieve say, "What could Allah have meant by this parable?" By this He lets many go astray, and by this He makes many find guidance. But He does not let anyone go astray thereby except those who are sinful
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
Verily, Allâh is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or so much more when it is bigger (or less when it is smaller) than it. And as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve, they say: "What did Allâh intend by this parable?" By it He misleads many, and many He guides thereby. And He misleads thereby only those who are Al-Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, disobedient to Allâh[1]).
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
God does not shy from drawing comparisons even with something as small as a gnat, or larger: the believers know it is the truth from their Lord, but the disbelievers say, ‘What does God mean by such a comparison?’ Through it He makes many go astray and leads many to the right path. But it is only the rebels He makes go astray:
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
Allah disdains not to use the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; but those who reject Faith say: "What means Allah by this similitude?" By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray, except those who forsake (the path),-
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
Behold! Allah does not disdain to set forth a similitude even of a gnat, or anything lower or higher; and as for those who believe, they know that it is truth from the Lord; but as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What is it that Allah means by this as a parable? He leads astray many and He guides many;"- but He leads astray only the evildoers;
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
Moreover God will not be ashamed to propound in a parable a gnat, or even a more despicable thing; for they who believe will know it to be the truth from their Lord; but the unbelievers will say, What meaneth God by this parable? He will thereby mislead many, and will direct many thereby: but He will not mislead any thereby, except the transgressors,
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
Indeed Allah is not ashamed to draw a parable whether it is that of a gnat or something above it. As for those who have faith, they know it is the truth from their Lord; and as for the faithless, they say, ‘What did Allah mean by this parable?’ Thereby He leads many astray, and thereby He guides many; and He leads no one astray thereby except the transgressors
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
Why, God is not ashamed to set forth a parable of a gnat, or anything beyond; and as for those who believe, they know that it is truth from the Lord; but as for those who disbelieve, they say, 'What is it that God means by this as a parable? He leads astray many and He guides many;' - but He leads astray only the evildoers;
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
God is not ashamed to strike a similitude even of a gnat, or aught above it. As for the believers, they know it is the truth from their Lord; but as for unbelievers, they say, 'What did God desire by this for a similitude?' Thereby He leads many astray, and thereby He guides many; and thereby He leads none astray save the ungodly
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
Indeed, Allâh does not disdain to cite a parable of (a thing) even (as small as) a gnat or (of something) smaller than that. (Be it as it may) those who have believed know that this is a true (parable) from their Lord. As for those who disbelieve say, `What could Allâh mean by (citing) such a parable?' Many does He adjudge to be erring because of these (parables) and many does He guide through them. Yet it is only the transgressors whom He adjudges to be erring because of them.
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
Surely Allah does not shy from striking a likeness even of a gnat, or anything above it. So for the ones who have believed, (then) they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, and as for the ones who have disbelieved, then they say, "What is it that Allah would (teach) by this for a similitude?"Thereby He leads many into error, and thereby He guides many; and thereby in no way does He lead into error anyone except the immoral. (The ungodly, the depraved)
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
God is definitely not ashamed to refer to a tiny mosquito—or a bigger creature of his own—as an example to make a point. The believers get the message from the example; the unbelievers (on the other hand) will say: "What does God mean by these stupid examples?" Many are misled and many are lead by these examples to the right path; only the wicked ones are misled [as they do not get the message in account of their attitude.]
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
Allah is not ashamed to make an example of a gnat or of an even smaller thing. As for those who have iman, they know it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who are kafir, they say, ‘What does Allah mean by this example?’ He misguides many by it and guides many by it. But He only misguides the deviators.
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
God is not loath to advance the similitude of a gnat or a being more contemptible; and those who believe know whatever is from the Lord is true. But those who disbelieve say: "What does God mean by this parable?" He causes some to err this way, and some He guides; yet He turns away none but those who transgress,
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
Behold, God does not disdain to propound a parable of a gnat, or of something [even] less than that. Now, as for those who have attained to faith, they know that it is the truth from their Sustainer - whereas those who are bent on denying the truth say, "What could God mean by this parable?" In this way does He cause many a one to go astray, just as He guides many a one aright: but none does He cause thereby to go astray save the iniquitous,
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
Allah is by no means reluctant from fear of shame to give an allegory applying creatures as small as a gnat or a larger creature to describe subjects under the guise of some other subject of aptly suggestive resemblance intended to convey a useful lesson by which moral and spiritual relations are typically set forth. As to those whose hearts have been impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues, they know well that the simile narrated by Allah, their Creator, is the truth personified as it illustrates and ennobles the subject. But those who deny Allah wonder to hear Allah talk after this manner and they say: "What does Allah mean by such a parable?" In effect, such parables as Allah discourses are intended to stray the many who counsel deaf to the truth and to guide the many who have clean hearts to the path of righteousness and He misguides only the wicked who confirm themselves in the evil purpose and the ill intention.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
Behold, Allah does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory, even of an insect. (Men and women of intellect know that abstract phenomena are frequently well defined and understood in that manner). Since the believers exercise reason, (they appreciate this beauty of the Divine Wisdom and) they know that it is the Truth from their Lord. On the other hand, those who have chosen to disbelieve, try to ridicule by saying, "What could Allah mean to teach by this similitude?" Thus His Law of guidance lets go astray many and shows the Way to many. (But note) He never lets go astray except those who drift away from Reason.
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
Indeed, Allah is not ashamed to use the similitude of things, even as low as the mosquito as well as the highest. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; But those who reject Faith will say: "What does Allah mean by this similitude?" But He does not cause (people) to lose (their path) except those who give (themselves) up.
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
God does not shy away from citing the example of a mosquito, or anything above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for the rejecters, they Say: "What does God want with this example" He lets many stray by it, and He guides many, but He only lets stray the evildoers.
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allah intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
God is not ashamed to strike a similitude, be it of a gnat or of what is above it. Then as for those who heed warning: they know that it is the truth from their Lord; and as for those who ignore warning: they say: “What means God by this similitude?” He leads astray many thereby, and He guides many thereby; and He leads astray thereby only the perfidious: