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Word Analysis & Comparison
23. Surah • 18. Verse
Word Analysis
مِنَ
mina
from
فِى
fī
in
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
And indeed, We
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
بِهِۦ
bihi
taking it away
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
We send down from the sky water, in exact measure, then we store it in the ground. Certainly, we can let it escape.
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
AndWe sent down from the sky water in due measure, then We let it reside in the land, and We are capable of taking it away.
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
We sent down from the sky water in due measure, then We let it reside in the land, and We are capable of taking it away.
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
We sent down water from the sky in right measure, and caused it to stay in the earth,[1] and We have the power to cause it to vanish[2] (in the manner We please).
1
The water may refer to the rainfall, which comes down every now and then. It may also refer to the great store of water which Allah sent down at the time of the creation of the earth to fulfill its various needs till the Last Day, and which still exists in the shape of seas, lakes, sub-soil water, etc. It is the same water which evaporates in summer and freezes in winter and is carried by winds from place to place and spread over the earth by rivers, springs and wells to cause the growth of multitudes of things, and then is again restored to the seas, lakes, etc. Neither has this store of water been decreased by a drop nor was there any need to increase it by a drop since its creation. Today it is too well known how water comes about by the combination of oxygen and hydrogen in a certain ratio. The question is why can’t more water be produced when oxygen and hydrogen still exist in abundance in the world? Who caused them to combine in the proper ratio in the beginning to produce oceans of water and who now stops them from coming together to produce an extra drop? Then when water evaporates, who causes oxygen and hydrogen to remain combined in water vapors even in the gaseous state. Do the atheists and polytheists, who believe in independent deities for water, air, summer and winter, have any answer to this question?
2
This is to warn that Allah is able to take away the water if He so wills, and deprive the world of its most important means of life. Thus, this verse is more comprehensive in meaning than (verse 30 of Surah Al-Mulk): Ask them, have you ever considered that if the water of your wells should sink down into the earth, who would then restore to you running springs of water?
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
And We send down water from the sky according to (due) measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to drain it off (with ease).
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
And We sent down water from the sky in due measure, then We lodged it in the earth, and of course, We are able to take it away.
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
We sent water down from the sky in due measure and lodged it in the earth––We have the power to take it all away if We so wish––
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
And we send down from the sky water in measure, and We give it lodging in the earth, and lo! We are Able to withdraw it.
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
And We sent down from the sky water (rain) in (due) measure, and We gave it lodging in the earth, and verily, We are Able to take it away.
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
We send down rain from the sky in perfect measure, causing it to soak into the earth. And We are surely able to take it away.
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
And We sent down out of heaven water in measure and lodged it in the earth; and We are able to take it away.
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
And We have sent down from the heaven water in a determined estimate, then We made it to dwell in the earth; and surely We are indeed (the) Determiners over putting it away.
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
We sent down a measured amount of water from heaven and lodged it firmly in the earth; and We are well able to remove it.
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
And we send down from the heaven water by measure, and we make it rest in the earth; but, verily, we are able to take it away;
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
And We send down water out of the cloud according to (a certain) measure and We lodge it in the earth (as long as it is required), and remember, surely it is We who determine its taking away (through the process of evaporation and many more),
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
I send down water from the sky in exact measure. Then I let it stay on earth (in Aquifer.) Be careful (and do not provoke My anger) as I am capable of letting it escape (and then, even with an advanced technology you will become miserable.)
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
And We have created above you seven paths; and We are never heedless of creation.
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
We sent down water from the sky in a measured manner, and We lodged it within the ground, and We are indeed able to take it away.
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
And We send down rain from heaven, by measure; and We cause it to remain on the earth: We are also certainly able to deprive you of the same.
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
We send down water from the sky in determined measure, and store it up in the earth; and We have power to drain it away.
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
And We send down water from the skies in accordance with a measure [set by Us], and then We cause it to lodge in the earth: but, behold, We are most certainly able to withdraw this [blessing]!
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
And We sent down from the floor of the vault of heaven rain water in due measure and We settled it on the planet earth partly without and partly within - enough to effect the necessary equilibrium, between the opposing forces of land and water, between cloud formation and fresh water in rivers and lakes maintaining life, between the clouds and the water deposited underground- and We are certainly able to make it vanish.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
And We send down from the sky water in due measure, and We lodge it in the earth. But, behold, We are Able to withdraw it.
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
And We have sent down rain from the sky in a measured amount and settled it in the earth. And indeed, We are Able to take it away.
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
And We sent down from the sky water in due measure, then We let it reside in the land, and We are capable of taking it away.
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
And We send down water from the sky in (proper) quantity, and We make it sink (deep) in the soil; And truly We are able to drain it off.
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
And We sent down from the sky water in measure, and gave it lodging in the earth — and We are able to take it away —