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Word Analysis & Comparison
27. Surah • 20. Verse
Word Analysis
مَا
mā
Why
لِىَ
liya
Why
لَآ
lā
not
أَمْ
am
or
مِنَ
mina
from
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
He inspected the birds, and noted: "Why do I not see the hoopoe? Why is he missing?
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
And he inspected the birds, then said: "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent?"
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
He inspected the birds, then said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent?"
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
Solomon inspected the birds and said, ‘Why do I not see the hoopoe? Is he absent?
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
He inspected the birds, and said: "What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
And he sought among the birds and said: How is it that I see not the hoopoe, or is he among the absent?
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
(On another occasion) Solomon inspected the birds[1] and said: "Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Is he among the absentees?
1
That is, the birds whose troops, as mentioned above, were included in the armies of Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) like the troops of the men and jinns. It is just possible that the Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) had employed them for communicating messages, hunting and performing other such services.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
And (once) he (Sulaimān) checked the birds and said, "How is it with me that I do not see the hudhud (hoopoe)? Rather he has disappeared.
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
˹One day˺ he inspected the birds, and wondered, "Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent?
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
He inspected the birds and said, ‘How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is it absent without leave?
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
And he reviewed the birds, and said, 'How is it I see not the hoopoe? is he then amongst the absent?
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
Once he summoned all birds in his army. When he took the attendance, he realized that the Hoopoe was absent.
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
And he (Solomon) smiled, laughing at her speech, and said, "O Lord! Excite (cause) me to be thankful for Thy favour, wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and to do righteousness which may please Thee; and include me by Thy Grace amongst Thy righteous servants!"
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
[One day] he reviewed the birds, and said, ‘Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is he absent?’
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
And (once) he reviewed the birds and the (cavalry of) swift running horses and said, `How is it that I do not see (my officer named) Hudhud? Is he deliberately absent?
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
And he reviewed the birds; then he said, 'How is it with me, that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent?
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
And he viewed the birds, and said, what is the reason that I see not the lapwing? Is she absent?
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
And he reviewed the birds; then he said, "what is it with me that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent?
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
When he reviewed the Tair, he said: "How is it I do not see Hud-hud? Is he absent?
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
And he inspected the birds and took a muster of them, only to find one missing, he said: "Why do I not see the hoopoe or has he been among the absentees!" (A bird of the family upupidae especially the typical upupa epops, conspicuous by its variegated plumage and large erectile crest).
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
And [one day] he looked in vain for [a particular one of] the birds; and so he said: How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or could he be among the absent?
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
And he inspected the birds, then said: "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent"
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
(Leaving the peaceful tribe of An-Naml alone, Solomon marched forward. ) As he examined the cavalry, he said, "How is it that I do not see the commander
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
And he took a troop of the birds, and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? (A bird with feathers like a crown on its head ) or is he from those absent?
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
And he inspected the birds, and said: “How is it with me that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent?