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Word Analysis & Comparison
27. Surah • 42. Verse
Word Analysis
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
أَهَـٰكَذَا
ahākadhā
Is like this
كَأَنَّهُۥ
ka-annahu
It is like
هُوَ ۚ
huwa
it
مِن
min
before her
Rashad Khalifa
The Final Testament
When she arrived, she was asked, "Does your mansion look like this?" She said, "It seems that this is it." (Solomon said,) "We knew beforehand what she was going to do, and we were already submitters."
The Monotheist Group
The Quran: A Monotheist Translation
So when she came, it was said: "Is your throne like this?" She said: "It appears to be similar." "And we were given knowledge before her, and we had submitted."
Edip-Layth
Quran: A Reformist Translation
So when she came, it was said, "Is your throne like this?" She said, "It appears to be similar." We were given knowledge before her, and we had peacefully surrendered.
Al-Hilali & Khan
Holy Quran Translation
So when she came, it was said (to her): "Is your throne like this?" She said: "(It is) as though it were the very same." And [Sulaimân (Solomon) said]: "Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we were submitted to Allâh (in Islâm as Muslims before her)."
Marmaduke Pickthall
Holy Quran Translation
So, when she came, it was said (unto her): Is thy throne like this? She said: (It is) as though it were the very one. And (Solomon said): We were given the knowledge before her and we had surrendered (to Allah).
Abdul Haleem
Holy Quran Translation
When she arrived, she was asked, ‘Is this your throne?’ She replied, ‘It looks like it.’ [Solomon said], ‘We were given knowledge before her, and we devoted ourselves to God;
Abul A'la Maududi
Tafhim commentary
When the Queen arrived, she was asked: "Is your throne like this one?" She said: "It seems as if it is the same.[1] We had already come to know this and we had submitted ourselves."[2]
2
That is, "Even before we saw this miracle, we had been convinced by what we had heard of Solomon (peace be upon him) that he was a Prophet of Allah, and not merely a ruler of a kingdom." After seeing the throne and saying, “(It is) as though it were the very one”, what could be the relevance of adding this sentence if it is supposed that the Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) had gotten a throne manufactured and set the same before her? Even if it is assumed that no effort was spared to have a throne manufactured closely resembling that of queen’s throne, what could have made a sun-worshiping queen exclaim “We had already known this and we had become Muslims!”
1
This also refutes the speculations of those people who depict the event in a manner as though the Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) wanted to have a throne made for the queen and for this purpose he invited tenders and a strong robust artisan offered to make him a throne in the matter of a few hours, but an expert craftsman submitted that he could make and produce it in no time. This whole guess-work is destroyed by the tact that Solomon (peace be upon him) himself ordered the throne to be fetched before him (Ayat 38), and when it had been fetched, ordered his servants to set it before the queen casually (Ayat 41), and then when she arrived, she was asked whether her throne was like that (Ayat 42), and she answered, "(It is) as though it were the very one." Obviously, there could he no room for the absurd interpretations in the face of such a clear statement of facts. If there is still any doubt left, it can be satisfied by the next sentence.
Mustafa Khattab
The Clear Quran
So when she arrived, it was said ˹to her˺, "Is your throne like this?" She replied, “It looks to be the same. We have ˹already˺ received knowledge ˹of Solomon’s prophethood˺[1] before this ˹miracle˺,[2] and have submitted ˹to Allah˺.”
Taqi Usmani
Holy Quran Translation
So when she came, it was said (to her), "Is your throne like this?" She said, “It seems to be the same. We have been made to recognize the truth even before this, and we have already submitted.”
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Holy Quran Translation
So when she arrived, she was asked, "Is this thy throne?" She said, "It was just like this; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah (in Islam)."
Aisha Bewley
Holy Quran Translation
Then when she came, she was asked, ‘Is your throne like this?’ She said, ‘It is exactly like it. ’ ‘We were given knowledge before her and were already Muslims,
Hamid S. Aziz
Holy Quran Translation
Said he, "Disguise for her throne; let us see whether she is guided, or whether she is of those who receive no guidance. "
Mahmoud Ghali
Holy Quran Translation
So, as soon as she came, it was said, "Is your throne just like this?" She said, " (It is) as though it were the (very) one. " And (Sulayman) (Solomon) said, "We were brought the knowledge before her, and we were Muslims." (i.e., we surrendered "to Allah").
E. Henry Palmer
Holy Quran Translation
And when she came it was said, 'Was thy throne like this?' She said, 'It might be it;' and we were given knowledge before her, but we were resigned.
Amatul Rahman Omar
Holy Quran Translation
When she came (to Solomon) it was said to her, `Is your throne like this?' She said, `It is as though it were much the same. We had been given the knowledge (about your excellence and perfection) before this and we have already surrendered in submission (to you).'
Arthur John Arberry
Holy Quran Translation
So, when she came, it was said, 'Is thy throne like this?' She said, 'It seems the same. ' 'And we were given the knowledge before her, and we were in surrender,
Bijan Moeinian
Holy Quran Translation
When the Queen arrived, Solomon asked: "Does this [throne] look like yours?" She said: “It is just the same. ” I had already known this [that Solomon is a Prophet of God and not a simple king] and had tendency to surrender myself [to the will of God and became a believer.]
George Sale
Holy Quran Translation
And when she was come unto Solomon, it was said unto her, is thy throne like this? She answered, as though it were the same. And we have had knowledge bestowed on us before this, and have been resigned unto God.
Ali Quli Qarai
Holy Quran Translation
So when she came, it was said [to her], ‘Is your throne like this one?’ She said, ‘It seems to be the same, and we were informed before it, and we had submitted. ’
Mohamed Ahmed - Samira
Holy Quran Translation
When she arrived, they asked her: "Is your throne like this?" She said: "As though this is it. We had come to have knowledge and already submitted."
Abdel Khalek Himmat
Al- Muntakhab
And when she arrived -and was welcomed by Sulayman- she was asked: "Does your throne look like this!" "It certainly looks, " she said, "as if it were it" "And with Allah's mercy and grace", said Sulayman to his retinue, "we were given the divine knowledge which is the spirit of truth guiding us into all truth long before her and by consequence we conformed to Allah's system of faith and worship, we conformed to Islam"
Muhammad Asad
Holy Quran Translation
And so, as soon as she arrived, she was asked: "Is thy throne like this?" She answered: “It is as though it were the same!” [And Solomon said to his nobles: “She has arrived at the truth without any help from us,] although it is we who have been given [divine] knowledge before her, and have [long ago] surrendered ourselves unto God!
Progressive Muslims
Holy Quran Translation
So when she came, it was said: "Is your throne like this" She said: "It appears to be similar. " And we were given knowledge before her, and we had surrendered.
Shabbir Ahmed
Holy Quran Translation
So, when she came, she was asked, "Is your throne like this?" She said, "It seems that this is it! We already knew that the Truth is on your side and my chiefs and I have surrendered to it. " (The previous knowledge about Solomon's character and Kingdom, the distinguished letters he wrote to her and reports by her envoys, and now his superb court had convinced the intelligent and open-minded Queen).
Syed Vickar Ahamed
Holy Quran Translation
So when she arrived, she was asked, "Is your throne like this?" She said; "(It is) as if it was just the same;" He said: "Knowledge was bestowed to us before her, and we have submitted to Allah (in Islam). "
Sahih International
(Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)
So when she arrived, it was said [to her], "Is your throne like this?" She said, "[It is] as though it was it. " [Solomon said], "And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allah ].
Sam Gerrans
The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation
And when she came, it was said: “Is thy throne like this?” She said: “As though the same.”) “And we were given knowledge before her; and we were submitting.