Chapter 16

An Nahl (The Honey Bee)

16.101

surah 16 - verse 101

translator's name verse
Arberry And when We exchange a verse in the place of another verse and God knows very well what He is sending down -- they say, 'Thou art a mere forger!' Nay, but the most of them have no knowledge.
Maududi Whenever We replace one verse by another verse - and Allah knows what He should reveal - they are wont to say: "You are nothing but a fabricator (who has invented the Qur'an)." The fact is that most of them are ignorant of the Truth.
Pickthall And when We put a revelation in place of (another) revelation, - and Allah knoweth best what He revealeth - they say: Lo! thou art but inventing. Most of them know not.
Sahih And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse - and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down - they say, "You, [O Muhammad], are but an inventor [of lies]." But most of them do not know.
Yusuf Ali When We substitute one revelation for another,- and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages),- they say, "Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand not.

16.102

surah 16 - verse 102

translator's name verse
Arberry Say: 'The Holy Spirit sent it down from thy Lord in truth, and to confirm those who believe, and to be a guidance and good tidings to those who surrender.'
Maududi Tell them: "It is the spirit of holiness that has brought it down, by stages, from your Lord so that it might bring firmness to those who believe, and guidance to the Right Way, and give glad tidings of felicity and success to those who submit to Allah."
Pickthall Say: The holy Spirit hath delivered it from thy Lord with truth, that it may confirm (the faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allah).
Sahih Say, [O Muhammad], "The Pure Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."
Yusuf Ali Say, the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims.

16.103

surah 16 - verse 103

translator's name verse
Arberry And We know very well that they say, 'Only a mortal is teaching him.' The speech of him at whom they hint is barbarous; and this is speech Arabic, manifest.
Maududi Surely We know well that they say about you: "It is only a human being who teaches him," (notwithstanding) that he whom they maliciously hint at is of foreign tongue, while this (Qur'an) is plain Arabic speech.
Pickthall And We know well that they say: Only a man teacheth him. The speech of him at whom they falsely hint is outlandish, and this is clear Arabic speech.
Sahih And We certainly know that they say, "It is only a human being who teaches the Prophet." The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this Qur'an is [in] a clear Arabic language.
Yusuf Ali We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear.

16.104

surah 16 - verse 104

translator's name verse
Arberry Those that believe not in the signs of God, God will not guide; there awaits them a painful chastisement.
Maududi Surely Allah will not enable those who do not believe in the signs of Allah to be directed to the Right Way, and a painful chastisement awaits them.
Pickthall Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, Allah guideth them not and theirs will be a painful doom.
Sahih Indeed, those who do not believe in the verses of Allah - Allah will not guide them, and for them is a painful punishment.
Yusuf Ali Those who believe not in the Signs of Allah,- Allah will not guide them, and theirs will be a grievous Penalty.

16.105

surah 16 - verse 105

translator's name verse
Arberry They only forge falsehood, who believe not in the signs of God, and those -- they are the liars.
Maududi (It is not the Prophet who invents lies), it is rather those who do not believe in the signs of Allah who invent lies. They are liars.
Pickthall Only they invent falsehood who believe not Allah's revelations, and (only) they are the liars.
Sahih They only invent falsehood who do not believe in the verses of Allah, and it is those who are the liars.
Yusuf Ali It is those who believe not in the Signs of Allah, that forge falsehood: it is they who lie!

16.106

surah 16 - verse 106

translator's name verse
Arberry Whoso disbelieves in God, after he has believed -- excepting him who has been compelled, and his heart is still at rest in his belief -- but whosoever's breast is expanded in unbelief, upon them shall rest anger from God, and there awaits them a mighty chastisement;
Maududi Except for those who were forced to engage in infidelity to Allah after believing the while their hearts remained firmly convinced of their belief, the ones whose hearts willingly embraced disbelief shall incur Allah's wrath and a mighty chastisement lies in store for them.
Pickthall Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.
Sahih Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment;
Yusuf Ali Any one who, after accepting faith in Allah, utters Unbelief,- except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in Faith - but such as open their breast to Unbelief, on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a dreadful Penalty.

16.107

surah 16 - verse 107

translator's name verse
Arberry that, because they have preferred the present life over the world to come, and that God guides not the people of the unbelievers.
Maududi That is because they love the life of this world more than the Hereafter; and Allah does not guide those who are ungrateful to Allah for His favours.
Pickthall That is because they have chosen the life of the world rather than the Hereafter, and because Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.
Sahih That is because they preferred the worldly life over the Hereafter and that Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.
Yusuf Ali This because they love the life of this world better than the Hereafter: and Allah will not guide those who reject Faith.

16.108

surah 16 - verse 108

translator's name verse
Arberry Those -- God has set a seal on their hearts, and their hearing, and their eyes, and those -- they are the heedless ones;
Maududi They are the ones upon whose hearts and hearing and eyes Allah has set a seal. They are utterly steeped in heedlessness.
Pickthall Such are they whose hearts and ears and eyes Allah hath sealed. And such are the heedless.
Sahih Those are the ones over whose hearts and hearing and vision Allah has sealed, and it is those who are the heedless.
Yusuf Ali Those are they whose hearts, ears, and eyes Allah has sealed up, and they take no heed.

16.109

surah 16 - verse 109

translator's name verse
Arberry without a doubt, in the world to come they will be the losers.
Maududi No doubt they shall be losers in the Hereafter.
Pickthall Assuredly in the Hereafter they are the losers.
Sahih Assuredly, it is they, in the Hereafter, who will be the losers.
Yusuf Ali Without doubt, in the Hereafter they will perish.

16.110

surah 16 - verse 110

translator's name verse
Arberry Then, surely thy Lord -- unto those who have emigrated after persecution, then struggled and were patient -- surely thy Lord thereafter is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.
Maududi And surely your Lord will be Most Forgiving and Most Merciful towards those who left their homes after they were persecuted, and who thereafter struggled hard and remained constant.
Pickthall Then lo! thy Lord - for those who became fugitives after they had been persecuted, and then fought and were steadfast - lo! thy Lord afterward is (for them) indeed Forgiving, Merciful.
Sahih Then, indeed your Lord, to those who emigrated after they had been compelled [to renounce their religion] and thereafter fought [for the cause of Allah] and were patient - indeed, your Lord, after that, is Forgiving and Merciful
Yusuf Ali But verily thy Lord,- to those who leave their homes after trials and persecutions,- and who thereafter strive and fight for the faith and patiently persevere,- Thy Lord, after all this is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

16.111

surah 16 - verse 111

translator's name verse
Arberry The day that every soul shall come disputing in its own behalf; and every soul shall be paid in full for what it wrought, and they shall not be wronged.
Maududi Allah's judgement will come about them all on the Day when everyone shall come pleading in his defence, and everyone shall be fully requited for his deeds and none shall be wronged in the least.
Pickthall On the Day when every soul will come pleading for itself, and every soul will be repaid what it did, and they will not be wronged.
Sahih On the Day when every soul will come disputing for itself, and every soul will be fully compensated for what it did, and they will not be wronged.
Yusuf Ali One Day every soul will come up struggling for itself, and every soul will be recompensed (fully) for all its actions, and none will be unjustly dealt with.

16.112

surah 16 - verse 112

translator's name verse
Arberry God has struck a similitude: a city that was secure, at rest, its provision coming to it easefully from every place, then it was unthankful for the blessings of God; so God let it taste the garment of hunger and of fear, for the things that they were working.
Maududi Allah sets forth the parable of (the people of) a town who were secure and content and whose sustenance came in abundance from every quarter. But then the people of the town showed ingratitude towards Allah for His bounties, so Allah afflicted them with hunger and fear in punishment for their evil deeds.
Pickthall Allah coineth a similitude: a township that dwelt secure and well content, its provision coming to it in abundance from every side, but it disbelieved in Allah's favours, so Allah made it experience the garb of dearth and fear because of what they used to do.
Sahih And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.
Yusuf Ali Allah sets forth a Parable: a city enjoying security and quiet, abundantly supplied with sustenance from every place: Yet was it ungrateful for the favours of Allah: so Allah made it taste of hunger and terror (in extremes) (closing in on it) like a garment (from every side), because of the (evil) which (its people) wrought.

16.113

surah 16 - verse 113

translator's name verse
Arberry There came indeed to them a Messenger from amongst them, but they cried him lies; so they were seized by the chastisement while they were evildoers.
Maududi Most certainly a Messenger came to them from among them; but they rejected him, calling him a liar. Therefore chastisement seized them while they engaged in wrong-doing.
Pickthall And verily there had come unto them a messenger from among them, but they had denied him, and so the torment seized them while they were wrong-doers.
Sahih And there had certainly come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him; so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.
Yusuf Ali And there came to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they falsely rejected him; so the Wrath seized them even in the midst of their iniquities.

16.114

surah 16 - verse 114

translator's name verse
Arberry So eat of what God has provided you lawful and good; and be you thankful for the blessing of God, if it be Him that you serve.
Maududi So eat out of the lawful and good sustenance that Allah has bestowed upon you, and thank Allah for His bounty, if it is Him that you serve.
Pickthall So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah hath provided for you, and thank the bounty of your Lord if it is Him ye serve.
Sahih Then eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.
Yusuf Ali So eat of the sustenance which Allah has provided for you, lawful and good; and be grateful for the favours of Allah, if it is He Whom ye serve.

16.115

surah 16 - verse 115

translator's name verse
Arberry These things only He has forbidden you: carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, what has been hallowed to other than God. Yet whoso is constrained, not desiring nor transgressing, God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.
Maududi Allah has forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine; also any animal over which the name of any other than Allah has been pronounced. But whoever eats of them under compelling necessity - neither desiring it nor exceeding the limit of absolute necessity - surely for such action Allah is Much Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Pickthall He hath forbidden for you only carrion and blood and swineflesh and that which hath been immolated in the name of any other than Allah; but he who is driven thereto, neither craving nor transgressing, lo! then Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Sahih He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit] - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Yusuf Ali He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

16.116

surah 16 - verse 116

translator's name verse
Arberry And do not say, as to what your tongues falsely describe, 'This is lawful; and this is forbidden, so that you may forge against God falsehood; surely those who forge against God falsehood shall not prosper.
Maududi And do not utter falsehoods by letting your tongues declare: "This is lawful" and "That is unlawful," thus fabricating lies against Allah. Surely those who fabricate lies against Allah will never prosper.
Pickthall And speak not, concerning that which your own tongues qualify (as clean or unclean), the falsehood: "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so that ye invent a lie against Allah. Lo! those who invent a lie against Allah will not succeed.
Sahih And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, "This is lawful and this is unlawful," to invent falsehood about Allah. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed.
Yusuf Ali But say not - for any false thing that your tongues may put forth,- "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper.

16.117

surah 16 - verse 117

translator's name verse
Arberry A little enjoyment, then for them awaits a painful chastisement.
Maududi Brief is their enjoyment of the world, and thereafter they shall suffer a painful chastisement.
Pickthall A brief enjoyment (will be theirs); and theirs a painful doom.
Sahih [It is but] a brief enjoyment, and they will have a painful punishment.
Yusuf Ali (In such falsehood) is but a paltry profit; but they will have a most grievous Penalty.

16.118

surah 16 - verse 118

translator's name verse
Arberry And those of Jewry -- We have forbidden them what We related to thee before, and We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves.
Maududi We have already recounted to you what We prohibited to the Jews. In so doing We did not wrong them; it is they who wronged themselves.
Pickthall And unto those who are Jews We have forbidden that which We have already related unto thee. And We wronged them not, but they were wont to wrong themselves.
Sahih And to those who are Jews We have prohibited that which We related to you before. And We did not wrong them [thereby], but they were wronging themselves.
Yusuf Ali To the Jews We prohibited such things as We have mentioned to thee before: We did them no wrong, but they were used to doing wrong to themselves.

16.119

surah 16 - verse 119

translator's name verse
Arberry Then, surely thy Lord -- unto those who did evil in ignorance, then repented after that and put things right -- surely thy Lord thereafter is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.
Maududi But to those who commit evil out of ignorance and then repent and amend their ways, thereafter your Lord will be Much Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Pickthall Then lo! thy Lord - for those who do evil in ignorance and afterward repent and amend - lo! (for them) thy Lord is afterward indeed Forgiving, Merciful.
Sahih Then, indeed your Lord, to those who have done wrong out of ignorance and then repent after that and correct themselves - indeed, your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.
Yusuf Ali But verily thy Lord,- to those who do wrong in ignorance, but who thereafter repent and make amends,- thy Lord, after all this, is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

16.120

surah 16 - verse 120

translator's name verse
Arberry Surely, Abraham was a nation obedient unto God, a man of pure faith and no idolater,
Maududi Indeed Abraham was a whole community by himself, obedient to Allah, exclusively devoted to Him. And he was never one of those who associated others with Allah in His Divinity.
Pickthall Lo! Abraham was a nation obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the idolaters;
Sahih Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah.
Yusuf Ali Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to Allah, (and) true in Faith, and he joined not gods with Allah: