Chapter 17

17.1

surah 17 - verse 1

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Glory be to Him, who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque to the Further Mosque the precincts of which We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our signs. He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing.
Maududi	Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makkah) to the farther Mosque (in Jerusalem) whose surroundings We have blessed that We might show him some of Our Signs. Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
Pickthall	Glorified be He Who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship to the Far distant place of worship the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer.
Sahih	Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
Yusuf Ali	Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).

17.2

surah 17 - verse 2

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And We gave Moses the Book, and made it a guidance to the Children of Israel: 'Take not unto yourselves any guardian apart from Me.'
Maududi	We gave Moses the Book, and made it a source of guidance for the Children of Israel, commanding: "Take no other Guardian beside Me."
Pickthall	We gave unto Moses the Scripture, and We appointed it a guidance for the children of Israel, saying: Choose no guardian beside Me.
Sahih	And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel that you not take other than Me as Disposer of affairs,
Yusuf Ali	We gave Moses the Book, and made it a Guide to the Children of Israel, (commanding): "Take not other than Me as Disposer of (your) affairs."

17.3

surah 17 - verse 3

translator's name	verse
Arberry	The seed of those We bore with Noah; he was a thankful servant.
Maududi	You are the descendants of those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Noah. He was truly a thankful servant.
Pickthall	(They were) the seed of those whom We carried (in the ship) along with Noah. Lo! he was a grateful slave.
Sahih	O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.
Yusuf Ali	O ye that are sprung from those whom We carried (in the Ark) with Noah! Verily he was a devotee most grateful.

17.4

surah 17 - verse 4

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Book: 'You shall do corruption in the earth twice, and you shall ascend exceeding high.'
Maududi	Then We clearly declared to the Children of Israel in the Book: "Twice you will make mischief in the land and will commit transgression."
Pickthall	And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture: Ye verily will work corruption in the earth twice, and ye will become great tyrants.
Sahih	And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture that, "You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice, and you will surely reach [a degree of] great haughtiness.
Yusuf Ali	And We gave (Clear) Warning to the Children of Israel in the Book, that twice would they do mischief on the earth and be elated with mighty arrogance (and twice would they be punished)!

17.5

surah 17 - verse 5

translator's name	verse
Arberry	So, when the promise of the first of these came to pass, We sent against you servants of Ours, men of great might, and they went through the habitations, and it was a promise performed.
Maududi	So, when the occasion for the first of the transgressions arrived, We raised against you some of Our creatures who were full of might, and they ran over the whole of your land. This was a promise that was bound to be fulfilled.
Pickthall	So when the time for the first of the two came, We roused against you slaves of Ours of great might who ravaged (your) country, and it was a threat performed.
Sahih	So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.
Yusuf Ali	When the first of the warnings came to pass, We sent against you Our servants given to terrible warfare: They entered the very inmost parts of your homes; and it was a warning (completely) fulfilled.

17.6

surah 17 - verse 6

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Then We gave back to you the turn to prevail over them, and We succoured you with wealth and children, and We made you a greater host.
Maududi	Then We granted you an upper hand against them, and strengthened you with wealth and children, and multiplied your numbers.
Pickthall	Then we gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you with wealth and children and made you more in soldiery.
Sahih	Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower
Yusuf Ali	Then did We grant you the Return as against them: We gave you increase in resources and sons, and made you the more numerous in man-power.

17.7

surah 17 - verse 7

translator's name	verse
Arberry	'If you do good, it is your own souls you do good to, and if you do evil it is to them likewise.' Then, when the promise of the second came to pass, We sent against you Our servants to discountenance you, and to enter the Temple, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy utterly that which they ascended to.
Maududi	Whenever you did good, it was to your own advantage; and whenever you committed evil, it was to your own disadvantage. So, when the time of the fulfilment of the second promise arrived, (We raised other enemies that would) disfigure your faces and enter the Temple (of Jerusalem) as they had entered the first time, and destroy whatever they could lay their hands on.
Pickthall	(Saying): If ye do good, ye do good for your own souls, and if ye do evil, it is for them (in like manner). So, when the time for the second (of the judgments) came (We roused against you others of Our slaves) to ravage you, and to enter the Temple even as they entered it the first time, and to lay waste all that they conquered with an utter wasting.
Sahih	[And said], "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to yourselves." Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the temple in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.
Yusuf Ali	If ye did well, ye did well for yourselves; if ye did evil, (ye did it) against yourselves. So when the second of the warnings came to pass, (We permitted your enemies) to disfigure your faces, and to enter your Temple as they had entered it before, and to visit with destruction all that fell into their power.

17.8

surah 17 - verse 8

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Perchance your Lord will have mercy upon you; but if you return, We shall return; and We have made Gehenna a prison for the unbelievers.
Maududi	Your Lord may well show Mercy to you, but if you revert to your evil behaviour, We shall revert to chastising you. We have made Hell a prison for those who are thankless of Allah's bounties.
Pickthall	It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, but if ye repeat (the crime) We shall repeat (the punishment), and We have appointed hell a dungeon for the disbelievers.
Sahih	[Then Allah said], "It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment]. And We have made Hell, for the disbelievers, a prison-bed."
Yusuf Ali	It may be that your Lord may (yet) show Mercy unto you; but if ye revert (to your sins), We shall revert (to Our punishments): And we have made Hell a prison for those who reject (all Faith).

17.9

surah 17 - verse 9

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Surely this Koran guides to the way that is straightest and gives good tidings to the believers who do deeds of righteousness, that theirs shall be a great wage,
Maududi	Verily this Qur'an guides to the Way that is the Straight most. To those who believe in it, and do righteous works, it gives the good news that a great reward awaits them,
Pickthall	Lo! this Qur'an guideth unto that which is straightest, and giveth tidings unto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward.
Sahih	Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.
Yusuf Ali	Verily this Qur'an doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and giveth the Glad Tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward;

17.10

surah 17 - verse 10

translator's name	verse
Arberry	and that those who do not believe in the world to come -- we have prepared for them a painful chastisement.
Maududi	and warns those who do not believe in the Hereafter that We have prepared for them a grievous chastisement.
Pickthall	And that those who believe not in the Hereafter, for them We have prepared a painful doom.
Sahih	And that those who do not believe in the Hereafter - We have prepared for them a painful punishment.
Yusuf Ali	And to those who believe not in the Hereafter, (it announceth) that We have prepared for them a Penalty Grievous (indeed).

17.11

surah 17 - verse 11

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Man prays for evil, as he prays for good; man is ever hasty.
Maududi	Man prays for evil in the manner he ought to pray for good. Man is ever hasty.
Pickthall	Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man was ever hasty.
Sahih	And man supplicates for evil as he supplicates for good, and man is ever hasty.
Yusuf Ali	The prayer that man should make for good, he maketh for evil; for man is given to hasty (deeds).

17.12

surah 17 - verse 12

translator's name	verse
Arberry	We have appointed the night and the day as two signs; then We have blotted out the sign of the night, and made the sign of the day to see, and that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years, and the reckoning; and everything We have distinguished very distinctly.
Maududi	We have made night and day as two signs. We made the sign of the night devoid of light, and made the sign of the day radiant that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the computation of years and numbers. Thus We have expounded everything in detail to keep everything distinct from the other.
Pickthall	And We appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We make dark the portent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight-giving, that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of the years, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clear expounding.
Sahih	And We have made the night and day two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day visible that you may seek bounty from your Lord and may know the number of years and the account [of time]. And everything We have set out in detail.
Yusuf Ali	We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the Day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years: all things have We explained in detail.

17.13

surah 17 - verse 13

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And every man -- We have fastened to him his bird of omen upon his neck; and We shall bring forth for him, on the Day of Resurrection, a book he shall find spread wide open.
Maududi	We have fastened every man's omen to his neck. On the Day of Resurrection We shall produce for him his scroll in the shape of a wide open book, (saying):
Pickthall	And every man's augury have We fastened to his own neck, and We shall bring forth for him on the Day of Resurrection a book which he will find wide open.
Sahih	And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.
Yusuf Ali	Every man's fate We have fastened on his own neck: On the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open.

17.14

surah 17 - verse 14

translator's name	verse
Arberry	'Read thy book! Thy soul suffices thee this day as a reckoner against thee.'
Maududi	"Read your scroll; this Day you suffice to take account of yourself."
Pickthall	(And it will be said unto him): Read thy Book. Thy soul sufficeth as reckoner against thee this day.
Sahih	[It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as accountant."
Yusuf Ali	(It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."

17.15

surah 17 - verse 15

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Whosoever is guided, is only guided to his own gain, and whosoever goes astray, it is only to his own loss; no soul laden bears the load of another. We never chastise, until We send forth a Messenger.
Maududi	He who follows the Right Way shall do so to his own advantage; and he who strays shall incur his own loss. No one shall bear another's burden. And never do We punish any people until We send a Messenger (to make the Truth distinct from falsehood).
Pickthall	Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load, We never punish until we have sent a messenger.
Sahih	Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.
Yusuf Ali	Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an messenger (to give warning).

17.16

surah 17 - verse 16

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And when We desire to destroy a city, We command its men who live at ease, and they commit ungodliness therein, then the Word is realized against it, and We destroy it utterly.
Maududi	When We decide to destroy a town We command the affluent among them, whereupon they commit sins in it, then the decree (of chastisement) becomes due against them and thereafter We destroy that town utterly.
Pickthall	And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation.
Sahih	And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.
Yusuf Ali	When We decide to destroy a population, We (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: then (it is) We destroy them utterly.

17.17

surah 17 - verse 17

translator's name	verse
Arberry	How many generations We have destroyed after Noah! Thy Lord suffices as one who is aware of and sees the sins of His servants.
Maududi	Many a generation has been destroyed by Our command since Noah's time. Your Lord is well aware and fully observant of the sins of His servants.
Pickthall	How many generations have We destroyed since Noah! And Allah sufficeth as Knower and Beholder of the sins of His slaves.
Sahih	And how many have We destroyed from the generations after Noah. And sufficient is your Lord, concerning the sins of His servants, as Acquainted and Seeing.
Yusuf Ali	How many generations have We destroyed after Noah? and enough is thy Lord to note and see the sins of His servants.

17.18

surah 17 - verse 18

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Whosoever desires this hasty world, We hasten for him therein what We will unto whomsoever We desire; then We appoint for him Gehenna wherein he shall roast, condemned and rejected.
Maududi	If anyone desires immediate benefits, We hasten to grant whatever benefits We will in the present life to whomsoever We please, but thereafter We decree for him Hell wherein he shall burn, condemned and rejected.
Pickthall	Whoso desireth that (life) which hasteneth away, We hasten for him therein what We will for whom We please. And afterward We have appointed for him hell; he will endure the heat thereof, condemned, rejected.
Sahih	Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.
Yusuf Ali	If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life), We readily grant them - such things as We will, to such person as We will: in the end have We provided Hell for them: they will burn therein, disgraced and rejected.

17.19

surah 17 - verse 19

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And whosoever desires the world to come and strives after it as he should, being a believer -- those, their striving shall be thanked.
Maududi	But he who desires the Hereafter and strives for it in the manner he should, and is a true believer, his striving will come to fruition.
Pickthall	And whoso desireth the Hereafter and striveth for it with the effort necessary, being a believer; for such, their effort findeth favour (with their Lord).
Sahih	But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah].
Yusuf Ali	Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter, and strive therefor with all due striving, and have Faith,- they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah).

17.20

surah 17 - verse 20

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Each We succour, these and those, from thy Lord's gift; and thy Lord's gift is not confined.
Maududi	To all of these as well as those We shall provide the wherewithal of this life in the present world by dint of your Lord's Bounty; and from none shall the Bounty of your Lord be withheld.
Pickthall	Each do We supply, both these and those, from the bounty of thy Lord. And the bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up.
Sahih	To each [category] We extend - to these and to those - from the gift of your Lord. And never has the gift of your Lord been restricted.
Yusuf Ali	Of the bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all- These as well as those: The bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).