Chapter 38

38.1

surah 38 - verse 1

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Sad. By the Koran, containing the Remembrance --
Maududi	Sad, and by the Qur'an full of exhortation!
Pickthall	Sad. By the renowned Qur'an,
Sahih	Sad. By the Qur'an containing reminder...
Yusuf Ali	Sad: By the Qur'an, Full of Admonition: (This is the Truth).

38.2

surah 38 - verse 2

translator's name	verse
Arberry	nay, but the unbelievers glory in their schism.
Maududi	Nay, but the unbelievers are steeped in arrogance and stubborn defiance.
Pickthall	Nay, but those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.
Sahih	But those who disbelieve are in pride and dissension.
Yusuf Ali	But the Unbelievers (are steeped) in self-glory and Separatism.

38.3

surah 38 - verse 3

translator's name	verse
Arberry	How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they called, but time was none to escape.
Maududi	How many a nation did We destroy before them! (When they approached their doom) they cried out (for deliverance), but the time for deliverance was already past.
Pickthall	How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they cried out when it was no longer the time for escape!
Sahih	How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.
Yusuf Ali	How many generations before them did We destroy? In the end they cried (for mercy)- when there was no longer time for being saved!

38.4

surah 38 - verse 4

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Now they marvel that a warner has come to them from among them; and the unbelievers say, 'This is a lying sorcerer.
Maududi	They wondered that a warner had come to them from among themselves, and the deniers of the Truth said: “This is a sorcerer, and a big liar.
Pickthall	And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.
Sahih	And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, "This is a magician and a liar.
Yusuf Ali	So they wonder that a Warner has come to them from among themselves! and the Unbelievers say, "This is a sorcerer telling lies!

38.5

surah 38 - verse 5

translator's name	verse
Arberry	What, has he made the gods One God? This is indeed a marvellous thing.'
Maududi	Has he made the gods one single God? This is truly astounding.”
Pickthall	Maketh he the gods One Allah? Lo! that is an astounding thing.
Sahih	Has he made the gods [only] one God? Indeed, this is a curious thing."
Yusuf Ali	"Has he made the gods (all) into one Allah? Truly this is a wonderful thing!"

38.6

surah 38 - verse 6

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And the Council of them depart, saying 'Go! Be steadfast to your gods; this is a thing to be desired.
Maududi	And the elders among them went forth saying: “Go ahead and be steadfast in adhering to your deities. What is being said is with a design.”
Pickthall	The chiefs among them go about, exhorting: Go and be staunch to your gods! Lo! this is a thing designed.
Sahih	And the eminent among them went forth, [saying], "Continue, and be patient over [the defense of] your gods. Indeed, this is a thing intended.
Yusuf Ali	And the leader among them go away (impatiently), (saying), "Walk ye away, and remain constant to your gods! For this is truly a thing designed (against you)!

38.7

surah 38 - verse 7

translator's name	verse
Arberry	We have not heard of this in the last religion; this is surely an invention.
Maududi	We have not heard this in the religious community close to our time. This is nothing but a fabrication.
Pickthall	We have not heard of this in later religion. This is naught but an invention.
Sahih	We have not heard of this in the latest religion. This is not but a fabrication.
Yusuf Ali	"We never heard (the like) of this among the people of these latter days: this is nothing but a made-up tale!"

38.8

surah 38 - verse 8

translator's name	verse
Arberry	What, has the Remembrance been sent down on him out of us all?' Nay, but they are in doubt of My Remembrance; nay, they have not yet tasted My chastisement.
Maududi	Has this Exhortation been sent down among us only to him, to the exclusion of all others?” Nay, they are in doubt regarding My Exhortation, and are saying all this because they have not yet had any taste of My chastisement.
Pickthall	Hath the reminder been unto him (alone) among us? Nay, but they are in doubt concerning My reminder; nay but they have not yet tasted My doom.
Sahih	Has the message been revealed to him out of [all of] us?" Rather, they are in doubt about My message. Rather, they have not yet tasted My punishment.
Yusuf Ali	"What! has the Message been sent to him - (Of all persons) among us?"... but they are in doubt concerning My (Own) Message! Nay, they have not yet tasted My Punishment!

38.9

surah 38 - verse 9

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Or have they the treasuries of thy Lord's mercy, the All-mighty, the All-giving?
Maududi	Do they possess the treasures of your Lord, the Most Mighty, the Great Bestower?
Pickthall	Or are theirs the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower?
Sahih	Or do they have the depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower?
Yusuf Ali	Or have they the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord,- the Exalted in Power, the Grantor of Bounties without measure?

38.10

surah 38 - verse 10

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Or is theirs the kingdom of the heavens and earth and of what between them is? Why, then let them ascend the cords!
Maududi	Or do they possess the dominion of the heavens and the earth and of all that is in between them? If so, let them ascend the heights of the realm of causation and see!
Pickthall	Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them theirs? Then let them ascend by ropes!
Sahih	Or is theirs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them ascend through [any] ways of access.
Yusuf Ali	Or have they the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all between? If so, let them mount up with the ropes and means (to reach that end)!

38.11

surah 38 - verse 11

translator's name	verse
Arberry	A very host of parties is routed there!
Maududi	This is only a small army out of the several armies that will suffer defeat here.
Pickthall	A defeated host are (all) the factions that are there.
Sahih	[They are but] soldiers [who will be] defeated there among the companies [of disbelievers].
Yusuf Ali	But there - will be put to flight even a host of confederates.

38.12

surah 38 - verse 12

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Cried lies before them the people of Noah, and Ad, and Pharaoh, he of the tent-pegs,
Maududi	Before them the people of Noah, Ad, and Pharaoh of the tent-pegs gave the lie (to the Messengers)
Pickthall	The folk of Noah before them denied (their messenger) and (so did the tribe of) A'ad, and Pharaoh firmly planted,
Sahih	The people of Noah denied before them, and [the tribe of] 'Aad and Pharaoh, the owner of stakes,
Yusuf Ali	Before them (were many who) rejected messengers,- the people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Pharaoh, the Lord of Stakes,

38.13

surah 38 - verse 13

translator's name	verse
Arberry	and Thamood, and the people of Lot, and the men of the Thicket - those were the parties;
Maududi	and so did Thamud and the people of Lot and the people of Aykah. These were all leagued together.
Pickthall	And (the tribe of) Thamud, and the folk of Lot, and the dwellers in the wood: these were the factions.
Sahih	And [the tribe of] Thamud and the people of Lot and the companions of the thicket. Those are the companies.
Yusuf Ali	And Thamud, and the people of Lut, and the Companions of the Wood; - such were the Confederates.

38.14

surah 38 - verse 14

translator's name	verse
Arberry	not one, that cried not lies to the Messengers, so My retribution was just.
Maududi	Each of them gave the lie to Messengers and My decree of chastisement came upon them.
Pickthall	Not one of them but did deny the messengers, therefor My doom was justified,
Sahih	Each of them denied the messengers, so My penalty was justified.
Yusuf Ali	Not one (of them) but rejected the messengers, but My punishment came justly and inevitably (on them).

38.15

surah 38 - verse 15

translator's name	verse
Arberry	These are only awaiting for a single Cry, to which there is no delay.
Maududi	They are waiting for nothing except a single Cry, after which there will be no second Cry.
Pickthall	These wait for but one Shout, there will be no second thereto.
Sahih	And these [disbelievers] await not but one blast [of the Horn]; for it there will be no delay.
Yusuf Ali	These (today) only wait for a single mighty Blast, which (when it comes) will brook no delay.

38.16

surah 38 - verse 16

translator's name	verse
Arberry	They say, 'Our Lord, hasten to us our share before the Day of Reckoning.'
Maududi	They say: “Our Lord, hasten to us our share (of chastisement) before the Day of Reckoning.”
Pickthall	They say: Our Lord! Hasten on for us our fate before the Day of Reckoning.
Sahih	And they say, "Our Lord, hasten for us our share [of the punishment] before the Day of Account"
Yusuf Ali	They say: "Our Lord! hasten to us our sentence (even) before the Day of Account!"

38.17

surah 38 - verse 17

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Bear patiently what they say, and remember Our servant David, the man of might; he was a penitent.
Maududi	(O Prophet), bear with patience what they say, and call to mind Our servant David, who was endowed with great strength and who constantly turned (to Allah).
Pickthall	Bear with what they say, and remember Our bondman David, lord of might, Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (toward Allah).
Sahih	Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah].
Yusuf Ali	Have patience at what they say, and remember our servant David, the man of strength: for he ever turned (to Allah).

38.18

surah 38 - verse 18

translator's name	verse
Arberry	With him We subjected the mountains to give glory at evening and sunrise,
Maududi	With him We had subjected the mountains that they join him in celebrating Allah's glory, evening and morning,
Pickthall	Lo! We subdued the hills to hymn the praises (of their Lord) with him at nightfall and sunrise,
Sahih	Indeed, We subjected the mountains [to praise] with him, exalting [Allah] in the [late] afternoon and [after] sunrise.
Yusuf Ali	It was We that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day,

38.19

surah 38 - verse 19

translator's name	verse
Arberry	and the birds, duly mustered, every one to him reverting;
Maududi	and the birds, too, in their flocks, and turn again and again to celebrating Allah's glory.
Pickthall	And the birds assembled; all were turning unto Him.
Sahih	And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises].
Yusuf Ali	And the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with him did turn (to Allah).

38.20

surah 38 - verse 20

translator's name	verse
Arberry	We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and speech decisive.
Maududi	And We strengthened his kingdom and endowed him with wisdom and decisive judgement.
Pickthall	We made his kingdom strong and gave him wisdom and decisive speech.
Sahih	And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and discernment in speech.
Yusuf Ali	We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision.