Chapter 17

17.21

surah 17 - verse 21

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Behold, how We prefer some of them over others! And surely the world to come is greater in ranks, greater in preferment.
Maududi	See, how We have exalted some above others in this world, and in the Life to Come they will have higher ranks and greater degrees of excellence over others.
Pickthall	See how We prefer one of them above another, and verily the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.
Sahih	Look how We have favored [in provision] some of them over others. But the Hereafter is greater in degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction.
Yusuf Ali	See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.

17.22

surah 17 - verse 22

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Set not up with God another god, or thou wilt sit condemned and forsaken.
Maududi	Do not set up any other god with Allah lest you are rendered humiliated and helpless.
Pickthall	Set not up with Allah any other god (O man) lest thou sit down reproved, forsaken.
Sahih	Do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken.
Yusuf Ali	Take not with Allah another object of worship; or thou (O man!) wilt sit in disgrace and destitution.

17.23

surah 17 - verse 23

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Thy Lord has decreed you shall not serve any but Him, and to be good to parents, whether one or both of them attains old age with thee; say not to them 'Fie' neither chide them, but speak unto them words respectful,
Maududi	Your Lord has decreed: (i) Do not worship any but Him; (ii) Be good to your parents; and should both or any one of them attain old age with you, do not say to them even "fie" neither chide them, but speak to them with respect,
Pickthall	Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.
Sahih	And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
Yusuf Ali	Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.

17.24

surah 17 - verse 24

translator's name	verse
Arberry	and lower to them the wing of humbleness out of mercy and say; 'My Lord, have mercy upon them, as they raised me up when I was little.'
Maududi	and be humble and tender to them and say: "Lord, show mercy to them as they nurtured me when I was small."
Pickthall	And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little.
Sahih	And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."
Yusuf Ali	And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."

17.25

surah 17 - verse 25

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Your Lord knows very well what is in your hearts if you are righteous, for He is All-forgiving to those who are penitent.
Maududi	Your Lord is best aware of what is in your hearts. If you are righteous, He will indeed forgive those who relent and revert (to serving Allah).
Pickthall	Your Lord is Best Aware of what is in your minds. If ye are righteous, then lo! He was ever Forgiving unto those who turn (unto Him).
Sahih	Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.
Yusuf Ali	Your Lord knoweth best what is in your hearts: If ye do deeds of righteousness, verily He is Most Forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again (in true penitence).

17.26

surah 17 - verse 26

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And give the kinsman his right, and the needy, and the traveller; and never squander;
Maududi	(iii) Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarer. (iv) Do not squander your wealth wastefully,
Pickthall	Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness.
Sahih	And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully.
Yusuf Ali	And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.

17.27

surah 17 - verse 27

translator's name	verse
Arberry	the squanderers are brothers of Satan, and Satan is unthankful to his Lord.
Maududi	for those who squander wastefully are Satan's brothers, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.
Pickthall	Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils, and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord.
Sahih	Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
Yusuf Ali	Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (himself) ungrateful.

17.28

surah 17 - verse 28

translator's name	verse
Arberry	But if thou turnest from them, seeking mercy from thy Lord that thou hopest for, then speak unto them gentle words.
Maududi	(v) And when you must turn away from them - (that is, from the destitute, the near of kin, the needy, and the wayfarer) - in pursuit of God's Mercy which you expect to receive, then speak to them kindly.
Pickthall	But if thou turn away from them, seeking mercy from thy Lord, for which thou hopest, then speak unto them a reasonable word.
Sahih	And if you [must] turn away from the needy awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word.
Yusuf Ali	And even if thou hast to turn away from them in pursuit of the Mercy from thy Lord which thou dost expect, yet speak to them a word of easy kindness.

17.29

surah 17 - verse 29

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And keep not thy hand chained to thy neck, nor outspread it widespread altogether, or thou wilt sit reproached and denuded.
Maududi	(vi) Do not keep your hand fastened to your neck nor outspread it, altogether outspread, for you will be left sitting rebuked, destitute.
Pickthall	And let not thy hand be chained to thy neck nor open it with a complete opening, lest thou sit down rebuked, denuded.
Sahih	And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.
Yusuf Ali	Make not thy hand tied (like a niggard's) to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou become blameworthy and destitute.

17.30

surah 17 - verse 30

translator's name	verse
Arberry	Surely thy Lord outspreads and straitens His provision unto whom He will; surely He is aware of and sees His servants.
Maududi	Certainly Your Lord makes plentiful the provision of whomsoever He wills and straitens it for whomsoever He wills. He is well-aware and is fully observant of all that relates to His servants.
Pickthall	Lo! thy Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will, and straiteneth (it for whom He will). Lo, He was ever Knower, Seer of His slaves.
Sahih	Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing.
Yusuf Ali	Verily thy Lord doth provide sustenance in abundance for whom He pleaseth, and He provideth in a just measure. For He doth know and regard all His servants.

17.31

surah 17 - verse 31

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And slay not your children for fear of poverty; We will provide for you and them; surely the slaying of them is a grievous sin.
Maududi	(vii) Do not kill your children for fear of want. We will provide for them and for you. Surely killing them is a great sin.
Pickthall	Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! the slaying of them is great sin.
Sahih	And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.
Yusuf Ali	Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin.

17.32

surah 17 - verse 32

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And approach not fornication; surely it is an indecency, and evil as a way.
Maududi	(viii) Do not even approach fornication for it is an outrageous act, and an evil way.
Pickthall	And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way.
Sahih	And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.
Yusuf Ali	Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

17.33

surah 17 - verse 33

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And slay not the soul God has forbidden, except by right. Whosoever is slain unjustly, We have appointed to his next-of-kin authority; but let him not exceed in slaying; he shall be helped.
Maududi	(ix) Do not kill any person whom Allah has forbidden to kill, except with right. We have granted the heir of him who has been wrongfully killed the authority to (claim retribution); so let him not exceed in slaying. He shall be helped.
Pickthall	And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped.
Sahih	And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law].
Yusuf Ali	Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).

17.34

surah 17 - verse 34

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And do not approach the property of the orphan save in the fairest manner, until he is of age. And fulfil the covenant; surely the covenant shall be questioned of.
Maududi	(x) And do not even go near the property of the orphan - except that it be in the best manner - till he attains his maturity. (xi) And fulfil the covenant, for you will be called to account regarding the covenant.
Pickthall	Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better till he come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will be asked.
Sahih	And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.
Yusuf Ali	Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).

17.35

surah 17 - verse 35

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And fill up the measure when you measure, and weigh with the straight balance; that is better and fairer in the issue.
Maududi	(xii) Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with even scales. That is fair and better in consequence.
Pickthall	Fill the measure when ye measure, and weigh with a right balance; that is meet, and better in the end.
Sahih	And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is the best [way] and best in result.
Yusuf Ali	Give full measure when ye measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight: that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final determination.

17.36

surah 17 - verse 36

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And pursue not that thou hast no knowledge of; the hearing, the sight, the heart -- all of those shall be questioned of.
Maududi	(xiii) Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Surely the hearing, the sight, the heart - each of these shall be called to account.
Pickthall	(O man), follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge. Lo! the hearing and the sight and the heart - of each of these it will be asked.
Sahih	And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.
Yusuf Ali	And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).

17.37

surah 17 - verse 37

translator's name	verse
Arberry	And walk not in the earth exultantly; certainly thou wilt never tear the earth open, nor attain the mountains in height.
Maududi	(xiv) Do not strut about in the land arrogantly. Surely you cannot cleave the earth, nor reach the heights of the mountains in stature.
Pickthall	And walk not in the earth exultant. Lo! thou canst not rend the earth, nor canst thou stretch to the height of the hills.
Sahih	And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.
Yusuf Ali	Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou canst not rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height.

17.38

surah 17 - verse 38

translator's name	verse
Arberry	All of that -- the wickedness of it is hateful in the sight of thy Lord has revealed to thee:
Maududi	The wickedness of each of that is hateful to your Lord.
Pickthall	The evil of all that is hateful in the sight of thy Lord.
Sahih	All that - its evil is ever, in the sight of your Lord, detested.
Yusuf Ali	Of all such things the evil is hateful in the sight of thy Lord.

17.39

surah 17 - verse 39

translator's name	verse
Arberry	That is of the wisdom thy Lord set not up with God another god, or thou wilt be cast into Gehenna, reproached and rejected.
Maududi	That is part of the wisdom your Lord has revealed to you. So do not set up any deity beside Allah lest you are cast into Hell, rebuked and deprived of every good.
Pickthall	This is (part) of that wisdom wherewith thy Lord hath inspired thee (O Muhammad). And set not up with Allah any other god, lest thou be cast into hell, reproved, abandoned.
Sahih	That is from what your Lord has revealed to you, [O Muhammad], of wisdom. And, [O mankind], do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity, lest you be thrown into Hell, blamed and banished.
Yusuf Ali	These are among the (precepts of) wisdom, which thy Lord has revealed to thee. Take not, with Allah, another object of worship, lest thou shouldst be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected.

17.40

surah 17 - verse 40

translator's name	verse
Arberry	What, has your Lord favoured you with sons and taken to Himself from the angels females? Surely it is a monstrous thing you are saying!
Maududi	What, has your Lord favoured you with sons and has taken for Himself daughters from among the angels? You are indeed uttering a monstrous lie.
Pickthall	Hath your Lord then distinguished you (O men of Makka) by giving you sons, and hath chosen for Himself females from among the angels? Lo! verily ye speak an awful word!
Sahih	Then, has your Lord chosen you for [having] sons and taken from among the angels daughters? Indeed, you say a grave saying.
Yusuf Ali	Has then your Lord (O Pagans!) preferred for you sons, and taken for Himself daughters among the angels? Truly ye utter a most dreadful saying!