Chapter 27

Surah An Naml (The Ant)

27.21

surah 27 - verse 21

translator's name verse
Arberry Assuredly I will chastise him with a terrible chastisement, or I will slaughter him, or he bring me a clear authority.'
Maududi I will inflict a severe punishment on him or maybe even slaughter him unless he comes forth with a convincing reason (for his absence)."
Pickthall I verily will punish him with hard punishment or I verily will slay him, or he verily shall bring me a plain excuse.
Sahih I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization."
Yusuf Ali "I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence)."

27.22

surah 27 - verse 22

translator's name verse
Arberry But he tarried not long, and said, 'I have comprehended that which thou hast not comprehended, and I have come from Sheba to thee with a sure tiding.
Maududi Not before long the hoopoe came up and said: "I have obtained a knowledge which you could not. I have brought for you sure news about Sheba.
Pickthall But he was not long in coming, and he said: I have found out (a thing) that thou apprehendest not, and I come unto thee from Sheba with sure tidings.
Sahih But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.
Yusuf Ali But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and) said: "I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.

27.23

surah 27 - verse 23

translator's name verse
Arberry I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given of everything, and she possesses a mighty throne.
Maududi I found there a woman ruling over them, one who has been endowed with all things and has a mighty throne.
Pickthall Lo! I found a woman ruling over them, and she hath been given (abundance) of all things, and hers is a mighty throne.
Sahih Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
Yusuf Ali "I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne.

27.24

surah 27 - verse 24

translator's name verse
Arberry I found her and her people prostrating to the sun, apart from God; Satan has decked out fair their deeds to them and he has barred them from the way, and therefore they are not guided,
Maududi I found that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun rather than Allah. " Satan has made their deeds appear attractive to them and has, thus, debarred them from the Right Path so they do not find true guidance
Pickthall I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah; and Satan maketh their works fairseeming unto them, and debarreth them from the way (of Truth), so that they go not aright;
Sahih I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,
Yusuf Ali "I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,-

27.25

surah 27 - verse 25

translator's name verse
Arberry so that they prostrate not themselves to God, who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and earth; and He knows what you conceal and what you publish.
Maududi that they would prostrate themselves before Allah Who brings to light all that is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows all that you conceal and all that you reveal.
Pickthall So that they worship not Allah, Who bringeth forth the hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knoweth what ye hide and what ye proclaim,
Sahih [And] so they do not prostrate to Allah, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare -
Yusuf Ali "(Kept them away from the Path), that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal.

27.26

surah 27 - verse 26

translator's name verse
Arberry God: there is no god but He, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.'
Maududi Allah - none is worthy of worship save He; He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
Pickthall Allah; there is no Allah save Him, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne.
Sahih Allah - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."
Yusuf Ali "Allah!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!"

27.27

surah 27 - verse 27

translator's name verse
Arberry Said he, 'Now We will see whether thou hast spoken truly, or whether thou art amongst those that lie.
Maududi Solomon said: "Soon shall we see whether you have spoken the truth or are one of those that lie.
Pickthall (Solomon) said: We shall see whether thou speakest truth or whether thou art of the liars.
Sahih [Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.
Yusuf Ali (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied!

27.28

surah 27 - verse 28

translator's name verse
Arberry Take this letter of mine, and cast it unto them, then turn back from them and see what they shall return '
Maududi Take this letter of mine, deliver it to them, and then draw back from them, and observe what they do."
Pickthall Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn away and see what (answer) they return,
Sahih Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."
Yusuf Ali "Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return"...

27.29

surah 27 - verse 29

translator's name verse
Arberry She said, 'O Council, see, a letter honourable has been cast unto me.
Maududi The Queen said:" Know my nobles that a gracious letter has been delivered to me.
Pickthall (The Queen of Sheba) said (when she received the letter): O chieftains! Lo! there hath been thrown unto me a noble letter.
Sahih She said, "O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter.
Yusuf Ali (The queen) said: "Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me - a letter worthy of respect.

27.30

surah 27 - verse 30

translator's name verse
Arberry It is from Solomon, and it is "In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Maududi It is from Solomon, and it is: "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate."
Pickthall Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful;
Sahih Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it reads: 'In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
Yusuf Ali "It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful:

27.31

surah 27 - verse 31

translator's name verse
Arberry Rise not up against me, but come to me in surrender." '
Maududi (It says): "Do not act towards me with defiance, but come to me in submission."
Pickthall Exalt not yourselves against me, but come unto me as those who surrender.
Sahih Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].' "
Yusuf Ali "'Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).'"

27.32

surah 27 - verse 32

translator's name verse
Arberry She said, 'O Council, pronounce to me concerning my affair; I am not used to decide an affair until you bear me witness.'
Maududi (After reading the letter) the Queen said: "Nobles, let me have your counsel in this matter for I make no firm decision without you."
Pickthall She said: O chieftains! Pronounce for me in my case. I decide no case till ye are present with me.
Sahih She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me."
Yusuf Ali She said: "Ye chiefs! advise me in (this) my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence."

27.33

surah 27 - verse 33

translator's name verse
Arberry They said, 'We possess force and we possess great might. The affair rests with thee; so consider what thou wilt command.'
Maududi They said: "We are strong and are given to vehement fighting. But the decision is yours. Therefore, consider what you would like to command."
Pickthall They said: We are lords of might and lords of great prowess, but it is for thee to command; so consider what thou wilt command.
Sahih They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command."
Yusuf Ali They said: "We are endued with strength, and given to vehement war: but the command is with thee; so consider what thou wilt command."

27.34

surah 27 - verse 34

translator's name verse
Arberry She said, 'Kings, when they enter a city, disorder it and make the mighty ones of its inhabitants abased. Even so they too will do.
Maududi The Queen said: "When the kings enter a country they cause corruption in it and abase those of its people who are held in honour. This is what they are wont to do.
Pickthall She said: Lo! kings, when they enter a township, ruin it and make the honour of its people shame. Thus will they do.
Sahih She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.
Yusuf Ali She said: "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave.

27.35

surah 27 - verse 35

translator's name verse
Arberry Now I will send them a present, and see what the envoys bring back.'
Maududi I will send them a gift and then see with what answer my envoys return."
Pickthall But lo! I am going to send a present unto them, and to see with what (answer) the messengers return.
Sahih But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return."
Yusuf Ali "But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my) ambassadors."

27.36

surah 27 - verse 36

translator's name verse
Arberry But when he came to Solomon he said, 'What, would you succour me with wealth, and what God gave me is better than what He has given you? Nay, but instead you rejoice in your gift!
Maududi Now, when (the envoy of the Queen) came to Solomon, he said: "Do you want to aid me with wealth? Whatever Allah has granted me is much more than what He has given you. (Keep for yourselves) your gift in which you are exulting.
Pickthall So when (the envoy) came unto Solomon, (the King) said: What! Would ye help me with wealth? But that which Allah hath given me is better than that which He hath given you. Nay it is ye (and not I) who exult in your gift.
Sahih So when they came to Solomon, he said, "Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.
Yusuf Ali Now when (the embassy) came to Solomon, he said: "Will ye give me abundance in wealth? But that which Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you! Nay it is ye who rejoice in your gift!

27.37

surah 27 - verse 37

translator's name verse
Arberry Return thou to them; we shall assuredly come against them with hosts they have not power to resist, and we shall expel them from there, abased and utterly humbled.'
Maududi Envoy, go back to those who sent you and we shall certainly come upon them with hosts whom they will be unable to resist. We shall drive them out from there, and they will suffer humiliation and disgrace."
Pickthall Return unto them. We verily shall come unto them with hosts that they cannot resist, and we shall drive them out from thence with shame, and they will be abased.
Sahih Return to them, for we will surely come to them with soldiers that they will be powerless to encounter, and we will surely expel them therefrom in humiliation, and they will be debased."
Yusuf Ali "Go back to them, and be sure we shall come to them with such hosts as they will never be able to meet: We shall expel them from there in disgrace, and they will feel humbled (indeed)."

27.38

surah 27 - verse 38

translator's name verse
Arberry He said, 'O Council, which one of you will bring me her throne, before they come to me in surrender?'
Maududi Solomon said: "My nobles, which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"
Pickthall He said: O chiefs! Which of you will bring me her throne before they come unto me, surrendering?
Sahih [Solomon] said, "O assembly [of jinn], which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"
Yusuf Ali He said (to his own men): "Ye chiefs! which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"

27.39

surah 27 - verse 39

translator's name verse
Arberry An efreet of the jinns said, 'I will bring it to thee, before thou risest from thy place; I have strength for it
Maududi A stalwart of the jinn said: "I will bring it to you before you rise from your council. Surely I have the power to do so and I am trustworthy."
Pickthall A stalwart of the jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work.
Sahih A powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy."
Yusuf Ali Said an 'Ifrit, of the Jinns: "I will bring it to thee before thou rise from thy council: indeed I have full strength for the purpose, and may be trusted."

27.40

surah 27 - verse 40

translator's name verse
Arberry and I am trusty.' Said he who possessed knowledge of the Book, 'I will bring it to thee, before ever thy glance returns to thee.' Then, when he saw it settled before him, he said, 'This is of my Lord's bounty that He may try me, whether I am thankful or ungrateful. Whosoever gives thanks gives thanks only for his own soul's good, and whosoever is ungrateful -- my Lord is surely All-sufficient, All-generous.'
Maududi And he who had some knowledge of the Book said: "I will bring it before the twinkling of your eye." When Solomon saw the throne placed firmly beside him, he cried out: "This is by the grace of my Lord so that He may test me whether I give thanks for (His Bounty) or act with ingratitude. Whoever is grateful is so to his own good; and whoever is ungrateful, let him know that my Lord is Immensely Resourceful, Most Bountiful."
Pickthall One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence, (Solomon) said: This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul; and whosoever is ungrateful (is ungrateful only to his own soul's hurt). For lo! my Lord is Absolute in independence, Bountiful.
Sahih Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."
Yusuf Ali Said one who had knowledge of the Book: "I will bring it to thee within the twinkling of an eye!" Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said: "This is by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour!"