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Three translations of the Koran (Al-Qur'an) side by side

Ali, Abdullah Yusuf; Pickthall, Marmaduke William; Shakir, M. H. · -610 to -632 (revelation); Qur'an as compiled afterward primary

passage 547 of 866 · Chapter 1: > Chapter 29: (6/10)

in brief
The passage lists divine destruction of Midian (Shuaib), Ad and Thamud, Qarun, Pharaoh, and Haman, then gives the spider parable: choosing patrons besides Allah yields the frailest protection.

S: But they rejected him, so a severe earthquake overtook them, and they became motionless bodies in their abode.

029.038 Y: (Remember also) the 'Ad and the Thamud (people): clearly will appear to you from (the traces) of their buildings (their fate): the Evil One made their deeds alluring to them, and kept them back from the Path, though they were gifted with intelligence and skill.

P: And (the tribes of) A'ad and Thamud! (Their fate) is manifest unto you from their (ruined and deserted) dwellings. Satan made their deeds seem fair unto them and so debarred them from the Way, though they were keen observers.

S: And (We destroyed) Ad and Samood, and from their dwellings (this) is apparent to you indeed; and the Shaitan made their deeds fair-seeming to them, so he kept them back from the path, though they were endowed with intelligence and skill,

029.039 Y: (Remember also) Qarun, Pharaoh, and Haman: there came to them Moses with Clear Signs, but they behaved with insolence on the earth; yet they could not overreach (Us).

P: And Korah, Pharaoh and Haman! Moses came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but they were boastful in the land. And they were not winners (in the race).

S: And (We destroyed) Qaroun and Firon and Haman; and certainly Musa came to them with clear arguments, but they behaved haughtily in the land; yet they could not outstrip (Us).

029.040 Y: Each one of them We seized for his crime: of them, against some We sent a violent tornado (with showers of stones); some were caught by a (mighty) Blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned (in the waters): It was not Allah Who injured (or oppressed) them: They injured (and oppressed) their own souls.

P: So We took each one in his sin; of them was he on whom We sent a hurricane, and of them was he who was overtaken by the (Awful) Cry, and of them was he whom We caused the earth to swallow, and of them was he whom We drowned. It was not for Allah to wrong them, but they wronged themselves.

S: So each We punished for his sin; of them was he on whom We sent down a violent storm, and of them was he whom the rumbling overtook, and of them was he whom We made to be swallowed up by the earth, and of them was he whom We drowned; and it did not beseem Allah that He should be unjust to them, but they were unjust to their own souls.

029.041 Y: The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew.

P: The likeness of those who choose other patrons than Allah is as the likeness of the spider when she taketh unto herself a house, and lo! the frailest of all houses is the spider's house, if they but knew.

S: The parable of those who take guardians besides Allah is as the parable of the spider that makes for itself a house; and most surely the frailest of the houses is the spider's house did they but know.

029.042 Y: Verily Allah doth know of (every thing) whatever that they call upon besides Him: and He is Exalted (in power), Wise.

P: Lo! Allah knoweth what thing they invoke instead of Him. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

S: Surely Allah knows whatever thing they call upon besides Him; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

029.043 Y: And such are the Parables We set forth for mankind, but only those understand them who have knowledge.

P: As for these similitudes, We coin them for mankind, but none will grasp their meaning save the wise.

S: And (as for) these examples, We set them forth for men, and none understand them but the learned.

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topics: crime and punishment · fate, destiny, and necessity

Three translations of the Koran (Al-Qur'an) side by side · Ali, Abdullah Yusuf; Pickthall, Marmaduke William; Shakir, M. H. · 610–632 BCE