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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 625 of 866 · Chapter 1: > Chapter 38: (1/9)

in brief
In Sura Sad, the Qur’an is sworn as a truth-filled admonition, unbelievers are condemned for pride and schism, and past destroyals and mockery lead into the story of David and the litigants.

SAD (THE LETTER SAD) Total Verses: 88 Revealed At: MAKKA


In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

038.001 Y: Sad: By the Qur'an, Full of Admonition: (This is the Truth).

P: Sad. By the renowned Qur'an,

S: Suad, I swear by the Quran, full of admonition.

038.002 Y: But the Unbelievers (are steeped) in self-glory and Separatism.

P: Nay, but those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.

S: Nay! those who disbelieve are in self-exaltation and opposition.

038.003 Y: How many generations before them did We destroy? In the end they cried (for mercy)- when there was no longer time for being saved!

P: How many a generation We destroyed before them, and they cried out when it was no longer the time for escape!

S: How many did We destroy before them of the generations, then they cried while the time of escaping had passed away.

038.004 Y: So they wonder that a Warner has come to them from among themselves! and the Unbelievers say, "This is a sorcerer telling lies!"

P: And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.

S: And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say: This IS an enchanter, a liar.

038.005 Y: "Has he made the gods (all) into one Allah? Truly this is a wonderful thing!"

P: Maketh he the gods One Allah? Lo! that is an astounding thing.

S: What! makes he the gods a single Allah? A strange thing is this, to be sure!

038.006 Y: 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)!"

P: The chiefs among them go about, exhorting: Go and be staunch to your gods! Lo! this is a thing designed.

S: And the chief persons of them break forth, saying: Go and steadily adhere to your gods; this is most surely a thing sought after.

038.007 Y: "We never heard (the like) of this among the people of these latter days: this is nothing but a made-up tale!"

P: We have not heard of this in later religion. This is naught but an invention.

S: We never heard of this in the former faith; this is nothing but a forgery:

038.008 Y: "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!

P: 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.

S: Has the reminder been revealed to him from among us? Nay! they are in doubt as to My reminder. Nay! they have not yet tasted My chastisement!

038.009 Y: Or have they the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord,- the Exalted in Power, the Grantor of Bounties without measure?

P: Or are theirs the treasures of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower?

S: Or is it that they have the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the Mighty, the great Giver?

038.010 Y: 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)!

P: Or is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them theirs? Then let them ascend by ropes!

S: Or is it that theirs is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them? Then let them ascend by any means.

038.011 Y: But there - will be put to flight even a host of confederates.

P: A defeated host are (all) the factions that are there.

S: A host of deserters of the allies shall be here put to flight.

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topics: courage and cowardice · fate, destiny, and necessity · heresy, orthodoxy, and schism · scripture and its interpretation

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