Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And Muḥammad is only a messenger; messengers have passed away before him. If then he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels does no harm to God at all; and God will reward the grateful.

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ اِلَّا رَسُولٌۚ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُۜ اَفَا۬ئِنْ مَاتَ اَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلٰٓى اَعْقَابِكُمْۜ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلٰى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللّٰهَ شَيْـٔاًۜ وَسَيَجْزِي اللّٰهُ الشَّاكِر۪ينَ
Wama muhammadun illarasoolun qad khalat min qablihi arrusulu afa-in mataaw qutila inqalabtum AAala aAAqabikum wamanyanqalib AAala AAaqibayhi falan yadurra Allahashay-an wasayajzee Allahu ashshakireen
#wordmeaningroot
1wamāAnd not
2muḥammadun(is) Muhammad
3illāexcept
4rasūluna Messengerرسل
5qadcertainly
6khalatpassed awayخلو
7minfrom
8qablihibefore himقبل
9l-rusulu[the] (other) Messengersرسل
10afa-inSo if
11mātahe diedموت
12awor
13qutilais slainقتل
14inqalabtumwill you turn backقلب
15ʿalāon
16aʿqābikumyour heelsعقب
17wamanAnd whoever
18yanqalibturns backقلب
19ʿalāon
20ʿaqibayhihis heelsعقب
21falanthen never
22yaḍurrawill he harmضرر
23l-lahaAllah
24shayan(in) anythingشيا
25wasayajzīAnd will rewardجزي
26l-lahuAllah
27l-shākirīnathe grateful onesشكر
  • Aisha Bewley

    Muhammad is only a Messenger and he has been preceded by other Messengers. If he were to die or be killed, would you turn on your heels? Those who turn on their heels do not harm Allah in any way. Allah will recompense the thankful.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And Mohammed is but a messenger, like many messengers that have passed before him. If he dies or is killed will you turn back on your heels And whoever turns back on his heels, he will not harm God in the least. And God will reward the thankful.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Muhammad is but a Messenger. All Messengers before him have passed on. If he died or were slain, would you turn back on your heels? The System he has established is here to stay and to become a Beacon of Light for all humanity. If anyone turns away, he would not harm Allah. Allah will soon reward the appreciative. They will reap the fruit of the Benevolent System and then in the Hereafter.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And Muḥammad is only a messenger; messengers have passed away before him. If then he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels does no harm to God at all; and God will reward the grateful.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And Mohammed is but a messenger, like many messengers who have passed before him. If he dies or is killed will you turn back on your heels? And whoever turns back on his heels, he will not harm God in the least. And God will recompense the thankful.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Muhammed is but a messenger, like many messengers that have passed before him. If he dies or gets killed, will you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels, he will not harm God in the least. God will reward the thankful.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Muhammad was no more than a messenger like the messengers before him. Should he die or get killed, would you turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels, does not hurt GOD in the least. GOD rewards those who are appreciative.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Muhammad is only a messenger; and many a messenger has gone before him. So what if he dies or is killed! Will you turn back and go away in haste? But he who turns back and goes away in haste will do no harm to God. But God will reward those who give thanks (and are grateful).

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    Muúammad is not but a messenger. messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels ? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful.

  • Muhammad Asad

    AND MUHAMMAD is only an apostle; all the apostles have passed away before him: if, then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? But he that turns about on his heels can in no wise harm God - whereas God will requite all who are grateful .

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dieth or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels? He who turneth back on his heels doth no hurt to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and Messengers have passed away before him. If, then, he were to die or be slain will you turn about on your heels?* Whoever turns about on his heels can in no way harm Allah. As for the grateful ones, Allah will soon reward them.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "Muhammad is but a Messenger the like of whom have passed away before him. Do you mean if he dies or is slain in battle, you turn renegades and return to idolatry! Indeed he who turns back on his heels and reverses his position shall never hurt Allah’s interest in the least, and Allah shall reward the thankful."

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Mohammad is only a Prophet : many prophets have already passed before him. Should he die or be killed would you desert your ranks? Anyone who turns back does not hurt God in the least. God rewards only those who are thankful

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allâh; and Allâh will give reward to those who are grateful.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Muhammad is no more than a messenger: many Were the messenger that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will ye then Turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve Him) with gratitude.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Muḥammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have gone before him. If he were to die or to be killed, would you regress into disbelief? Those who do so will not harm Allah whatsoever. And Allah will reward those who are grateful.

  • Taqi Usmani

    MuHammad is but a messenger, there have been messengers before him. So, if he dies or is killed, would you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels can never harm Allah in the least. Allah shall soon reward the grateful.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Muhammad is only a messenger before whom many messengers have been and gone. If he died or was killed, would you revert to your old ways? If anyone did so, he would not harm God in the least. God will reward the grateful.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Muhammad is naught but a Messenger; Messengers have passed away before him. Why, if he should die or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? If any man should turn about on his heels, he will not harm God in any way; and God will recompense the thankful.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Mohammed is but an apostle; apostles have passed away before his time; what if he die or is killed, will ye retreat upon your heels? He who retreats upon his heels does no harm to God at all; but God will recompense the thankful.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Mohammed is but a Messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before his time. What if he die or is killed, will you retreat upon your heels? He who retreats does no harm to Allah at all; but Allah will recompense the thankful.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And in no way is Muhammad (anything) except a Messenger; the Messengers have already passed away before him. Then, will it be that, in case he dies or is killed, will you turn (Literally: turn (s) over on) on your heels? And whoever turns (Literally: turn (s) over on) on his heels, then he will never harm Allah in anything; and Allah will recompense the thankful.

  • George Sale

    Mohammed is no more than an apostle; the other apostles have already deceased before him: If he die therefore, or be slain, will ye turn back on your heels? But he who turneth back on his heels, will not hurt God at all; and God will surely reward the thankful.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Muhammad is no more than a messenger: And many earlier messengers passed away before him. If he dies or (if he) is killed, then will you turn back on your heels? (And go back from Islam?) If any(one) did turn back on his heels, he will not do the least harm to Allah, but (on the other hand) Allah will swiftly reward those who (serve him) with gratitude.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Surely, all Messengers have passed away before him. Would you recant if he dies or be killed. And he who recants shall do no harm at all to Allâh, and Allâh will certainly reward the grateful.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Muḥammad is but an apostle; apostles have passed before him. If he dies or is slain, will you turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels will not harm Allah in the least, and soon Allah will reward the grateful.