Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Obedience and fitting speech; then when the matter was determined, had they been true to God it would have been better for them.

طَاعَةٌ وَقَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ۠ فَاِذَا عَزَمَ الْاَمْرُ۠ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا اللّٰهَ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَهُمْۚ
TaAAatun waqawlun maAAroofun fa-ithaAAazama al-amru falaw sadaqoo Allaha lakanakhayran lahum
#wordmeaningroot
1ṭāʿatun(Is) obedienceطوع
2waqawlunand a wordقول
3maʿrūfunkindعرف
4fa-idhāAnd when
5ʿazama(is) determinedعزم
6l-amruthe matterامر
7falawthen if
8ṣadaqūthey had been trueصدق
9l-laha(to) Allah
10lakānasurely, it would have beenكون
11khayranbetterخير
12lahumfor them
  • Aisha Bewley

    would be obedience and honourable words. Once the matter is resolved upon, being true to Allah would be better for them.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Obedience and to speak righteousness until the matter is decided, then if they trust God it would be better for them.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Obedience and a righteous word. For, once a matter has been determined, it would be best for them if they were true to Allah.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Obedience and fitting speech; then when the matter was determined, had they been true to God it would have been better for them.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Obedience and to speak righteousness until the matter is decided, then if they trust God it would be better for them.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Obedience and to speak righteousness until the matter is decided, then if they trust God it would be better for them.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Obedience and righteous utterances are expected of them. If only they showed confidence in GOD, when mobilization was called for, it would have been better for them.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Obedience and modest speech (would have been more becoming). And when the matter has been determined it is best for them to be true to God.

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

    Obedience and good words. And when the matter was determined, if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.

  • Muhammad Asad

    obedience and a word that could win approval: for, since the matter has been resolved , it would be but for their own good to remain true to God.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Obedience and a civil word. Then, when the matter is determined, if they are loyal to Allah it will be well for them.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    (They keep affirming their) obedience and saying good words. But when a course of action was clearly determined, it would have been better for them if they had proved true to Allah.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Willing obedience coupled with words expressing desire for action should have been their response and when Allah's command comes about, then if their actions to their words accord, it would be more advantageous to them.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Obedient and righteous by word! If they knew how beneficial it would have been for them to fight when God asked them to do so.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Obedience (to Allâh) and good words (were better for them). And when the matter (preparation for Jihâd ) is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allâh, it would have been better for them.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Were it to obey and say what is just, and when a matter is resolved on, it were best for them if they were true to Allah.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    to obey and speak rightly. Then when fighting was ordained, it surely would have been better for them if they were true to Allah.

  • Taqi Usmani

    The (reality of their) obedience and (truthfulness of their) speech is fully known (as being mere deception). So, had they been truthful to Allah when the matter had become serious, it would have been much better for them.

  • Abdul Haleem

    would be obedience and fitting words; it would also be better for them to be true to God when the decision to fight has been made.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    obedience, and words honourable. Then, when the matter is resolved, if they were true to God, it would be better for them.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Preferable for them were obedience and a reasonable speech! But when the matter is determined on, then if they believed God it were better for them.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Obedience and just (or civil, appropriate) words would be proper; but when the affair becomes settled, then if they remain true to Allah it would certainly be better for them.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Obedience and beneficent saying. Then, when the Command is resolved, then if they were sincere to Allah, indeed it would be more charitable (i.e., better) for them.

  • George Sale

    But obedience would be more eligible for them, and to speak that which is convenient. And when the command is firmly established, if they give credit unto God, it will be better for them.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Were they to obey (Allah) and say good word what are just, when a matter (of holy war) is resolved (by Allah’s Will), it would be best for them, if they were true to Allah.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (More fitting and proper for them was) to obey and to say what is just and good. And when the matter (of fighting) is (once) resolved upon (and war breaks out) it is better for them if they remain true to Allâh (and fulfill the covenant they made with Him).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Obedience and upright speech.. . . So when the matter has been resolved upon, if they remain true to Allah that will surely be better for them.