Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“When we are dead and become dust? That is a far return!”

ءَاِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَاباًۚ ذٰلِكَ رَجْعٌ بَع۪يدٌ
A-itha mitna wakunna turabanthalika rajAAun baAAeed
#wordmeaningroot
1a-idhāWhat! When
2mit'nāwe dieموت
3wakunnāand have becomeكون
4turābandustترب
5dhālikaThat
6rajʿun(is) a returnرجع
7baʿīdunfarبعد
  • Aisha Bewley

    When we are dead and turned to dust.. . ? That would be a most unlikely return!’

  • Progressive Muslims

    "Can it be that when we are dead and we become dust, that we come back later"

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    What! After we have died and become dust? Such a return is a thought far-fetched indeed!"

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “When we are dead and become dust? That is a far return!”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "Can it be that when we are dead and we become dust, that we come back later?"

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "When we are dead and we become dust… This is a far return!"

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "After we die and become dust; this is impossible."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    When we are dead and turned to dust, this returning (to life) is most far-fetched. "

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

    When we have died and have become dust, ? That is a distant return. "

  • Muhammad Asad

    Why - after we have died and become mere dust? Such a return seems far-fetched indeed!"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be brought back again)? That would be a far return!

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    What! When we are dead and reduced to mere dust, (shall we be raised to life)? Such a return is far-fetched."*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "How can We be raised after death when we have been reduced to dust?" "This idea of Resurrection, studiously sought out, is indeed far fetched. "

  • Bijan Moeinian

    The disbelievers wonder, how after being turned into dust, one day they will be raised to be questioned about what they have done while living on earth.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    "When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be resurrected?) That is a far return."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) That is a (sort of) return far (from our understanding)."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹Will we be returned to life,˺ when we are dead and reduced to dust? Such a return is impossible."

  • Taqi Usmani

    Is it when we die and become dust (that we will be brought to life again?) That is a return, far (from understanding)."

  • Abdul Haleem

    To come back after we have died and become dust? That is too farfetched.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    What, when we are dead and become dust? That is a far returning!'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    What, when we are dead and have become dust?- that is a remote return!'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    "What! When we are dead and have become dust (shall we live again)? That is a far return (or far from probable or from our understanding). "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    When we die and are dust (will we return)? That is a far returning!"

  • George Sale

    After we shall be dead, and become dust, shall we return to life? This is a return remote from thought.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) that is a (sort of) return far (from our understanding). "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    `What! when we are dead and reduced to dust, (shall we be raised to life again)? This (sort of) return is highly impossible. '

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    What! When we are dead and have become dust ? That is a far-fetched return!’