Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

But when they see trade or diversion, they disband towards it and leave thee standing. Say thou: “That which is with God is better than diversion or trade”; and God is the best of providers.

وَاِذَا رَاَوْا تِجَارَةً اَوْ لَهْواًۨ انْفَضُّٓوا اِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَٓائِماًۜ قُلْ مَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ التِّجَارَةِۜ وَاللّٰهُ خَيْرُ الرَّازِق۪ينَ
Wa-itha raaw tijaratan awlahwan infaddoo ilayha watarakooka qa-imanqul ma AAinda Allahi khayrun mina allahwi wamina attijaratiwallahu khayru arraziqeen
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-idhāAnd when
2ra-awthey sawراي
3tijāratana transactionتجر
4awor
5lahwana sportلهو
6infaḍḍūthey rushedفضض
7ilayhāto it
8watarakūkaand left youترك
9qāimanstandingقوم
10qulSayقول
11What
12ʿinda(is) withعند
13l-lahiAllah
14khayrun(is) betterخير
15minathan
16l-lahwithe sport
17waminaand from
18l-tijārati(any) transactionتجر
19wal-lahuAnd Allah
20khayru(is the) Bestخير
21l-rāziqīna(of) the Providersرزق
  • Aisha Bewley

    But when they see a chance of trade or entertainment they scatter off to it and leave you standing there. Say: ‘What is with Allah is better than trade or entertainment. Allah is the Best of Providers.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    And if they come across any trade, or some entertainment, they rush to it and leave you standing! Say: "What God possesses is far better than entertainment or trade. And God is the best Provider."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Yet when they see some bargain or entertainment, they rush to it, and leave you standing. Say, "That which is with Allah is better than all entertainment and all bargain. And Allah is the Best of providers."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    But when they see trade or diversion, they disband towards it and leave thee standing. Say thou: “That which is with God is better than diversion or trade”; and God is the best of providers.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And if they come across any trade, or some entertainment, they rush to it and leave you standing! Say: "What God possesses is far better than entertainment or trade. And God is the best Provider."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    If they come across any trade, or some entertainment, they rush to it and leave you standing, say, "What God possesses is far better than entertainment or trade. God is the best Provider."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    When some of them come across a business deal, or some entertainment, they rush to it and leave you standing! Say, "What GOD possesses is far better than the entertainment or the business. GOD is the best Provider."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Yet when they see some buying and selling, or some sport, they go for it, leaving you standing. Tell them: "What is with God is better than your sport and commerce. And God is the best of providers."

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

    But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, , they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, "What is with Allah is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers."

  • Muhammad Asad

    Yet when people become aware of worldly gain or a passing delight, they rush headlong towards it, and leave thee standing . Say: "That which is with God is far better than all passing delight and all gain! And God is the best of providers!"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    But when they spy some merchandise or pastime they break away to it and leave thee standing. Say: That which Allah hath is better than pastime and than merchandise, and Allah is the Best of providers.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Yet no sooner than they saw some trading or amusement, they flocked to it and left you standing by yourself.* Tell them: "That which is with Allah is far better than amusement and trading.* Allah is the Best Provider of sustenance."*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And when they see merchandise purposed for trade or they See amusement- the happiness of those that cannot think - they disperse and spread about and leave you standing addressing to them the divine discourse. Say to them: "What Allah has of rewards and happiness in His heaven's realm is far better than the satisfaction and happiness you derive from trade and amusement in life. And Allah is the best Purveyor to fit every person with what is necessary and with what he needs".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Tell to those Muslims who abandoned your Friday sermon to attend a business deal and entertainment: "That what you earn by worshipping God is far superior to what you may gain by closing a business deal or engaging in entertainment activities. Know that God is the best of all providers."

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And when they see some merchandise or some amusement they disperse headlong to it, and leave you (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) standing . Say: "That which Allâh has is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allâh is the Best of providers."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    But when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say: "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! and Allah is the Best to provide (for all needs)."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    When they saw the fanfare along with the caravan, they ˹almost all˺ flocked to it, leaving you ˹O Prophet˺ standing ˹on the pulpit˺. Say, "What is with Allah is far better than amusement and merchandise. And Allah is the Best Provider."

  • Taqi Usmani

    And when they see some merchandise or amusement, they break away to it, and leave you (O prophet,) standing. Say, "What is with Allah is much better than the amusement and the merchandise, and Allah is the best giver of sustenance.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Yet they scatter towards trade or entertainment whenever they observe it, and leave you standing there. Say, ‘God’s gift is better than any entertainment or trade: God is the best provider.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    But when they see merchandise or diversion they scatter off to it, and they leave thee standing. Say: 'What is with God is better than diversion and merchandise. God is the best of providers.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    But when they see merchandise or sport they flock to it and leave thee standing! Say, 'What is with God is better than sport and than merchandise, for God is the best of providers!'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And when they see merchandise (bargains or business) or sport (amusement) they break up for it, and leave you standing. Say, "That which is with Allah is better than sport and better than merchandise, and Allah is the best of Sustainers."

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And when they see (some) commercial dealing or some diversion, they break away to it, and they leave you (standing) upright. Say, "What is in the Providence of Allah is more charitable (i.e., sealed) than diversion and commerce; and Allah is The Most Charitable of providers."

  • George Sale

    But when they see any merchandizing, or sport, they flock thereto, and leave thee standing up in thy pulpit. Say, the reward which is with God is better than any sport or merchandize: And God is the best provider.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And when they see some bargain or some amusement, they leave to run to it, and leave you standing. Say: "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to Provide (for all needs) (Khair-ur-Razikheen)."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    But (Prophet!) when some people see some merchandise or any form of amusement, they run for it and leave you standing (on the pulpit), say, `That (reward of worshipping Allâh) which Allâh has (for you) is far better than any amusement or merchandise, and Allâh is the Best of Providers.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    When they sight a deal or a diversion, they scatter off towards it and leave you standing! Say, ‘What is with Allah is better than diversion and dealing, and Allah is the best of providers. ’