Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

O wives of the Prophet: you are not like any among women. If you are in prudent fear, then be not soft in speech lest he in whose heart is disease should desire; but speak a fitting word,

يَا نِسَٓاءَ النَّبِيِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَاَحَدٍ مِنَ النِّسَٓاءِ اِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذ۪ي ف۪ي قَلْبِه۪ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلاً مَعْرُوفاًۚ
Ya nisaa annabiyyilastunna kaahadin mina annisa-i iniittaqaytunna fala takhdaAAna bilqawli fayatmaAAaallathee fee qalbihi maradun waqulna qawlanmaAAroofa
#wordmeaningroot
1yānisāaO wivesنسو
2l-nabiyi(of) the Prophetنبا
3lastunnaYou are notليس
4ka-aḥadinlike anyoneاحد
5minaamong
6l-nisāithe womenنسو
7iniIf
8ittaqaytunnayou fear (Allah)وقي
9falāthen (do) not
10takhḍaʿnabe softخضع
11bil-qawliin speechقول
12fayaṭmaʿalest should be moved with desireطمع
13alladhīhe who
14in
15qalbihihis heartقلب
16maraḍun(is) a diseaseمرض
17waqul'nabut sayقول
18qawlana wordقول
19maʿrūfanappropriateعرف
  • Aisha Bewley

    Wives of the Prophet! you are not like other women provided you have taqwa. Do not be too soft-spoken in your speech lest someone with sickness in his heart becomes desirous. Speak correct and courteous words.

  • Progressive Muslims

    O wives of the prophet, you are not like any other women. If you are righteous, then do not speak too softly, lest those with disease in their hearts will move with desire; you shall speak in an honourable manner.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    O Wives of the Prophet! You are not like other women. If you live upright, then, be not over-soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease aspire (to you). But speak in customary kindness.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    O wives of the Prophet: you are not like any among women. If you are in prudent fear, then be not soft in speech lest he in whose heart is disease should desire; but speak a fitting word,

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    O women of the prophet, you are not like any other women. If you are righteous, then do not speak too softly, lest those with disease in their hearts will move with desire; you shall speak in an honorable manner.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    O wives of the prophet, you are not like any other women. If you are righteous, then do not speak too softly, lest those with disease in their hearts will move with desire; you shall speak in an honorable manner.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    O wives of the prophet, you are not the same as any other women, if you observe righteousness. (You have a greater responsibility.) Therefore, you shall not speak too softly, lest those with disease in their hearts may get the wrong ideas; you shall speak only righteousness.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    O wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women. If you are mindful of God, do not be too obliging in your speech, lest some one sick of heart should covet your person; so say only customary things.

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

    O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech , lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.

  • Muhammad Asad

    O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any of the women, provided that you remain conscious of God. Hence, be not over-soft in your speech, lest any whose heart is diseased should be moved to desire : but, withal, speak in a kindly way.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    O ye wives of the Prophet! Ye are not like any other women. If ye keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women. If you fear Allah, do not be too complaisant in your speech lest those with diseased hearts should covet you; but speak in a straight forward manner.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    O you the wives of the Prophet: You must realize that you are not like any of the other women in privileges, dignity, state and all other aspects. If indeed you do entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah then you must not be disposed in your discourse, to accommodate yourselves to the rest nor care to please so that you guard yourselves from being supposed by the one whose heart reflects the morbidity inherent in his innermost being. Show discernment in the guidance of your discourse* and let it reflect equity and justice.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Wives of the Prophet, you are not like ordinary women . If you are God fearing, do not speak too softly; this may cause some men, with a disease in their hearts, to entertain the wrong ideas. Instead, speak business like. Stay at home ; …..

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allâh), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear (Allah), be not too complacent of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women: if you are mindful ˹of Allah˺, then do not be overly effeminate in speech ˹with men˺ or those with sickness in their hearts may be tempted, but speak in a moderate tone.

  • Taqi Usmani

    O wives of the prophet, you are not like any other women, if you observe taqwā (righteousness). So, do not be too soft in your speech, lest someone having disease in his heart should develop fancies (about you); and do speak with appropriate words.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other woman. If you are truly mindful of God, do not speak too softly in case the sick at heart should lust after you, but speak in an appropriate manner;

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Wives of the Prophet, you are not as other women. If you are godfearing, be not abject in your speech, so that he in whose heart is sickness may be lustful; but speak honourable words.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    O ye women of the prophet! ye are not like any other women; if ye fear God then be not too complaisant in speech, or he in whose heart is sickness will lust after you; but speak a reasonable speech.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and does good, We will give to her a double reward, and We have prepared for her an honourable sustenance.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    O wives of the Prophet, you are not as any other women. In case you act piously, then do not be too subdued of speech, so that he in whose heart is sickness may long for (too much expectation of you); and speak beneficent words.

  • George Sale

    O wives of the prophet, ye are not as other women: If ye fear God, be not too complaisant in speech, lest he should covet, in whose heart is a disease of incontinence; but speak the speech which is convenient.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    O Wives of the Prophet! You are not like any (other) women: If you fear (Allah), do not be soft in (your) speech (about what is said while you teach Islam), in case a person in whose heart is a sickness should be moved with desire: But you speak honorably (in what is to be said).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    O wives of the Prophet! you are like no other women, if you would guard against evil, so be not soft in speech lest he who carries a disease in his heart should feel tempted, and you should speak decent words in a dignified tone.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women: if you are wary , then do not be complaisant in your speech, lest he in whose heart is a sickness should aspire, and speak honourable words.