Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And if thou find them in war, then put thou fear by them into those behind them, that they might take heed.

فَاِمَّا تَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْحَرْبِ فَشَرِّدْ بِهِمْ مَنْ خَلْفَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
Fa-imma tathqafannahum fee alharbifasharrid bihim man khalfahum laAAallahum yaththakkaroon
#wordmeaningroot
1fa-immāSo if
2tathqafannahumyou gain dominance over themثقف
3in
4l-ḥarbithe warحرب
5fasharriddisperseشرد
6bihimby them
7man(those) who
8khalfahum(are) behind themخلف
9laʿallahumso that they may
10yadhakkarūnatake heedذكر
  • Aisha Bewley

    So if you come upon such people in war, make a harsh example of them to deter those coming after them so that hopefully they will pay heed.

  • Progressive Muslims

    So, when you encounter them in battle, set them as an example to those who would come after them; perhaps they may remember.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    When you encounter them in war, deal with them to set an example for those who come after them, that they may remember.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And if thou find them in war, then put thou fear by them into those behind them, that they might take heed.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    So, when you encounter them in battle, set them as an example for those who will come after them; perhaps they may remember.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    So, when you encounter them in battle, set them as an example to those who would come after them; perhaps they may remember.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Therefore, if you encounter them in war, you shall set them up as a deterrent example for those who come after them, that they may take heed.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    If you meet them in battle, inflict on them such a defeat as would be a lesson for those who come after them, and that they may be warned.

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

    So if you, , gain dominance over them in war, disperse by them those behind them that perhaps they will be reminded.

  • Muhammad Asad

    if thou find them at war , make of them a fearsome example for those who follow them, so that they might take it to heart;

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    So if you meet them in war, make of them a fearsome example for those who follow them that they may he admonished.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Therefore, whenever and wherever you Muslims meet them in an active hostile contention, reduce them into a useless form to set an example of their humiliation serving as a deterrent to those who attempt thereafter to war against you.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Consequently, if you meet them in combat, make of them such an example that those who dare to come after them think twice.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    If ye gain the mastery over them in war, disperse, with them, those who follow them, that they may remember.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    If you ever encounter them in battle, make a fearsome example of them, so perhaps those who would follow them may be deterred.

  • Taqi Usmani

    So, if you find them in war, deal with them in a way that those behind them have to disperse fearfully, so that they take a lesson.

  • Abdul Haleem

    If you meet them in battle, make a fearsome example of them to those who come after them, so that they may take heed.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    So, if thou comest upon them anywhere in the war, deal with them in such wise as to scatter the ones behind them; haply they will remember.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    but shouldst thou ever catch them in war, then make those who come after them run by their example, haply they may remember then.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Should you come to war with them, then deal with them so as to strike fear into those who come after them (as an example), that per chance (or possibly) they may remember.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    So definitely in case you ever catch them in the war, then deal with them so as to disperse the ones (who1..are) behind them, that possibly they would constantly remember.

  • George Sale

    if thou take them in war, disperse, by making them an example, those who shall come after them, that they may be warned;

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    So if you win victory over them in war deal with them, and scatter them (and) those who follow them, that they may remember.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Therefore if you find these (breakers of trust) in battle array, then (by inflicting an exemplary punishment upon them) disperse those behind them so that they may be admonished.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    So if you confront them in battle, treat them as to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may take admonition.