Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And thou didst not recite any Writ before it, nor didst thou inscribe one with thy right hand; then might the creators of vanity have doubted.

وَمَا كُنْتَ تَتْلُوا مِنْ قَبْلِه۪ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُ بِيَم۪ينِكَ اِذاً لَارْتَابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
Wama kunta tatloo min qablihi min kitabinwala takhuttuhu biyameenika ithan lartabaalmubtiloon
#wordmeaningroot
1wamāAnd not
2kunta(did) youكون
3tatlūreciteتلو
4minbefore it
5qablihibefore itقبل
6minany
7kitābinBookكتب
8walāand not
9takhuṭṭuhu(did) you write itخطط
10biyamīnikawith your right handيمن
11idhanin that case
12la-ir'tābasurely (would) have doubtedريب
13l-mub'ṭilūnathe falsifiersبطل
  • Aisha Bewley

    You never recited any Book before it nor did you write one down with your right hand. If you had, the purveyors of falsehood would have voiced their doubts.

  • Progressive Muslims

    You were not reciting any scripture before this, nor were you writing one down by your hand. In that case, the doubters would have had reason.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    For, (O Prophet) you were never able to read a book or Scripture before this (Qur'an), nor could you write anything with your own hand. Or else, they who try to disprove the Truth might have some cause to doubt it. ((2:23). 'Biyameenik' = With your right hand = With your own hand).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And thou didst not recite any Writ before it, nor didst thou inscribe one with thy right hand; then might the creators of vanity have doubted.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    You were not reciting any Book before this, nor were you writing one down by your hand. In that case, the doubters would have had reason.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    You were not reciting any book before this, nor were you writing one down by your hand. In that case, the doubters would have had reason.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    You did not read the previous scriptures, nor did you write them with your hand. In that case, the rejectors would have had reason to harbor doubts.*

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    You did not read any Scripture before this, nor wrote one with your right hand, or else these dissemblers would have found a cause to doubt it.

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

    And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Otherwise the falsifiers would have had doubt.

  • Muhammad Asad

    for, thou hast never been able to recite any divine writ ere this one , nor didst thou ever transcribe one with your own hand or else, they who try to disprove the truth might indeed have had cause to doubt .

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And thou (O Muhammad) wast not a reader of any scripture before it, nor didst thou write it with thy right hand, for then might those have doubted, who follow falsehood.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    (O Prophet), you did not recite any Book before, nor did you write it down with your hand; for then the votaries of falsehood would have had a cause for doubt.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Had you been -O Muhammad- a learned man who read books before the Quran and were able to give expression to your feelings and your thoughts in writing and transcribe it with your right hand, this would have raised suspicion among those who take pleasure in the vanity of wickedness.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    You (Mohammad) never read any book before Qur’an, neither have you authored any book so far If you had done so, the disbelievers would have had a reason to doubt

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Neither did you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) read any book before it (this Qur’ân), nor did you write any book (whatsoever) with your right hand. In that case, indeed, the followers of falsehood might have doubted.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    And thou wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: In that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    You ˹O Prophet˺ could not read any writing ˹even˺ before this ˹revelation˺, nor could you write at all. Otherwise, the people of falsehood would have been suspicious.

  • Taqi Usmani

    You (O Prophet,) have never been reciting any book before this, nor have you been writing it with your right hand; had it been so, the adherents of falsehood would have raised doubts.

  • Abdul Haleem

    You never recited any Scripture before We revealed this one to you; you never wrote one down with your hand. If you had done so, those who follow falsehood might have had cause to doubt.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Not before this didst thou recite any Book, or inscribe it with thy right hand, for then those who follow falsehood would have doubted.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Thou couldst not recite before this any book, nor write it with thy right hand, for in that case those who deem it vain would have doubted.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Thus did We send down to you the Book; and those unto whom We gave the Book (Scriptures) before will believe therein, and of these (Pagan Arabs) also there are some who believe therein. None reject Our revelations save disbelievers.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And in no way did you recite any Book before (this), nor did you pen it with your right (hand); then the wrongdoers (Literally: the doers) would indeed suspect it.

  • George Sale

    Thou couldest not read any book before this; neither couldest thou write it with thy right hand: Then had the gainsayers justly doubted of the divine original thereof.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And you were not (able) to say (and recite) a Book before this (Book came), and you are not (able) to write it with your right hand: Truly, if that was the case, the idle talkers would have doubted.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Prophet!) you read no book, nor did you write one with your own hand before this (Qur'ân was revealed). (Had it been so,) those who declare (it) as false could then (have the cause to) entertain some doubts.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    You did not use to recite any scripture before it, nor did you write it with your right hand, for then the impugners would have been skeptical.