Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

He said: “What prevented thee from submitting when I commanded thee?” Said he: “I am better than he; Thou createdst me of fire, and Thou createdst him of clay.”

قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ اَلَّا تَسْجُدَ اِذْ اَمَرْتُكَۜ قَالَ اَنَا۬ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُۚ خَلَقْتَن۪ي مِنْ نَارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ ط۪ينٍ
Qala ma manaAAaka allatasjuda ith amartuka qala ana khayrun minhukhalaqtanee min narin wakhalaqtahu min teen
#wordmeaningroot
1qāla(Allah) saidقول
2What
3manaʿakaprevented youمنع
4allāthat not
5tasjudayou prostrateسجد
6idhwhen
7amartukaI commanded youامر
8qāla(Shaitaan) saidقول
9anāI am
10khayrunbetterخير
11min'huthan him
12khalaqtanīYou created meخلق
13minfrom
14nārinfireنور
15wakhalaqtahuand You created himخلق
16minfrom
17ṭīninclayطين
  • Aisha Bewley

    He said, ‘What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you to?’ He replied, ‘I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    He said: "What has prevented you from submitting when I have ordered you" He said: "I am far better than him, You created me from fire and created him from clay!"

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    God said, "What stopped you from being subservient when I ordered you?" Iblis responded, "I am better than he. You created me from fire, and him from clay." (Emotions are fiery in relation to sound judgment. The criterion of honor is not lineage, color, caste or nation. It is nothing but good conduct (49:13)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    He said: “What prevented thee from submitting when I commanded thee?” Said he: “I am better than he; Thou createdst me of fire, and Thou createdst him of clay.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He said: "What has prevented you from yielding when I have ordered you?" He said: "I am far better than him, You created me from fire and created him from clay!"

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He said, "What has prevented you from submitting when I have ordered you?" He said, "I am better than him, You created me from fire and created him from clay!"

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    He said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered you?" He said, "I am better than he; You created me from fire, and created him from mud."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    "What prevented you" (said God), "from bowing (before Adam) at My bidding?" "I am better than him," said he. "You created me from fire, and him from clay."

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

    said, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay."

  • Muhammad Asad

    said: "What has kept thee from prostrating thyself when I commanded thee?" Answered : "I am better than he: Thou hast created me out of fire, whereas him Thou hast created out of clay. "

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He said: What hindered thee that thou didst not fall prostrate when I bade thee? (Iblis) said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Allah said: 'What prevented you from prostrating, when I commanded you to do so?' He said: 'I am better than he. You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.'

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Then Allah asked: "What prompted you AL-Shaytan not to prostrate to Adam when I commanded you to do so!". "But I am of a better sort than he is". Said AL-Shaytan; "You created me from fire whereas You created him from clay".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Your Lord then asked: "What prevented you from the prostration when I commanded you?" He replied: "I am better than Adam. You created me from fire, while Adam is made of mud

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    (Allâh) said: "What prevented you (O Iblîs) that you did not prostrate yourself, when I commanded you?" Iblîs said: "I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    (Allah) said: "What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?" He said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Allah asked, "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?" He replied, “I am better than he is: You created me from fire and him from clay.”

  • Taqi Usmani

    Allah said, "What has prevented you from prostrating when I ordered you?" He said, “I am better than him. You have created me of fire, and created him of clay.”

  • Abdul Haleem

    God said, ‘What prevented you from bowing down as I commanded you?’ and he said, ‘I am better than him: You created me from fire and him from clay.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Said He, 'What prevented thee to bow thyself, when I commanded thee?' Said he, 'I am better than he; Thou createdst me of fire, and him Thou createdst of clay. '

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Said He, 'What hinders thee from adoring when I order thee?' he said, 'I am better than he; Thou hast created me from fire, and him Thou hast created out of clay. '

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    He (Allah) said, "What hinders you from prostration when I command you?" He (Iblis) said, "I am better than he; you have created me from Fire, and him you have created out of Clay. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Said He, "What prevented you from prostrating as I commanded you?" Said he, "I am more charitable (i. e. better) than he. You created me of fire, and You created him of clay."

  • George Sale

    God said unto him, what hindered thee from worshipping Adam, since I had commanded thee? He answered, I am more excellent than he: Thou hast created me of fire, and hast created him of clay.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (Allah) said: "What prevented you (O Satan) from bowing down when I Commanded you?" He (Satan) said: "I am better than he (Adam): You created me from Fire, and him (Adam) from clay. "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (God) said, `What prevented you from submitting when I commanded you (to submit)?' (Iblîs) said, `I am better than he (- the human being). You created me from fire whereas You created him from clay.'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Said He, ‘What prevented you from prostrating, when I commanded you?’ ‘I am better than him,’ he said. ‘You created me from fire and You created him from clay.’