Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And when they commit sexual immorality, they say: “We found our fathers doing it,” and: “God enjoined it upon us.” Say thou: “God enjoins not sexual immorality; do you ascribe to God what you know not?”

وَاِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَٓا اٰبَٓاءَنَا وَاللّٰهُ اَمَرَنَا بِهَاۜ قُلْ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَٓاءِۜ اَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Wa-itha faAAaloo fahishatan qaloowajadna AAalayha abaana wallahuamarana biha qul inna Allaha laya/muru bilfahsha-i ataqooloona AAalaAllahi ma la taAAlamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-idhāAnd when
2faʿalūthey doفعل
3fāḥishatanimmoralityفحش
4qālūthey sayقول
5wajadnāWe foundوجد
6ʿalayhāon it
7ābāanāour forefathersابو
8wal-lahuand Allah
9amaranā(has) ordered usامر
10bihāof it
11qulSayقول
12innaIndeed
13l-lahaAllah
14(does) not
15yamuruorderامر
16bil-faḥshāiimmoralityفحش
17ataqūlūnaDo you sayقول
18ʿalāabout
19l-lahiAllah
20what
21not
22taʿlamūnayou knowعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    Whenever they commit an indecent act, they say, ‘We found our fathers doing it and Allah commanded us to do it too. ’ Say: ‘Allah does not command indecency. Do you say things about Allah you do not know?’

  • Progressive Muslims

    And if they commit evil acts, they Say: "We found our fathers doing such, and God ordered us to it. " Say: "God does not order evil! Do you say about God what you do not know"

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (As an example) when people commit an indecency they say, "We found our forefathers doing it and Allah has enjoined it upon us. " (Made it natural for us). Say (O Prophet), "Allah never enjoins indecency. Do you attribute to Allah of which you have no knowledge?"

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And when they commit sexual immorality, they say: “We found our fathers doing it,” and: “God enjoined it upon us.” Say thou: “God enjoins not sexual immorality; do you ascribe to God what you know not?”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And if they commit immorality, they say: "We found our fathers doing such, and God ordered us to it." Say: "God does not order immorality! Do you say about God what you do not know?"

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    When they commit evil acts, they say, "We found our fathers doing such, and God ordered us to it." Say, "God does not order evil! Do you say about God what you do not know?"

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They commit a gross sin, then say, "We found our parents doing this, and GOD has commanded us to do it." Say, "GOD never advocates sin. Are you saying about GOD what you do not know?"

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Who say when they commit shameful acts: "Our ancestors used to do so, and God has enjoined us to do the same. " Say to them: "God never enjoins a conduct that is shameful. You impute such lies to God as you do not know."

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

    And when they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has ordered us to do it. " Say, "Indeed, Allah does not order immorality. Do you say about Allah that which you do not know?"

  • Muhammad Asad

    and whenever they commit a shameful deed, they are wont to say, "We found our forefathers doing it," and, "God has enjoined it upon us. " Say: "Behold, never does God enjoin deeds of abomination. Would you attribute unto God something of which you have no knowledge?"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And when they do some lewdness they say: We found our fathers doing it and Allah hath enjoined it on us. Say: Allah, verily, enjoineth not lewdness. Tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And when such people commit an indecent act they say: 'We found our fathers doing that, and Allah has enjoined it on us. Say: 'Surely Allah never enjoins any indecency. Do you say things regarding Allah that you do not know?'

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And when the Pagans commit themselves to an evil line of conduct* they claim this has been the system on which their fathers were bent, and they insolently allege that Allah has enjoined this set of correlated principles belonging to their belief. Say to them O Muhammad: "Allah does not enjoin immorality nor ordain what is evil or impure, viscious or dissolute; do you people relate to Allah a world you see in a grain of sand or a heaven in a wild flower and from ignorance your comfort flows! "

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When the latter commit an indecency, they say: "We found our forefathers doing the same thing; therefore, what we do is the will of God!" Say to them: "God never commands indecencies. " You do not know what you are talking about and you attribute to the Lord.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And when they commit a Fâhishah (evil deed, going round the Ka‘bah in naked state, and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse), they say: "We found our fathers doing it, and Allâh has commanded it on us." Say: "Nay, Allâh never commands Fâhishah. Do you say of Allâh what you know not?"

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    When they do aught that is shameful, they say: "We found our fathers doing so"; and "Allah commanded us thus": Say: "Nay, Allah never commands what is shameful: do ye say of Allah what ye know not?"

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Whenever they commit a shameful deed, they say, "We found our forefathers doing it and Allah has commanded us to do it." Say, “No! Allah never commands what is shameful. How can you attribute to Allah what you do not know?”

  • Taqi Usmani

    When they do a shameful act, they say, "We have found our fathers doing it, and Allah has ordered us to do so." Say, “Allah never orders anything shameful. Do you say about Allah what you do not know?”

  • Abdul Haleem

    Yet when do something disgraceful, they say, ‘We found our forefathers doing this,’ and, ‘God has commanded us to do this.’ Say , ‘God does not command disgraceful deeds. How can you say about God things that you do not know ?’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And whenever they commit an indecency they say, 'We found our fathers practising it, and God has commanded us to do it. ' Say: 'God does not command indecency; what, do you say concerning God such things as you know not?'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    and when they commit an abomination they say, 'We found our fathers at this, and God bade us do it. ' Say, 'God bids you not to do abomination; do ye say against God that which ye do not know?'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And when they commit an abomination (shameful things) they say, "We found our fathers at this, and Allah bade us do it. " Say, " Nay, Allah bids you not to do abominations (shameful things); do you say against Allah that which you know not?"

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And when they perform an obscenity, they say, "We found our fathers (performing) it, and Allah has commanded us to (perform) it. " Say, "Surely Allah does not command obscenity; do you say against Allah that which you do not know?"

  • George Sale

    And when they commit a filthy action, they say, we found our fathers practising the same; and God hath commanded us to do it. Say, verily God commandeth not filthy actions. Do ye speak concerning God that which ye know not?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And when they do a little that is shameful, they say: "We found our fathers doing the same;" And, "Allah commands us like this (or that):" Say: "No! Allah never commands what is shameful: Do you speak about Allah what you do not know?"

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And when they (- the disbelievers) commit an act of indecency, they say, `We found our forefathers (practising) on it, and it is Allâh Who has enjoined it upon us. ' Say, `Surely, Allâh never enjoins indecencies. Do you attribute to Allâh what you do not know (that it is from Him).'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    When they commit an indecency, they say, ‘We found our fathers practising it, and Allah has enjoined it upon us. ’ Say, ‘Indeed Allah does not enjoin indecencies. Do you attribute to Allah what you do not know?’