Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Then We changed the place of evil for good until they increased in number and said: “Adversity and prosperity did touch our fathers,” — then We took them unawares, when they perceived not.

ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ السَّيِّئَةِ الْحَسَنَةَ حَتّٰى عَفَوْا وَقَالُوا قَدْ مَسَّ اٰبَٓاءَنَا الضَّرَّٓاءُ وَالسَّرَّٓاءُ فَاَخَذْنَاهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Thumma baddalna makana assayyi-atialhasanata hatta AAafaw waqaloo qadmassa abaana addarraowassarrao faakhathnahum baghtatanwahum la yashAAuroon
#wordmeaningroot
1thummaThen
2baddalnāWe changedبدل
3makāna(in) placeكون
4l-sayi-ati(of) the badسوا
5l-ḥasanatathe goodحسن
6ḥattāuntil
7ʿafawthey increasedعفو
8waqālūand saidقول
9qadVerily
10massa(had) touchedمسس
11ābāanāour forefathersابو
12l-ḍarāuthe adversityضرر
13wal-sarāuand the easeسرر
14fa-akhadhnāhumSo We seized themاخذ
15baghtatansuddenlyبغت
16wahumwhile they
17(did) not
18yashʿurūnaperceiveشعر
  • Aisha Bewley

    Then We gave them good in exchange for evil until they increased in number and said, ‘Our forefathers too underwent both hardship and ease. ’ Then We seized them suddenly when they were not expecting it.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Then We replace the bad with good, until they have plenty, then they Say: "Our fathers were the ones afflicted by hardship, and adversity. " We then take them suddenly, while they are unaware.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Then We changed their plight for good till they became affluent. Then they said, "(Hardships and prosperity are just a matter of chance). Even our parents and forefathers have gone through these ups and downs." Our Requital seized them when they least expected it. (To them it appeared sudden, but unjust systems insidiously move towards the consequences).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Then We changed the place of evil for good until they increased in number and said: “Adversity and prosperity did touch our fathers,” — then We took them unawares, when they perceived not.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Then We replaced the bad with good, until they neglected and said: "Our fathers were touched by both hardship and prosperity." We then take them suddenly, while they are unaware.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Then We replaced the bad with the good until they had plenty and they said, "Our fathers were the ones afflicted by hardship, and adversity." We then take them suddenly, while they do not perceive.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Then we substituted peace and prosperity in place of that hardship. But alas, they turned heedless and said, "It was our parents who experienced that hardship before prosperity." Consequently, we punished them suddenly when they least expected.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    But when We changed hardship to ease, and they rose and prospered, (they forgot Our favours) and said: "Our ancestors had also known suffering and joy. " So We caught them unawares.

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

    Then We exchanged in place of the bad , good, until they increased and said, "Our fathers were touched with hardship and ease. " So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.

  • Muhammad Asad

    then We transformed the affliction into ease of life, so that they throve and said , "Misfortune and hardship befell our forefathers as well -whereupon We took them to task, all of a sudden, without their being aware .

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Then changed We the evil plight for good till they grew affluent and said: Tribulation and distress did touch our fathers. Then We seized them unawares, when they perceived not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Then We changed adversity into ease until they throve and said: 'Our forefathers had also seen both adversity and prosperity.' So We suddenly seized them without their even perceiving it.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Then We replaced the unfavorable conditions and hardships by favourable circumstances until they advanced in power, importance and prosperity and proclaimed in ignorance that what has befallen them of misfortunes happened to their fathers before, "and", they added, " it is only time that controls the wavering balance of fortune". In consequence, We suddenly seized them and dressed them with ruin and We caught them unawares.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Then I changed their situation so that they prosper enough say: "Our fathers also went through hardship and prosperity. " I subjected all to a sudden catastrophe while they were unaware.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Then We changed the evil for the good, until they increased in number and in wealth, and said: "Our fathers were touched with evil (loss of health and calamities) and with good (prosperity)." So We seized them all of a sudden while they were unaware.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Then We changed their suffering into prosperity, until they grew and multiplied, and began to say: "Our fathers (too) were touched by suffering and affluence"... Behold! We called them to account of a sudden, while they realised not (their peril).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Then We changed their adversity to prosperity until they flourished and argued ˹falsely˺, "Our forefathers ˹too˺ had been visited by adversity and prosperity." So We seized them by surprise, while they were unaware.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Thereafter, We substituted good in place of evil until they increased, and said, "Hardship and prosperity came to our fathers (too)." Then We seized them suddenly while they were not aware.

  • Abdul Haleem

    and then We changed their hardship into prosperity, until they multiplied. But then they said, ‘Hardship and affluence also befell our forefathers,’ and so We took them suddenly, unawares.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    then We gave them in the place of evil good, till they multiplied, and said, 'Hardship and happiness visited our fathers. ' So We seized them suddenly, unawares.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    and then did we give them, in exchange for evil, good, until they increased and said, 'Distress and joy both touched our fathers;' then we overtook them suddenly ere they could perceive. -

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And then did We exchanged good for evil (suffering for prosperity), until they grew (in strength and prosperity) and said, "Our fathers, too, were touched by both suffering and joy. " Then We overtook them suddenly ere they realized their peril.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Thereafter We exchanged in place of an odious deed a fair (reward), (i. e., replaced adversity by good fortune) till they lived in luxury and said, "Tribulation and easiness already touched our fathers." So We took them (away) suddenly, (while) they were not aware.

  • George Sale

    The We changed their evil condition to good until they grew in affluence and numbers and said, 'Suffering and happiness betided our fathers also, what if they befell us. ' Then We seized them suddenly, while they perceive not.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Then We changed their suffering into success and joy, until they grew and multiplied, and began to say: "Our fathers (too) had suffering and success"— Look! We called them to account all of a sudden, when they were not aware (of the situation).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Then We brought comfort (for them) in place of (their) distress until they grew in affluence, (number and excess) and said, `Surely, tribulations and prosperity visited our fathers (also, so it is a normal course of events). ' So We seized them unawares while they perceived not (the peril they were in).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Then We changed the ill to good until they multiplied and said, ‘Adversity and ease befell our fathers . ’ Then We seized them suddenly while they were unaware.