Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And they say: “Be such as hold to Judaism, or Christians — you will be guided.” Say thou: “Nay, the creed of Abraham, inclining to truth; and he was not of the idolaters.”

وَقَالُوا كُونُوا هُوداً اَوْ نَصَارٰى تَهْتَدُواۜ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ اِبْرٰه۪يمَ حَن۪يفاًۜ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِك۪ينَ
Waqaloo koonoo hoodan aw nasaratahtadoo qul bal millata ibraheema haneefan wamakana mina almushrikeen
#wordmeaningroot
1waqālūAnd they saidقول
2kūnūBeكون
3hūdanJewsهود
4awor
5naṣārāChristiansنصر
6tahtadū(then) you will be guidedهدي
7qulSayقول
8balNay
9millata(the) religionملل
10ib'rāhīma(of) Ibrahim
11ḥanīfan(the) uprightحنف
12wamāand not
13kānahe wasكون
14minaof
15l-mush'rikīnathose who associated partners (with Allah)شرك
  • Aisha Bewley

    They say, ‘Be Jews or Christians and you will be guided. ’ Say, ‘Rather adopt the religion of Ibrahim, a man of natural pure belief. He was not one of the idolaters.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    And they said: "Be Jews or Nazarenes so that you may be guided!" Say: "No, rather the creed of Abraham, monotheism; for he was not of those who set up partners. "

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be rightly guided. " Say, "Nay, we follow the Creed of Abraham, the upright. He turned away from all that is false, and ascribed divinity to none but the One True God." (And he was neither a Jew nor a Christian (3:67)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And they say: “Be such as hold to Judaism, or Christians — you will be guided.” Say thou: “Nay, the creed of Abraham, inclining to truth; and he was not of the idolaters.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And they said: "Be Jewish or Nazarenes so that you may be guided!" Say: "No, rather the creed of Abraham, monotheism; for he was not of the polytheists."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They said, "Be Jews or Nazarenes so that you may be guided!" Say, "No, rather the creed of Abraham, monotheism; for he was not of those who set up partners."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They said, "You have to be Jewish or Christian, to be guided." Say, "We follow the religion of Abraham - monotheism - he never was an idol worshiper."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Those were the people, and they have passed away. Theirs the reward for what they did, as yours will be for what you do. You will not be questioned about their deeds.

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

    They say, "Be Jews or Christians you will be guided. " Say, "Rather, the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."

  • Muhammad Asad

    AND THEY say, "Be Jews" - or, "Christians" - "and you shall be on the right path. " Say: "Nay, but the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God."

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    They say: "Be Jews," or “Be Christians.” “Then you will be rightly guided.” Say to them: “No, follow exclusively the way of Abraham who was not one of those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity.”

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Yet once more Ahl Al-Kitab explicitly say: "Be Jews or Christians, and thus be guided into all truth". Say to them, O Muhammad: "But rather the religion of Ibrahim as the true and straightforward, and his system of faith and worship; never did he incorporate with Allah other deities".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    They (Jews & Christians) say: "Choose Judaism or Christianity and you will get the true guidance. " Say: “No way; we resent any alternative way except the way of Abraham who did not worship none but the Lord.”

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided." Say (to them O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), "Nay, (we follow) only the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham), Hanîfa , and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn (those who worshipped others along with Allâh - see V.2:105)."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (To salvation)." Say thou: "Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    The Jews and Christians each say, "Follow our faith to be ˹rightly˺ guided." Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “No! We follow the faith of Abraham, the upright—who was not a polytheist.”

  • Taqi Usmani

    They said, "Become Jews or Christians, and you will find the right path." Say: “Instead, (we follow) the faith of Ibrāhīm, the upright, - and he was not one of those who associate partners with Allah.”

  • Abdul Haleem

    They say, ‘Become Jews or Christians, and you will be rightly guided.’ Say , ‘No, the religion of Abraham, the upright, who did not worship any god besides God.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And they say, 'Be Jews or Christians and you shall be guided. ' Say thou: 'Nay, rather the creed of Abraham, a man of pure faith; he was no idolater.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    They say, 'Be ye Jews or Christians so shall ye of Abraham be guided. ' Say, 'Not so! but the faith of Abraham the 'Hanif, be was not of the idolaters.'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    They say, "Become you Jews or Christians then shall you be guided by Abraham. " Say, "Not so! But we follow the religion of Abraham, the upright; he was not of the idolaters."

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And they have said, "Be Judaic or Nasara, (Christian) (then) you shall be guided. " Say, "No, indeed, (but) it is the creed of Ibrahîm, (Abraham) the unswervingly (upright, ) (i.e. veering away from idolatry) and in no way was he one of the associators. (i.e. those who associate others with' Allah).

  • George Sale

    They say, become Jews or Christians that ye may be directed. Say, nay, we follow the religion of Abraham the orthodox, who was no idolater.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And they said: "Become Jews or Christians, if you would be guided (to salvation). " You say (to them): "No! (I would rather follow) the Religion of Ibrahim (Abraham), the true, and he joined not gods with Allah."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And they (the Jews and the Christians respectively) said, `Be Jews or be Christians, then you shall be on the right course. ' Say, `Nay, but (ours is) the faith of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the polytheist.'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    And they say, ‘Be either Jews or Christians, that you may be guided. ’ Say, ‘Rather the creed of Abraham, a ḥanīf, and he was not one of the polytheists.’