Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“The immersion of God––” And who is better than God to immerse? And Him are we serving.

صِبْغَةَ اللّٰهِۚ وَمَنْ اَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللّٰهِ صِبْغَةًۘ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ عَابِدُونَ
Sibghata Allahi waman ahsanumina Allahi sibghatan wanahnu lahu AAabidoon
#wordmeaningroot
1ṣib'ghata(The) color (religion)صبغ
2l-lahi(of) Allah
3wamanAnd who
4aḥsanu(is) betterحسن
5minathan
6l-lahiAllah
7ṣib'ghatanat coloringصبغ
8wanaḥnuAnd we
9lahuto Him
10ʿābidūna(are) worshippersعبد
  • Aisha Bewley

    The colouring of Allah – and what colouring could be better than Allah’s? It is Him we worship.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Such is God's coloring, and who better than God in coloring. And to Him we are in service.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    The Hue of Allah! (Say that our life takes it color from Allah). And who can give a better hue to life than Allah? (We do our best to adopt the Divine Attributes in our human capacity such as: mercy, forgiveness, creativity, peace, care, truthfulness, justice, clemency, appreciation, trustworthiness, responsibility, kindness, compassion, independence, guidance, patience, giving, unity, strength, affection, courage, patience etc). "And He it is Whom we serve."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “The immersion of God––” And who is better than God to immerse? And Him are we serving.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Such is the coloring of God, and who is better than God in coloring? And to Him we are in service.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Such is God's immersion. Whose immersion is better than of God? To Him we serve.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Such is GOD's system, and whose system is better than GOD's? "Him alone we worship."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    If they come to believe as you did, they will find the right path. If they turn away then they will only oppose; but God will suffice you against them, for God hears all and knows everything.

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

    the religion of Allah. And who is better than Allah in religion? And we are worshippers of Him."

  • Muhammad Asad

    hue from God! And who could give a better hue than God, if we but truly worship Him?"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    (We take our) colour from Allah, and who is better than Allah at colouring. We are His worshippers.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Say: "Take on Allah’s colour." And whose colour is better than Allah’s? It is Him that we serve.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Say to them: "If your baptism symbolises purification and initiation, then who can confer a better spiritual baptism than Allah. He is the heart of our purpose and to His blessed will we submit ours".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Say: "Baptize yourself by emerging in the way of God. After all, what baptism can be better than baptism of God. As to us, we worship only God and submit to Him alone."

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    the Sibghah (Religion) of Allâh (Islâm) and which Sibghah (religion) can be better than Allâh’s? And we are His worshippers.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    (Our religion is) the Baptism of Allah: And who can baptize better than Allah? And it is He Whom we worship.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    This is the ˹natural˺ Way of Allah. And who is better than Allah in ordaining a way? And we worship ˹none but˺ Him.

  • Taqi Usmani

    (We dye ourselves with) the colouring of Allah! For who is better in colouring than Allah? We are to worship none but Him.

  • Abdul Haleem

    ‘ takes its colour from God, and who gives a better colour than God? It is Him we worship.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    the baptism of God; and who is there that baptizes fairer than God? Him we are serving.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    The dye of God! and who is better than God at dyeing? and we are worshippers of Him.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    (We take our) dye of Allah (Our Religion is the Baptism of Allah)! And who is better than Allah at dyeing? And we are worshippers of Him.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    (Our dye is) the dye (i. e. Religion) of Allah; and who has a fairer dye than that of Allah? And to Him we are worshipers.

  • George Sale

    The baptism of God have we received, and who it better than God to baptize? Him do we worship.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (Our religion is) the purification from Allah: And who can purify better than Allah? And it is He Whom we worship.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Assume) the attributes of Allâh! and who is fairer than Allâh in attributes? We are His worshippers ever.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    The baptism of Allah, and who baptizes better than Allah? And Him do we worship. ’