Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And say not of those killed in the cause of God: “They are dead.” The truth is, they are living, but you perceive not.

وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ ف۪ي سَب۪يلِ اللّٰهِ اَمْوَاتٌۜ بَلْ اَحْيَٓاءٌ وَلٰكِنْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
Wala taqooloo liman yuqtalu feesabeeli Allahi amwatun bal ahyaon walakinla tashAAuroon
#wordmeaningroot
1walāAnd (do) not
2taqūlūsayقول
3limanfor (the ones) who
4yuq'taluare slainقتل
5in
6sabīli(the) wayسبل
7l-lahi(of) Allah
8amwātun(They are) deadموت
9balNay
10aḥyāon(they are) aliveحيي
11walākin[and] but
12you (do) not
13tashʿurūnaperceiveشعر
  • Aisha Bewley

    Do not say that those who are killed in the Way of Allah are dead. On the contrary, they are alive but you are not aware of it.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And do not say of those who are killed in the sake of God that they are dead; no, they are alive but you do not perceive.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Establishment of the Divine Value System will meet with harsh opposition from people and nations with vested interests. ) Say not of those who are slain in the Cause of Allah, "They are dead." Nay, they are alive, but you perceive it not. (While death is a prolonged state of sleep until the Resurrection Day, in their case emergent evolution of the "Self" takes place and they are instantly in a state of Bliss of the Hereafter, and they get honorable provision for mind and body from their Sustainer (3:169)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And say not of those killed in the cause of God: “They are dead.” The truth is, they are living, but you perceive not.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And do not say of those who are killed in the cause of God that they are dead; no, they are alive but you do not perceive.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Do not say of those who are killed in the sake of God that they are dead; no, they are alive but you do not perceive.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Do not say of those who are killed in the cause of GOD, "They are dead." They are alive at their Lord, but you do not perceive.,

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    O you who believe, seek courage in fortitude and prayer, for God is with those who are patient and persevere.

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

    And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead. " Rather, they are alive, but you perceive not.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And say not of those who are slain in God's cause, "They are dead": nay, they are alive, but you perceive it not.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And call not those who are slain in the way of Allah "dead." Nay, they are living, only ye perceive not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And do not say of those who are killed in the way of Allah that they are dead; they are alive even though you have no knowledge of their life.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Do not consider the martyrs in Allah’s cause to be dead. They carried truth’s banners against odds and have acquired the glorious privilege of martyrdom through resisting shedding blood with spiritual armour. Do not say, "They are dead", for they are alive in heaven's realm but your senses do not perceive this fact.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Do not consider those who give up their life to please God as "dead. " As a matter of fact, they are alive but your brain is not capable of understanding this concept.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Never say that those martyred in the cause of Allah are dead—in fact, they are alive! But you do not perceive it.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Do not say of those who are slain in the way of Allah that they are dead. Instead, they are alive, but you do not perceive.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Do not say that those who are killed in God’s cause are dead; they are alive, though you do not realize it.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And say not of those slain in God's way, 'They are dead'; rather they are living, but you are not aware.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And say not of those who are slain in God's way (that they are) dead, but rather living; but ye do not perceive.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And say not of those who are slain in Allah's Way (the Way of striving, sacrifice and restraint) (that they are) dead. Nay, they are living; but you do not perceive it.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And do not say of whomever are killed in the way of Allah, " (They are) dead. " No indeed, they are alive but you are not aware.

  • George Sale

    And say not of those who are slain in fight for the religion of God, that they are dead; yea, they are living: But ye do not understand.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And do not say about those (people) who are killed in the sake of Allah: "They are dead. " No! They are living, even though you do not perceive it.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And do not count as dead those who are killed in the cause of Allâh. Rather (they are) living, only you perceive not (their life).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    And do not call those who were slain in Allah’s way ‘dead. ’ Rather they are living, but you are not aware.