Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Prescribed for you when death is present with one of you, if he leaves wealth: the bequest to parents and relatives according to what is fitting is binding upon those of prudent fear.

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ اِذَا حَضَرَ اَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ اِنْ تَرَكَ خَيْراًۚ اَلْوَصِيَّةُ لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْاَقْرَب۪ينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِۚ حَقاًّ عَلَى الْمُتَّق۪ينَۜ
Kutiba AAalaykum itha hadaraahadakumu almawtu in taraka khayran alwasiyyatulilwalidayni wal-aqrabeena bilmaAAroofi haqqanAAala almuttaqeen
#wordmeaningroot
1kutibaPrescribedكتب
2ʿalaykumfor you
3idhāwhen
4ḥaḍaraapproachesحضر
5aḥadakumuany of youاحد
6l-mawtu[the] deathموت
7inif
8tarakahe leavesترك
9khayrangoodخير
10l-waṣiyatu(making) the willوصي
11lil'wālidaynifor the parentsولد
12wal-aqrabīnaand the near relativesقرب
13bil-maʿrūfiwith due fairnessعرف
14ḥaqqana dutyحقق
15ʿalāon
16l-mutaqīnathe righteous onesوقي
  • Aisha Bewley

    It is prescribed for you, when death approaches one of you and if he has some goods to leave, to make a will in favour of his parents and relatives, correctly and fairly: a duty for all those who have taqwa.

  • Progressive Muslims

    It is decreed for you that if death should come to any of you, that it is best if he leaves a will for his family and relatives out of goodness; this is a truth for the righteous.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Regarding proper dispensation of property) it is ordained for you that before death approaches any of you, and he is leaving behind much wealth - that he prepares a will for parents and family in a decent manner. This is a binding duty on all those who wish to walk aright. (Any oversight or leftover from the will shall be distributed according to portions described in (4:11)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Prescribed for you when death is present with one of you, if he leaves wealth: the bequest to parents and relatives according to what is fitting is binding upon those of prudent fear.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    It is decreed for you that if death should come to any of you, that it is best if he leaves a will for his family and relatives out of goodness; this is a truth for the righteous.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    It is decreed for you that if death should come to any of you, that it is best if he/she leaves a property, then a will should be for parents and relatives, according to recognized norms. This is due right for the righteous.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    It is decreed that when death approaches, you shall write a will for the benefit of the parents and relatives, equitably. This is a duty upon the righteous.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    It is ordained that when any one of you nears death, and he owns goods and chattels, he should bequeath them equitably to his parents and next of kin. This is binding on those who are upright and fear God.

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

    Prescribed for you when death approaches one of you if he leaves wealth a bequest for the parents and near relatives according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous.

  • Muhammad Asad

    IT IS ordained for you, when death approaches any of you and he is leaving behind much wealth, to make bequests in favour of his parents and near of kin in accordance with what is fair: I this is binding on all who are conscious of God.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    It is prescribed for you, when death approacheth one of you, if he leave wealth, that he bequeath unto parents and near relatives in kindness. (This is) a duty for all those who ward off (evil).

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    It is decreed that when death approaches, those of you who leave behind property shall bequeath equitably to parents and kinsmen. This is an obligation on the God-fearing.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    A prescriptive rule is decreed when you feel death approaching and he possesses useful, exchangeable valuables he shall leave behind, then he shall bequeath part of it equitably to the parents and next of kin. This is an obligation for those who are dutiful and revere Allah.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Another obligation of a believer is the preparation of a will. The God fearing people should divide whatever they leave behind in an equitable manner between their parents and their relatives

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    It is prescribed for you, when death approaches any of you, if he leaves wealth, that he makes a bequest to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable manners. (This is) a duty upon Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2: 2).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    It is prescribed, when death approaches any of you, if he leave any goods that he make a bequest to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable usage; this is due from the Allah-fearing.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    It is prescribed that when death approaches any of you—if they leave something of value—a will should be made in favour of parents and immediate family with fairness. ˹This is˺ an obligation on those who are mindful ˹of Allah˺.

  • Taqi Usmani

    It is enjoined upon you, when death approaches any one of you and he leaves some wealth, that he must bequeath for the parents and the nearest of kin in the approved manner, being an obligation on the God-fearing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    it is prescribed that he should make a proper bequest to parents and close relatives- a duty incumbent on those who are mindful of God.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Prescribed for you, when any of you is visited by death, and he leaves behind some goods, is to make testament in favour of his parents and kinsmen honourably -- an obligation on the godfearing.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    It is prescribed for you that when one of you is face to face with death, if he leave (any) goods, the legacy is to his parents, and to his kinsmen, in reason. A duty this upon all those that fear.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    It is prescribed for you that when any of you is facing death, if he leaves any goods, that he makes reasonable bequests to his parents, and to his kinsmen. It is a duty upon all those that are God-fearing.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Prescribed for you, when death is present to any of you, in case he leaves behind some charitable (benefit), is to make testament to parents and nearest kin, with beneficence-truly (binding) on the pious.

  • George Sale

    It is ordained you, when any of you is at the point of death, if he leave any goods, that he bequeath a legacy to his parents, and kindred, according to what shall be reasonable. This is a duty incumbent on those who fear God.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    It is prescribed for you when death approaches any of you, if he leaves any goods, that he make a will to (give to the) parents and next of kin, according to reasonable usage: (This is) due from those who fear Allah.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    It has been prescribed for you at the time of death to any one of you, that if the (dying) person is leaving considerable wealth behind, to make a will to his parents and the near of kin to act with equity and fairness. This is an obligation incumbent on those who guard against evil.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Prescribed for you, when death approaches any of you and he leaves behind any property, is that he make a bequest for his parents and relatives, in an honourable manner, —an obligation on the Godwary.