Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

For days numbered. And whoso among you is sick or on a journey: then a number of other days. And for those who are able to do it is a redemption: feeding a needy person. And whoso does good voluntarily, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you, if you would know.

اَيَّاماً مَعْدُودَاتٍۜ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَر۪يضاً اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَۜ وَعَلَى الَّذ۪ينَ يُط۪يقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْك۪ينٍۜ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْراً فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُۜ وَاَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Ayyaman maAAdoodatin faman kanaminkum mareedan aw AAala safarin faAAiddatun minayyamin okhara waAAala allatheena yuteeqoonahufidyatun taAAamu miskeenin faman tatawwaAAakhayran fahuwa khayrun lahu waan tasoomoo khayrun lakum inkuntum taAAlamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1ayyāman(Fasting for) daysيوم
2maʿdūdātinnumberedعدد
3famanSo whoever
4kānaisكون
5minkumamong you
6marīḍansickمرض
7awor
8ʿalāon
9safarina journeyسفر
10faʿiddatunthen a prescribed numberعدد
11minof
12ayyāmindaysيوم
13ukharaotherاخر
14waʿalāAnd on
15alladhīnathose who
16yuṭīqūnahucan afford itطوق
17fid'yatuna ransomفدي
18ṭaʿāmu(of) feedingطعم
19mis'kīnina poorسكن
20famanAnd whoever
21taṭawwaʿavolunteersطوع
22khayrangoodخير
23fahuwathen it
24khayrun(is) betterخير
25lahufor him
26wa-anAnd to
27taṣūmūfastصوم
28khayrun(is) betterخير
29lakumfor you
30inif
31kuntumyouكون
32taʿlamūnaknowعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    for a specified number of days. But any of you who are ill or on a journey should fast a number of other days. For those who are able to fast, their fidya is to feed the poor. And if someone does good of his own accord, it is better for him. But that you should fast is better for you, if you only knew.

  • Progressive Muslims

    A few number of days. Whoever of you is ill or traveling, then the same number from different days; and as for those who can do so but with difficulty, they may redeem by feeding the needy. And whoever does good voluntarily, then it is better for him. And if you fast it is better for you if you knew.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Just a certain number of days. But, if any of you is sick or is traveling, the number of days should be made up later. For those who can go through Abstinence only with hardship, there is compensation, the feeding of an indigent. Any additional charity will mean additional reward. However, if you knew better, the training course of Abstinence is good for you.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    For days numbered. And whoso among you is sick or on a journey: then a number of other days. And for those who are able to do it is a redemption: feeding a needy person. And whoso does good voluntarily, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you, if you would know.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    A few number of days. Whoever of you is ill or traveling, then the same number from different days. As for those who can do so but with difficulty, they may redeem by feeding the needy. And whoever does good voluntarily, then it is better for him. And if you fast it is better for you if only you knew.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    A number of days. Whoever of you is ill or traveling, then the same number from different days; and as for those who can do so but with difficulty, they may redeem by feeding the needy. Whoever does good voluntarily, it is better for him. If you fast, it is better for you if you knew.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Fast a (fixed) number of days, but if someone is ill or is travelling (he should complete) the number of days (he had missed); and those who find it hard to fast should expiate by feeding a poor person. For the good they do with a little hardship is better for men. And if you fast it is good for you, if you knew.

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

    a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of days . And upon those who are able - a ransom of feeding a poor person . And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.

  • Muhammad Asad

    during a certain number of days. But whoever of you is ill, or on a journey, number of other days; and it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make sacrifice by feeding a needy person. And whoever does more good than he is bound to do does good unto himself thereby; for to fast is to do good unto yourselves - if you but knew it.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    (Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; and for those who can afford it there is a ransom: the feeding of a man in need - but whoso doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him: and that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know -

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him;* and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    It is a religious observance that lasts for a fixed number of days. But those of you who are sick or proceeding on a journey shall compensate the fast by the same number of days at a later date. As for those who experience hardship caused by fasting, they appease Allah by expiation of feeding an indigent. Nonetheless, he who voluntarily offers to commit good shall find benevolence and benefaction indeed rewarding; and if you are able to fast, it profits you, if only you knew.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    You have to fast only a few days of the year. Those who become sick or have to travel should make it up later. Those for whom fasting imposes a hardship, must feed at least a poor person. The more generosity you show, the better it will be for you. Of course it is much better to observe fasting; if you only knew

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskîn (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹Fast a˺ prescribed number of days. But whoever of you is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person ˹for every day not fasted˺. But whoever volunteers to give more, it is better for them. And to fast is better for you, if only you knew.

  • Taqi Usmani

    for days few in number. However, should any one of you be sick or on a journey, then (he should fast) a number of other days (equal to the missed ones); and those who have the strength, (still, they do not opt for fasting,) on them there is a fidyah (compensation), that is, the feeding of a poor person.Then whoever does good voluntarily, that is better for him. However, that you fast is better for you, if you only knew.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill, or on a journey, on other days later. For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty, there is a way to compensate- feed a needy person. But if anyone does good of his own accord, it is better for him, and fasting is better for you, if only you knew.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    for days numbered; and if any of you be sick, or if he be on a journey, then a number of other days; and for those who are able to fast, a redemption by feeding a poor man. Yet better it is for him who volunteers good, and that you should fast is better for you, if you but know;

  • E. Henry Palmer

    A certain number of days, but he amongst you who is ill or on a journey, then (let him fast) another number of days. And those who are fit to fast may redeem it by feeding a poor man; but he who follows an impulse to a good work it is better for him; and if ye fast it is better for you, if ye did but know.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    (Fasting) A certain number of days, but he amongst you who is ill or on a journey, then (let him fast) another number of days. And those who can do it with hardship may redeem it by feeding a poor man; but he who gives more of his own will, it is better for him; but if you fast it is better for you, if you did but know.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    (The fast is) (for) a prescribed number of days. So, whoever of you is sick or is on a journey, then a (fixed) number of other days; and against the ones who can afford it, there should be a ransom of food for an indigent man; (yet) whoever volunteers charitably, then it is most charitable on his part; and to fast is more charitable for you, in case you know.

  • George Sale

    A certain number of days shall ye fast: But he among you who shall be sick, or on a journey, shall fast an equal number of other days. And those who can keep it, and do not, must redeem their neglect by maintaining of a poor man. And he who voluntarily dealeth better with the poor man than he is obliged, this shall be better for him. But if ye fast it will be better for you, if ye knew it.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; But if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can fast but with hardship, is a ransom; The feeding of one who is in need. But he who will give more, by his own free will, it is better for him. And it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (You are required to fast) for a prescribed number of days. But if anyone of you is sick or is on a journey he shall fast (to make up) the prescribed number in other days. And for those who are able to fast is an expiation (as thanksgiving) the feeding of a poor person (daily for the days of fasting). And he who volunteers (extra) good, (will find that) it is even better for him. And that you observe fasting is better for you, if you only know.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    That for known days. But should any of you be sick or on a journey, let it be a number of other days. Those who find it straining shall be liable to atonement by feeding a needy person. Should anyone do good of his own accord, that is better for him, and to fast is better for you, should you know.