Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

They ask thee about the phases of the moon. Say thou: “They are measurements of time for the people and the pilgrimage.” And it is not virtue that you approach houses by the backs thereof — but virtue is one who is in prudent fear — but approach houses by the doors thereof; and be in prudent fear of God, that you might be successful.

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ الْاَهِلَّةِۜ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاق۪يتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّۜ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِاَنْ تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا وَلٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقٰىۚ وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ اَبْوَابِهَاۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Yas-aloonaka AAani al-ahillati qul hiya mawaqeetulinnasi walhajji walaysa albirrubi-an ta/too albuyoota min thuhooriha walakinnaalbirra mani ittaqa wa/too albuyoota min abwabihawattaqoo Allaha laAAallakum tuflihoon
#wordmeaningroot
1yasalūnakaThey ask youسال
2ʿaniabout
3l-ahilatithe new moonsهلل
4qulSayقول
5hiyaThey
6mawāqītu(are) indicators of periodsوقت
7lilnnāsifor the peopleنوس
8wal-ḥajiand (for) the Hajjحجج
9walaysaAnd it is notليس
10l-biru[the] righteousnessبرر
11bi-anthat
12tatūyou comeاتي
13l-buyūta(to) the housesبيت
14minfrom
15ẓuhūrihātheir backsظهر
16walākinna[and] but
17l-bira[the] righteousبرر
18mani(is one) who
19ittaqāfears (Allah)وقي
20watūAnd comeاتي
21l-buyūta(to) the housesبيت
22minfrom
23abwābihātheir doorsبوب
24wa-ittaqūAnd fearوقي
25l-lahaAllah
26laʿallakumso that you may
27tuf'liḥūna(be) successfulفلح
  • Aisha Bewley

    They will ask you about the crescent moons. Say, ‘They are set times for mankind and for the hajj.’ It is not devoutness for you to enter houses by the back. Rather devoutness is possessed by those who have taqwa. So come to houses by their doors and have taqwa of Allah, so that hopefully you will be successful.

  • Progressive Muslims

    They ask you regarding the new moons, Say: "They are a timing mechanism for the people as well as for the Pilgrimage. " And piety is not that you would enter a home from its back, but piety is whomever is righteous and come to the homes from their main doors. And be aware of God that you may succeed.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (The exhortation of righteousness must not be considered confined to the Month of Ramadan. ) They ask you (O the Messenger) about the phases of the Moon. Say, "They should serve as signs to mark certain timings for people. And for Hajj." (Misconceptions and superstitions about the sun and the moon have nothing to do with righteousness). You attain righteousness by upholding the Commands in a straightforward manner. Exponential development of humanity cannot be achieved by entering the System through the back door of ritualism - just as you must not enter houses through the back doors (2:177). (Since there is no such thing as a part-time Muslim) you shall be mindful of Allah all the time in order to reap a rich harvest. ((2:138), (2:208)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    They ask thee about the phases of the moon. Say thou: “They are measurements of time for the people and the pilgrimage.” And it is not virtue that you approach houses by the backs thereof — but virtue is one who is in prudent fear — but approach houses by the doors thereof; and be in prudent fear of God, that you might be successful.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    They ask you regarding the crescent moons, say: "They are a timing mechanism for the people and the Pilgrimage." And piety is not that you would enter a home from its back, but piety is whoever is righteous and comes to the homes from their main doors. And be aware of God that you may succeed.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They ask you regarding the new moons, say, "They are a timing mechanism for the people as well as for the Pilgrimage." Piety is not that you would enter a home from its back, but piety is whoever is aware and comes to the homes through their main doors. Be conscientious of God that you may succeed.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They ask you about the phases of the moon! Say, "They provide a timing device for the people, and determine the time of Hajj." It is not righteous to beat around the bush; righteousness is attained by upholding the commandments and by being straightforward. You shall observe GOD, that you may succeed.,

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    They ask you of the new moons. Say: "These are periods set for men (to reckon) time, and for pilgrimage." Piety does not lie in entering the house through the back door, for the pious man is he who follows the straight path. Enter the house through the main gate, and obey God. You may haply find success.

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

    They ask you, , about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for úajj." And it is not righteousness to enter houses from the back, but righteousness is one who fears Allah. And enter houses from their doors. And fear Allah that you may succeed.

  • Muhammad Asad

    THEY WILL ASK thee about the new moons. Say: "They indicate the periods for mankind, including the pilgrimage." However, piety does not consist in your entering houses from the rear, but truly pious is he who is conscious of God. Hence, enter houses through their doors, and remain conscious of God, so that you might attain to a happy state.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    They ask thee, (O Muhammad), of new moons, say: They are fixed seasons for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not righteousness that ye go to houses by the backs thereof (as do the idolaters at certain seasons), but the righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). So go to houses by the gates thereof, and observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    People question you concerning the phases of the moon. Say: "They are signs to determine time for the sake of people and for the Pilgrimage."* Also tell them: “True righteousness is not that you enter your houses from the back; righteousness lies in fearing Allah. So, enter your houses by their doors, and fear Allah that you might attain true success.”*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    They call upon you, O Muhammad, to inform them about the new moons. Say to them: "It is one aspect of the varying appearances of the moon according to the extent of its luminosity indicating the point and passage of time in which the sequence of events take place in the material universe, and for estimating the point of time when AL-Hajj to Allah’s Sacred House is performed." You people must realize that it is not in conformity with conduct to the divine and moral law nor with righteous living that you irrationally enter the houses from the back doors, this is an irreligious notion*. It confers with divine and moral law to enter the houses from the front doors. And see that you lift to Allah your inward sight so that heaven may prosper you.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    People ask you about the significance of the phases of the moon. Let them know: "They are simply a part of the natural calendar so that people and prepare themselves for the pilgrimage to Mecca." “The virtue is not entering your houses from the back The real virtue is to respect the Lord. So (do not act like the idiots and) enter your houses by their proper doors; respect the Lord so that you may be included among the successful ones.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    They ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allâh. So enter houses through their proper doors, and fear Allâh that you may be successful.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage. It is no virtue if ye enter your houses from the back: It is virtue if ye fear Allah. Enter houses through the proper doors: And fear Allah: That ye may prosper.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about the phases of the moon. Say, "They are a means for people to determine time and pilgrimage." Righteousness is not in entering your houses from the back doors. Rather, righteousness is to be mindful ˹of Allah˺. So enter your homes through their ˹proper˺ doors, and be mindful of Allah so you may be successful.

  • Taqi Usmani

    They ask you about the new moons. Say: They are indicative of time for the people, and of the Hajj. It is not righteousness that you come into your houses from their backs, but righteousness is that one fears Allah. So come into houses through their doors; and fear Allah so that you may be successful.

  • Abdul Haleem

    They ask you about crescent moons. Say, ‘They show the times appointed for people, and for the pilgrimage.’ Goodness does not consist of entering houses by the back ; the truly good person is the one who is mindful of God. So enter your houses by their doors and be mindful of God so that you may prosper.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    They will question thee concerning the new moons. Say: 'They are appointed times for the people, and the Pilgrimage.' It is not piety to come to the houses from the backs of them; but piety is to be godfearing; so come to the houses by their doors, and fear God; haply so you will prosper.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    They will ask thee about the phases of the moon; say, 'They are indications of time for men and for the pilgrimage. ' And it is not righteousness that ye should enter into your houses from behind them, but righteousness is he who fears; so enter into your houses by the doors thereof and fear God; haply ye may prosper yet.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    They will ask you about the New Moon; say, "They are indications of time for men and for the pilgrimage. " And it is not righteousness that you should enter into your houses from behind them (in superstition), but righteous is he who fears (Allah); so enter into your houses by the proper doors and fear Allah that per chance (or possibly) you may prosper.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    They ask you concerning the new moons (Literally: crescents). Say, "They are fixed times for mankind, and (for) the Pilgrimage." And benignancy is not to come up to the homes from their backs; but benignancy is for man to be pious; and come up to the homes by their doors, and be pious towards Allah, so that possibly you would prosper.

  • George Sale

    They will ask thee concerning the phases of the moon: Answer, they are times appointed unto men, and to shew the season of the pilgrimage to Mecca. It is not righteousness that ye enter your houses by the back parts thereof, but righteousness is of him who feareth God. Therefore enter your houses by their doors; and fear God, that ye may be happy.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    They (the people) ask you (the Prophet) concerning the new moons. Say: "They are only Signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage." It is no virtue if you enter your houses from the back: It is virtue if you fear Allah enter houses through the proper doors: And fear Allah that you may prosper.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    They ask you about the lunar months. Say, `They are appointed periods of time for (general convenience of) people and for determining the time of Pilgrimage. And it is no virtue that you come into the houses from the backs of them but the true virtue is his who guards against evils. So (instead of fostering superstitious habits) you should rather enter the houses from their proper doors and take Allâh as a shield so that you may be successful.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    They question you concerning the new moons. Say, ‘They are timekeeping signs for the people and ḥajj.’ It is not piety that you come into houses from their rear; rather piety is one who is Godwary, and come into houses from their doors, and be wary of Allah, so that you may be felicitous.