Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Mankind was one community; then God raised up prophets as bearers of glad tidings and warners, and sent down with them the Writ with the truth, that He might judge between men concerning that wherein they differed. And there differed therein only those who were given it, after clear signs had come to them, through sectarian zealotry between them. But God guided those who heeded warning to that of the truth concerning which they differed, by His leave; and God guides whom He wills to a straight path.

كَانَ النَّاسُ اُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللّٰهُ النَّبِيّ۪نَ مُبَشِّر۪ينَ وَمُنْذِر۪ينَۖ وَاَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ف۪يمَا اخْتَلَفُوا ف۪يهِۜ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ ف۪يهِ اِلَّا الَّذ۪ينَ اُو۫تُوهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَٓاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْياً بَيْنَهُمْۚ فَهَدَى اللّٰهُ الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا ف۪يهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِاِذْنِه۪ۜ وَاللّٰهُ يَهْد۪ي مَنْ يَشَٓاءُ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَق۪يمٍ
Kana annasu ommatan wahidatanfabaAAatha Allahu annabiyyeena mubashshireenawamunthireena waanzala maAAahumu alkitaba bilhaqqiliyahkuma bayna annasi feemaikhtalafoo feehi wama ikhtalafa feehi illa allatheenaootoohu min baAAdi ma jaat-humu albayyinatubaghyan baynahum fahada Allahu allatheena amanoolima ikhtalafoo feehi mina alhaqqi bi-ithnihiwallahu yahdee man yashao ila siratinmustaqeem
#wordmeaningroot
1kānaWasكون
2l-nāsumankindنوس
3ummatana communityامم
4wāḥidatansingleوحد
5fabaʿathathen raised upبعث
6l-lahuAllah
7l-nabiyīna[the] Prophetsنبا
8mubashirīna(as) bearers of glad tidingsبشر
9wamundhirīnaand (as) warnersنذر
10wa-anzalaand sent downنزل
11maʿahumuwith them
12l-kitābathe Bookكتب
13bil-ḥaqiin [the] truthحقق
14liyaḥkumato judgeحكم
15baynabetweenبين
16l-nāsi[the] peopleنوس
17fīmāin what
18ikh'talafūthey differedخلف
19fīhi[in it]
20wamāAnd (did) not
21ikh'talafadiffer[ed]خلف
22fīhiin it
23illāexcept
24alladhīnathose who
25ūtūhuwere given itاتي
26minfrom
27baʿdiafterبعد
28[what]
29jāathumucame to themجيا
30l-bayinātuthe clear proofsبين
31baghyan(out of) jealousyبغي
32baynahumamong themselvesبين
33fahadāAnd guidedهدي
34l-lahuAllah
35alladhīnathose who
36āmanūbelieve[d]امن
37limāregarding what
38ikh'talafūthey differedخلف
39fīhi[in it]
40minaof
41l-ḥaqithe Truthحقق
42bi-idh'nihiwith His permissionاذن
43wal-lahuAnd Allah
44yahdīguidesهدي
45manwhom
46yashāuHe willsشيا
47ilāto
48ṣirāṭina pathصرط
49mus'taqīminstraightقوم
  • Aisha Bewley

    Mankind was a single community. Then Allah sent out Prophets bringing good news and giving warning, and with them He sent down the Book with truth to decide between people regarding their differences. Only those who were given it differed about it, after the Clear Signs had come to them, envying one another. Then, by His permission, Allah guided those who had iman to the truth of that about which they had differed. Allah guides whomever He wills to a straight path.

  • Progressive Muslims

    The people used to be one nation, then God sent the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He sent down with them the Scripture with the facts so that they may judge between the people in what they were disputing. But after receiving the clarity, the people disputed in it due to animosity between them. And God guided those who believed with His permission regarding what they disputed in of the truth. And God guides whoever He wishes to a straight path.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Mankind were one community. (Nature's provision was abundant and open for all (2:36). Then Satan, their selfish desire, divided them (10:19)) Allah sent Prophets as heralds of good news and as Warners. He sent down with them the Scripture with the Truth to judge among people in their differences. After the Prophet passed on, people started differing in the Scripture that was given to them with clear verses. And they did so in stubborn rivalry. Allah by His Will keeps the sincere believers guided in Truth concerning whatever differences arise among them. Allah guides people according to His Laws. (Using your faculties of listening, observing and reasoning will help you achieve guidance, while selfishness, arrogance and blind following will lead people astray (2:170), (6:56), (40:35), (41:17)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Mankind was one community; then God raised up prophets as bearers of glad tidings and warners, and sent down with them the Writ with the truth, that He might judge between men concerning that wherein they differed. And there differed therein only those who were given it, after clear signs had come to them, through sectarian zealotry between them. But God guided those who heeded warning to that of the truth concerning which they differed, by His leave; and God guides whom He wills to a straight path.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    The people used to be one nation, then God sent the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the truth so that they may judge between the people in what they were disputing. But after receiving the clarity, the people disputed in it due to animosity between them. And God guided those who believed with His permission regarding what they disputed in of the truth. And God guides whoever He wishes to a straight path.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    The people used to be one nation, then God sent the prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and He sent down with them the book with the facts so that they may judge between the people in what they were disputing. But after receiving the proof, the people disputed in it due to animosity between them. God guided those who acknowledged with His permission regarding what they disputed in of the truth. God guides whoever/whomever (He) wishes to a straight path.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    The people used to be one community when GOD sent the prophets as bearers of good news, as well as warners. He sent down with them the scripture, bearing the truth, to judge among the people in their disputes. Ironically, those who received the scripture were the ones who rejected any new scripture, despite clear proofs given to them. This is due to jealousy on their part. GOD guides those who believe to the truth that is disputed by all others, in accordance with His will. GOD guides whoever wills in a straight path.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Men belonged to a single community, and God sent them messengers to give them happy tidings and warnings, and sent the Book with them containing the truth to judge between them in matters of dispute; but only those who received it differed after receiving clear proofs, on account of waywardness (and jealousies) among them. Then God by His dispensation showed those who believed the way to the truth about which they were differing; for God shows whom He please the path that is straight.

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

    Mankind was one religion ; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.

  • Muhammad Asad

    ALL MANKIND were once one single community; whereupon God raised up the prophets as heralds of glad tidings and as warners, and through them bestowed revelation from on high, setting forth the truth, so that it might decide between people with regard to all on which they had come to hold divergent views. Yet none other than the selfsame people who had been granted this began, out of mutual jealousy, to disagree about its meaning after all evidence of the truth had come unto them. But God guided the believers unto the truth about which, by His leave, they had disagreed: for God guides onto a straight way him that wills .

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Mankind were one community, and Allah sent (unto them) prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed therewith the Scripture with the truth that it might judge between mankind concerning that wherein they differed. And only those unto whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it, after clear proofs had come unto them, through hatred one of another. And Allah by His Will guided those who believe unto the truth of that concerning which they differed. Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    In the beginning mankind followed one single way. (Later on this state ended and differences arose.) Then Allah sent forth Prophets as heralds of good tidings for the righteous and as warners against the consequences of evil-doing. He sent down with them the Book embodying the Truth so that it might judge among people in their disputes. And those who innovated divergent ways rather than follow the Truth were none other than those who had received the knowledge of the Truth and clear guidance; and they did so to commit excesses against each other.* So by His leave Allah directed the believers to the Right Way in matters on which they disagreed. Allah guides whomsoever He wills onto a Straight Way.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Mankind was a single ‘Ummah (Nation) of common descent occupying a definite territory. By natural generation, numbers multiplied and were scattered in various directions and became disunited emotionally and mentally. There and then Allah sent Prophets as a spectacle and warning to all. He equipped them with the Book of Truth guiding into all truth in order to judge between people regarding issues of reason. Yet those who disputed its precepts were the same who were given the Book (Ahl Al-Kitab) imparting enough signs guiding them into illumination and mental enlightenment. But they were no longer disposed to the truth due to their mutual enmity and malignant intention. Nonetheless, Allah will guide the truth-seeking believers to His path. Allah guides whom He will to the path of righteousness.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    At the beginning, there was only one nation. God sent to this nation, the prophets (messengers) to give them the good news (about the meaning of their lives as well as the continuation of their lives in Hereafter.) God also sent them the book to be used in the settlement of their disputes. However, whenever a new prophet came with undeniable miracles, the jealous ones did not follow him (thus mankind divided himself into different nations.) God (of course) guided the righteous ones (who belong to the nation of submitters;) God will guide whoever He wishes to the right path.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Mankind were one community and Allâh sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent down the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. And only those to whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it after clear proofs had come unto them through hatred, one to another. Then Allâh by His Leave guided those who believed to the truth of that wherein they differed. And Allâh guides whom He wills to the Straight Path.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He will to a path that is straight.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Humanity had once been one community ˹of believers before they lost faith˺. Then Allah raised prophets as deliverers of good news and as warners, and revealed to them the Scriptures in truth to judge among people regarding their disputes. And no one disputed the Scriptures except the very people who received them after clear proofs had come to them—out of jealousy. Then Allah, by His grace, has guided the believers to the truth regarding those disputes. And Allah guides whoever He wills to the Straight Path.

  • Taqi Usmani

    All men used to be a single ’Ummah (i.e. on a single faith). Then (after they differed in matters of faith), Allah sent prophets carrying good news and warning, and sent down with them the Book with Truth to judge between people in matters of their dispute. But it was no other than those to whom it (the Book) was given who, led by envy against each other, disputed it after the clear signs had come to them. Then Allah, by His will, guided those who believed to the truth over which they disputed; and Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Mankind was a single community, then God sent prophets to bring good news and warning, and with them He sent the Scripture with the Truth, to judge between people in their disagreements. It was only those to whom it was given who disagreed about it after clear signs had come to them, because of rivalry between them. So by His leave God guided the believers to the truth they had differed about: God guides whoever He will to a straight path.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    The people were one nation; then God sent forth the Prophets, good tidings to bear and warning, and He sent down with them the Book with the truth, that He might decide between the people touching their differences; and only those who had been given it were at variance upon it, after the clear signs had come to them, being insolent one to another; then God guided those who believed to the truth, touching which they were at variance, by His leave; and God guides whomsoever He will to a straight path.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Men were one nation once, and God sent prophets with good tidings and with warnings, and sent down with them the Book in truth, to judge between men in that wherein they disagreed; but none did disagree therein save those who had been given it after that manifest signs had come to them, through greed amongst themselves; and God guided those who did believe to that truth concerning which they disagreed by His permission, for God guides whom He will unto the right path.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Mankind were one nation once, and Allah sent them prophets with good tidings and with warnings, and sent down with them the Book in truth, to judge between men in that wherein they disagreed; but only those unto whom the scripture was given disagreed therein after manifest signs had come to them, through selfishness and stubborn pride (or hatred) amongst themselves; and Allah guided by His Will the believers to the truth concerning that wherein they disagreed, for Allah guides whom He will unto the straight path.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Mankind was one nation; so, Allah sent forth the Prophets, constant bearers of good tidings and constant warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the Truth, to judge among mankind concerning that in which they differed. And in no way did anyone differ concerning it except the ones to whom it was brought even after the supreme evidences had come to them, being inequitable among themselves; So Allah guided the ones who believed to the Truth, concerning which they differed, by His permission, and Allah guides whomever He decides to a straight Path.

  • George Sale

    Mankind was of one faith, and God sent prophets bearing good tidings, and denouncing threats, and sent down with them the scripture in truth, that it might judge between men of that concerning which they disagreed: And none disagreed concerning it, except those to whom the same scriptures were delivered, after the declarations of God's will had come unto them, out of envy among themselves. And God directed those who believed, to that truth concerning which they disagreed, by his will: For God directeth whom he pleaseth into the right way.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Mankind was a single nation, and Allah sent messengers with glad tidings and warning; And with them He sent down the Book in Truth to judge between people in matters where they (the people) differed: but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except those with selfishness and rejection. Allah by His Grace guided the believers to the Truth concerning that in what they differed. And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Mankind are a single community (but they differed), so Allâh raised (His) Prophets as Bearers of good tidings and as Warners, and with them He revealed the Scriptures containing the truth, that He might judge between various people concerning all their mutual differences. But none differed therein except the very (astray) whom it (- the Scripture) had been given, and (they differed only) after clear proofs had come to them, out of spite against one another. Now Allâh guided those who believed, by His leave, to the truth concerning which they (- the disbelievers) had differed. And Allâh guides whosoever wishes (to be guided) to the right and straight path.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Mankind were a single community; then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the truth, that it may judge between the people concerning that about which they differed, and none differed in it except those who had been given it, after the manifest proofs had come to them, out of envy among themselves. Then Allah guided those who had faith to the truth of what they differed in, by His will, and Allah guides whomever He wishes to a straight path.