Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Those messengers: We gave preference to some of them over others; among them were those to whom God spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary the clear signs, and We strengthened him with the Spirit of Holiness. And had God willed, there would not have fought one another those after them after the clear signs had come to them; but they differed, and some of them believed, and some of them denied; and had God willed, they would not have fought one another; but God does what He wills.

تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍۢ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَلَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍۜ وَاٰتَيْنَا ع۪يسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَاَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِۜ وَلَوْ شَٓاءَ اللّٰهُ مَا اقْتَتَلَ الَّذ۪ينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَٓاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَلٰكِنِ اخْتَلَفُوا فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ اٰمَنَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَفَرَۜ وَلَوْ شَٓاءَ اللّٰهُ مَا اقْتَتَلُوا وَلٰكِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُر۪يدُ۟
Tilka arrusulu faddalnabaAAdahum AAala baAAdin minhum man kallamaAllahu warafaAAa baAAdahum darajatin waataynaAAeesa ibna maryama albayyinati waayyadnahubiroohi alqudusi walaw shaa Allahu maiqtatala allatheena min baAAdihim min baAAdi ma jaat-humualbayyinatu walakini ikhtalafoo faminhum man amanawaminhum man kafara walaw shaa Allahu maiqtataloo walakinna Allaha yafAAalu mayureed
#wordmeaningroot
1til'kaThese
2l-rusulu(are) the Messengersرسل
3faḍḍalnāWe (have) preferredفضل
4baʿḍahumsome of themبعض
5ʿalāover
6baʿḍinothersبعض
7min'humAmong them
8man(were those with) whom
9kallamaspokeكلم
10l-lahuAllah
11warafaʿaand He raisedرفع
12baʿḍahumsome of themبعض
13darajātin(in) degreesدرج
14waātaynāAnd We gaveاتي
15ʿīsāIsa
16ib'nasonبني
17maryama(of) Maryam
18l-bayinātithe clear proofsبين
19wa-ayyadnāhuand We supported himايد
20birūḥiwith Spiritروح
21l-qudusi[the] Holyقدس
22walawAnd if
23shāa(had) willedشيا
24l-lahuAllah
25not
26iq'tatala(would have) fought each otherقتل
27alladhīnathose who
28min(came) from
29baʿdihimafter themبعد
30minfrom
31baʿdiafterبعد
32[what]
33jāathumucame to themجيا
34l-bayinātuthe clear proofsبين
35walākini[And] but
36ikh'talafūthey differedخلف
37famin'hum[so] of them
38man(are some) who
39āmanabelievedامن
40wamin'humand of them
41man(are some) who
42kafaradeniedكفر
43walawAnd if
44shāa(had) willedشيا
45l-lahuAllah
46not
47iq'tatalūthey (would have) fought each otherقتل
48walākinna[and] but
49l-lahaAllah
50yafʿaludoesفعل
51what
52yurīduHe intendsرود
  • Aisha Bewley

    These Messengers: We favoured some of them over others. Allah spoke directly to some of them and raised up some of them in rank. We gave Clear Signs to ‘Isa, son of Maryam, and reinforced him with the Purest Ruh. If Allah had willed, those who came after them would not have fought each other after the Clear Signs came to them, but they differed. Among them there are those who have iman and among them there are those who are kafir. If Allah had willed, they would not have fought each other. But Allah does whatever He desires.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Such messengers, We have preferred some over others; some of them talked to God, and He raised some of them in rank, and We gave Jesus son of Mary the proofs and We supported him with the holy spirit. And had God wished, the people after them would not have fought after the proofs had come to them, but they disputed, some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. Had God wished they would not have fought, but God does whatever He wishes.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (All Messengers were one in Purpose). We have caused some of them to excel others. (They were assigned different strategies suitable to their times, locations and people. So they worked at diverse platforms and) Allah communicated to all of them in various ways. Jesus son of Mary was one of those Messengers to whom We gave clear signs of the Truth and We helped him with the Sacred Revelation. If Allah had created human beings like programmed robots, lacking free will, they wouldn't have differed and wouldn't fight among themselves in matters of belief. But, Allah planned that men and women be endowed with the ability to make choices, and that compulsion in matters of faith would never been ordained (2:256). Allah makes His Laws in the World of Command as He Wills, and then He implements them in the World of Creation (the Universe) and never changes His Laws ((7:54), (17:77), (33:62)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Those messengers: We gave preference to some of them over others; among them were those to whom God spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary the clear signs, and We strengthened him with the Spirit of Holiness. And had God willed, there would not have fought one another those after them after the clear signs had come to them; but they differed, and some of them believed, and some of them denied; and had God willed, they would not have fought one another; but God does what He wills.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Such messengers, We have preferred some over others; some of them talked to God, and He raised some of them in rank, and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, the clear proofs and We supported him with the Holy Spirit. And had God wished, the people after them would not have fought after the proofs had come to them, but they disputed, some of them believed and some of them rejected. If God had wished they would not have fought, but God does what He pleases.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Such messengers, We have preferred some to others; some of them talked to God, and He raised some of them in ranks, and We gave Jesus son of Mary the proofs and We supported him with the Holy Spirit. Had God wished, the people after them would not have fought after the proofs had come to them, but they disputed, some of them acknowledged and some of them did not appreciate. Had God wished they would not have fought, but God does whatever He wishes.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    These messengers; we blessed some of them more than others. For example, GOD spoke to one, and we raised some of them to higher ranks. And we gave Jesus, son of Mary, profound miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Had GOD willed, their followers would not have fought with each other, after the clear proofs had come to them. Instead, they disputed among themselves; some of them believed, and some disbelieved. Had GOD willed, they would not have fought. Everything is in accordance with GOD's will.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Of all these apostles We have favoured some over the others. God has addressed some of them, and the stations of some have been exalted over the others. And to Jesus, son of Mary, We gave tokens, and reinforced him with divine grace. If God had so willed those who came after them would never have contended when clear signs had come to them. But dissensions arose, some believed, some denied. And if God had willed they would never have fought among themselves. But God does whatsoever He please.

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

    Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit. If Allah had willed, those succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allah had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allah does what He intends.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Some of these apostles have We endowed more highly than others: among them were such as were spoken to by God , and some He has raised yet higher. ' And We vouchsafed unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration. And if God had so willed, they who succeeded those would not have contended with one another after all evidence of the truth had come to them; but they did take to divergent views, and some of them attained to faith, while some of them came to deny the truth. Yet if God had so willed, they would not have contended with one another: but God does whatever He wills.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake, while some of them He exalted (above others) in degree; and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) and We supported him with the holy Spirit. And if Allah had so wiled it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with another after the clear proofs had come unto them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving. And if Allah had so willed it, they would not have fought one with another; but Allah doeth what He will.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And these Messengers (who have been designated to guide people), We have exalted some of them above the others. Among them are such as were spoken to by Allah Himself, and some He exalted in other respects. And We granted Jesus, son of Mary, Clear Signs and supported him with the spirit of holiness. Had He willed, those who had seen these Clear Signs would not have fought one another thereafter. But (it was not the will of Allah to prevent people from disagreement by compulsion, hence) they differed among themselves whereby some attained faith and others denied the Truth. Yet had Allah so willed they would not have fought one another. Allah does whatever He wills.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    We endowed such Prophets with privileges, some more than others. Among them was one spoken to by Allah, and He evaluated some a degree higher in rank. And We sent ‘Isa, son of Maryam, with clear revelations and signs guiding out of darkness and superstition of later times and out of want of spiritual and intellectual vision into illumination and mental enlightenment, and We supported him giving him countenance by the Holy Spirit, Jibril. And had Allah willed, never would have their successors fought against each other, especially after receiving intellectual enlightenment and mental illumination. But they were at variance in a state of discord and enmity, some recognising Allah and obeying His statutes and others denying Him or rejecting His ordinances and decrees. And had Allah willed they would not have warred against each other, but Allah does and enacts what He will.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    I have blessed My Prophets in different manners. One of them (Moses) I talked directly with. The others were elevated in ranks in other ways. I endowed Jesus, son of Mary, with undeniable miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. If God had wished, people would not be divided among themselves after the death of their Prophet. That is why they dispute among themselves some choose to believe and some choose the disbelief. If God had willed, there would not be any fight among themselves but there is wisdom in the will of God.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Those Messengers! We preferred some of them to others; to some of them Allâh spoke (directly); others He raised to degrees (of honour); and to ‘Îsâ (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), We gave clear proofs and evidence, and supported him with Rûh-ul-Qudus . If Allâh had willed, succeeding generations would not have fought against each other, after clear Verses of Allâh had come to them, but they differed - some of them believed and others disbelieved. If Allâh had willed, they would not have fought against one another, but Allâh does what He likes.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Those messengers We endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah Fulfilleth His plan.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    We have chosen some of those messengers above others. Allah spoke directly to some, and raised some high in rank. To Jesus, son of Mary, We gave clear proofs and supported him with the holy spirit. If Allah had willed, succeeding generations would not have fought ˹among themselves˺ after receiving the clear proofs. But they differed—some believed while others disbelieved. Yet if Allah had willed, they would not have fought one another. But Allah does what He wills.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Those are the messengers some of whom We have given excellence over some others. Among them there are ones to whom Allah spoke (directly) and He raised some of them steps higher (in other respects), and We gave clear signs to ‘Īsā (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary) and supported him with the Holy Spirit. If Allah so willed, those succeeding him would have not fought against each other after clear signs had come to them.But they disagreed among themselves. So, there were some who believed and there were some who disbelieved, and if Allah so willed, they would have not fought against each other. But Allah does what He intends

  • Abdul Haleem

    We favoured some of these messengers above others. God spoke to some; others He raised in rank; We gave Jesus, son of Mary, Our clear signs and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If God had so willed, their successors would not have fought each other after they had been brought clear signs. But they disagreed: some believed and some disbelieved. If God had so willed, they would not have fought each other, but God does what He will.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And those Messengers, some We have preferred above others; some there are to whom God spoke, and some He raised in rank. And We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear signs, and confirmed him with the Holy Spirit. And had God willed, those who came after him would not have fought one against the other after the clear signs had come to them; but they fell into variance, and some of them believed, and some disbelieved; and had God willed they would not have fought one against the other; but God does whatsoever He desires.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    These apostles have we preferred one of them above another. Of them is one to whom God spake; and we have raised some of them degrees; and we have given Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs, and strengthened him by the Holy Spirit. And, did God please, those who came after them would not have fought after there came to them manifest signs. But they did disagree, and of them are some who believe, and of them some who misbelieve, but, did God please, they would not have fought, for God does what He will.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Of these Messengers, We preferred some above others. Of them are some to whom Allah spoke; and We have exalted some of them by degrees; and We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, manifest signs, and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. And, if Allah had willed, those who came after them would not have fought one another, after the clear proof had come to them. But they disagreed, some believing and others disbelieving. And, if Allah had willed, they would not have fought one another; but Allah does what He will.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Those are the Messengers; We have graced some of them over some others; of them (there are some) to whom Allah spoke, and some He raised in degrees. And We brought Isa son of Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) the supreme evidences and aided him with the Spirit of Holiness. (The Angel Jibrîl) And if Allah had (so) decided, the ones who (came) after them would not have fought against each other, after the supreme evidences had come to them. But they differed among themselves. So of them are the ones who believed, and of them are the ones who disbelieved. And if Allah had (so) decided, they would not have fought against each other; but Allah performs whatever He wills.

  • George Sale

    These are the apostles; we have preferred some of them before others: Some of them hath God spoken unto, and hath exalted the degree of others of them. And we gave unto Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs, and strengthened him with the holy spirit. And if God had pleased, they who came after those apostles, would not have contended among themselves, after manifest signs had been shewn unto them. But they fell to variance; therefore some of them believed, and some of them believed not; and if God had so pleased, they would not have contended among themselves, but God doth what he will.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Those messengers: We preferred some of them, some above the others: To some of them (Moses), Allah spoke directly; Others (David), He raised to degrees (of honor); To Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), We gave Clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit (Gabriel). If Allah had so willed, the following generations would not have fought among each other, after Clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to differ, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; But Allah fulfills His plan.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    We have made these Messengers excel one another. There are those of them to whom Allâh has spoken much, and some of them He has exalted by many degrees of rank. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear arguments, and We supported him with the blessed word (of God). Had Allâh (so) willed, people (who came) after them (- the Messengers) would not have fought one another (particularly) after clear arguments had come to them, but (as it was) they differed one from another; so that some of them believed while others disbelieved. Had Allâh (so) willed they would not have fought one another. Yet Allâh does whatever He intends.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    These are the apostles, some of whom We gave an advantage over others: of them are those to whom Allah spoke, and some of them He raised in rank, and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, manifest proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had Allah wished, those who succeeded them would not have fought each other after the manifest proofs had come to them. But they differed. So there were among them those who had faith and there were among them those who were faithless, and had Allah wished, they would not have fought one another; but Allah does whatever He desires.