Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

There is no compulsion in doctrine; sound judgment has become clear from error. So whoso denies idols and believes in God, he has grasped the most firm handhold which has no break; and God is hearing and knowing.

لَٓا اِكْرَاهَ فِي الدّ۪ينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّۚ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقٰىۗ لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَاۜ وَاللّٰهُ سَم۪يعٌ عَل۪يمٌ
La ikraha fee addeeniqad tabayyana arrushdu mina alghayyi faman yakfur bittaghootiwayu/min billahi faqadi istamsaka bilAAurwatialwuthqa la infisama laha wallahusameeAAun AAaleem
#wordmeaningroot
1(There is) no
2ik'rāhacompulsionكره
3in
4l-dīnithe religionدين
5qadSurely
6tabayyanahas become distinctبين
7l-rush'duthe right (path)رشد
8minafrom
9l-ghayithe wrongغوي
10famanThen whoever
11yakfurdisbelievesكفر
12bil-ṭāghūtiin false deitiesطغي
13wayu'minand believesامن
14bil-lahiin Allah
15faqadithen surely
16is'tamsakahe graspedمسك
17bil-ʿur'watithe handhold عرو
18l-wuth'qā[the] firmوثق
19(which) not
20infiṣāma(will) breakفصم
21lahā[for it]
22wal-lahuAnd Allah
23samīʿun(is) All-Hearingسمع
24ʿalīmunAll-Knowingعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    There is no compulsion where the deen is concerned. Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error. Anyone who rejects false gods and has iman in Allah has grasped the Firmest Handhold, which will never give way. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  • Progressive Muslims

    There is no compulsion in the system; the proper way has been made clear from the wrong way. Whoever rejects evil, and believes in God, then he has grasped the most solid branch that will never break. God is Hearer, Knower.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Although this Message has been sent down by the Almighty), there is absolutely no compulsion or coercion in religion. This Rule shall have no exception because Right has been made distinct from Wrong (3:4). Whoever rejects false gods such as the priesthood, and attains conviction in the Word of Allah, has grasped the Unbreakable Support. This assurance comes from Allah, the Hearer the Knower.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    There is no compulsion in doctrine; sound judgment has become clear from error. So whoso denies idols and believes in God, he has grasped the most firm handhold which has no break; and God is hearing and knowing.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    There is no compulsion in the system; the proper way has been clarified from the wrong way. Whoever rejects evil, and believes in God, indeed he has taken grasp of the strongest hold that will never break. God is Hearer, Knower.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    There is no compulsion in the system; the proper way has been made clear from the wrong way. Whoever rejects the transgressors, and acknowledges God, has grasped the firm branch that will never break. God is Hearer, Knower.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    There is no compulsion in matter of faith. Distinct is the way of guidance now from error. He who turns away from the forces of evil and believes in God, will surely hold fast to a handle that is strong and unbreakable, for God hears all and knows everything.

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

    There shall be no compulsion in the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

  • Muhammad Asad

    THERE SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith. Distinct has now become the right way from error: hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    There is no compulsion in religion. The Right Way stands clearly distinguished from the wrong. Hence he who rejects the evil ones and believes in Allah has indeed taken hold of the firm, unbreakable handle. And Allah (Whom he has held for support) is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Compulsion is incompatible with religion, therefore let there be no compulsion in religion. Now the path of righteousness has been distinguished from the path of error and holiness distinguished from vindictiveness. Therefore, he who rejects false beliefs and turns his attention to Allah with a religious mind, will have firmly grasped the eternal, unchangeable and most secure handhold which shall never separate, nor shall it suffer a break, and Allah is Sami‘un and 'Alimun.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    There is no force in belief. The right and the wrong are clearly defined. The one who reject the idols (in any shape and form) and choose to believe in God has indeed hung to a strong rope of security that never breaks. God Hears and is Aware.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood. So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  • Taqi Usmani

    There is no compulsion in Faith. The correct way has become distinct from the erroneous. Now, whoever rejects the Tāghūt (the Rebel, the Satan) and believes in Allah has a firm grasp on the strongest ring that never breaks. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    There is no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break. God is all hearing and all knowing.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    No compulsion is there in religion. Rectitude has become clear from error. So whosoever disbelieves in idols and believes in God, has laid hold of the most firm handle, unbreaking; God is All-hearing, All-knowing.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    There is no compulsion in religion; the right way has been distinguished from the wrong, and whoso disbelieves in Taghut and believes in God, he has got hold of the firm handle in which is no breaking off; but God both hears and knows.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    There is no compulsion in religion; the right way is henceforth distinct from the wrong. And whoever rejects Taghut (false deities) and believes in Allah, he has grasped a firm handle which will not break; but Allah is both Hearer and Knower.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    There is no compulsion in the religion; right-mindedness has already been evidently (distinct) from misguidance. So whoever disbelieves in the Taghût (i.e. false gods, idols, devils and seducers) and believes in Allah, then he has already upheld fast the most binding Grip, with no disjunction (ever); and Allah is Ever-Hearing, Ever-Knowing.

  • George Sale

    Let there be no violence in religion. Now is right direction manifestly distinguished from deceit: Whoever therefore shall deny Tagut(false gods), and believe in God, he shall surely take hold on a strong handle, which shall not be broken; God is he who heareth and seeth.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Let there be no force (or compulsion) in religion: Surely— Truth stands out clear from error: Whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has held the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah is All Hearing (Sami'), All Knowing (Aleem).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    There is no compulsion of any sort in religion (as) the right way does stand obviously distinguished from the way of error. Now he that shall reject the transgressor and accepts Allâh (let such know that he) has laid hold of a support firm and strong which knows no breaking. Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    There is no compulsion in religion: rectitude has become distinct from error. So one who disavows the Rebels and has faith in Allah has held fast to the firmest handle for which there is no breaking; and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.