Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

God is not ashamed to strike a similitude, be it of a gnat or of what is above it. Then as for those who heed warning: they know that it is the truth from their Lord; and as for those who ignore warning: they say: “What means God by this similitude?” He leads astray many thereby, and He guides many thereby; and He leads astray thereby only the perfidious:

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَسْتَحْـي۪ٓ اَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلاً مَا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَاۜ فَاَمَّا الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ اَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْۚ وَاَمَّا الَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَٓا اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِهٰذَا مَثَلاًۢ يُضِلُّ بِه۪ كَث۪يراً وَيَهْد۪ي بِه۪ كَث۪يراًۜ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِه۪ٓ اِلَّا الْفَاسِق۪ينَۙ
Inna Allaha la yastahyeean yadriba mathalan ma baAAoodatan famafawqaha faamma allatheena amanoofayaAAlamoona annahu alhaqqu min rabbihim waammaallatheena kafaroo fayaqooloona matha aradaAllahu bihatha mathalan yudillu bihikatheeran wayahdee bihi katheeran wama yudillu bihiilla alfasiqeen
#wordmeaningroot
1innaIndeed
2l-lahaAllah
3(is) not
4yastaḥyīashamedحيي
5anto
6yaḍribaset forthضرب
7mathalanan exampleمثل
8(like) even
9baʿūḍatan(of) a mosquitoبعض
10famāand (even) something
11fawqahāabove itفوق
12fa-ammāThen as for
13alladhīnathose who
14āmanūbelievedامن
15fayaʿlamūna[thus] they will knowعلم
16annahuthat it
17l-ḥaqu(is) the truthحقق
18minfrom
19rabbihimtheir Lordربب
20wa-ammāAnd as for
21alladhīnathose who
22kafarūdisbelievedكفر
23fayaqūlūna[thus] they will sayقول
24mādhāwhat
25arāda(did) intendرود
26l-lahuAllah
27bihādhāby this
28mathalanexampleمثل
29yuḍilluHe lets go astrayضلل
30bihiby it
31kathīranmanyكثر
32wayahdīand He guidesهدي
33bihiby it
34kathīranmanyكثر
35wamāAnd not
36yuḍilluHe lets go astrayضلل
37bihiby it
38illāexcept
39l-fāsiqīnathe defiantly disobedientفسق
  • Aisha Bewley

    Allah is not ashamed to make an example of a gnat or of an even smaller thing. As for those who have iman, they know it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who are kafir, they say, ‘What does Allah mean by this example?’ He misguides many by it and guides many by it. But He only misguides the deviators.

  • Progressive Muslims

    God does not shy away from citing the example of a mosquito, or anything above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for the rejecters, they Say: "What does God want with this example" He lets many stray by it, and He guides many, but He only lets stray the evildoers.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Behold, Allah does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory, even of an insect. (Men and women of intellect know that abstract phenomena are frequently well defined and understood in that manner). Since the believers exercise reason, (they appreciate this beauty of the Divine Wisdom and) they know that it is the Truth from their Lord. On the other hand, those who have chosen to disbelieve, try to ridicule by saying, "What could Allah mean to teach by this similitude?" Thus His Law of guidance lets go astray many and shows the Way to many. (But note) He never lets go astray except those who drift away from Reason.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    God is not ashamed to strike a similitude, be it of a gnat or of what is above it. Then as for those who heed warning: they know that it is the truth from their Lord; and as for those who ignore warning: they say: “What means God by this similitude?” He leads astray many thereby, and He guides many thereby; and He leads astray thereby only the perfidious:

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    God does not shy away from putting forth the example of a mosquito, or anything above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for the rejecters, they say: "What does God intend with this example?" He strays many by it, and He guides many by it; but He only strays by it the wicked.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    God does not shy away from citing the example of a mosquito, or anything above it. As for those who acknowledge, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for the unappreciative, they say, "What does God want with this example?" He lets many stray by it, and He guides many, but He only lets stray the evildoers.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    GOD does not shy away from citing any kind of allegory, from the tiny mosquito and greater. As for those who believe, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. As for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did GOD mean by such an allegory?" He misleads many thereby, and guides many thereby. But He never misleads thereby except the wicked,

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    God is not loath to advance the similitude of a gnat or a being more contemptible; and those who believe know whatever is from the Lord is true. But those who disbelieve say: "What does God mean by this parable?" He causes some to err this way, and some He guides; yet He turns away none but those who transgress,

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

    Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allah intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,

  • Muhammad Asad

    Behold, God does not disdain to propound a parable of a gnat, or of something less than that. Now, as for those who have attained to faith, they know that it is the truth from their Sustainer - whereas those who are bent on denying the truth say, "What could God mean by this parable?" In this way does He cause many a one to go astray, just as He guides many a one aright: but none does He cause thereby to go astray save the iniquitous,

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Lo! Allah disdaineth not to coin the similitude even of a gnat. Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those who disbelieve say: What doth Allah wish (to teach) by such a similitude? He misleadeth many thereby, and He guideth many thereby; and He misleadeth thereby only miscreants;

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Behold! Allah is not ashamed to propound the parable of a gnat, or even of something more lowly. On hearing these parables the believers know that it is the truth from their Lord, while those bent on denying the Truth say: "What does Allah mean by these parables?" Thus He causes many to go astray just as He directs many to the Right Way. And He thereby causes to go astray only the transgressors,

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Allah is by no means reluctant from fear of shame to give an allegory applying creatures as small as a gnat or a larger creature to describe subjects under the guise of some other subject of aptly suggestive resemblance intended to convey a useful lesson by which moral and spiritual relations are typically set forth. As to those whose hearts have been impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues, they know well that the simile narrated by Allah, their Creator, is the truth personified as it illustrates and ennobles the subject. But those who deny Allah wonder to hear Allah talk after this manner and they say: "What does Allah mean by such a parable?" In effect, such parables as Allah discourses are intended to stray the many who counsel deaf to the truth and to guide the many who have clean hearts to the path of righteousness and He misguides only the wicked who confirm themselves in the evil purpose and the ill intention.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    God is definitely not ashamed to refer to a tiny mosquito—or a bigger creature of his own—as an example to make a point. The believers get the message from the example; the unbelievers (on the other hand) will say: "What does God mean by these stupid examples?" Many are misled and many are lead by these examples to the right path; only the wicked ones are misled

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Verily, Allâh is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or so much more when it is bigger (or less when it is smaller) than it. And as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve, they say: "What did Allâh intend by this parable?" By it He misleads many, and many He guides thereby. And He misleads thereby only those who are Al-Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Allah disdains not to use the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; but those who reject Faith say: "What means Allah by this similitude?" By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray, except those who forsake (the path),-

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Surely Allah does not shy away from using the parable of a mosquito or what is even smaller. As for the believers, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. And as for the disbelievers, they argue, "What does Allah mean by such a parable?" Through this ˹test˺, He leaves many to stray, and guides many. And He leaves none to stray except the rebellious—

  • Taqi Usmani

    Indeed, Allah does not feel shy in citing any parable, be it that of a gnat or of something above it (in meanness). Now, as for those who believe, they know it is the truth from their Lord; while those who disbelieve say, "What could Allah have meant by this parable?" By this He lets many go astray, and by this He makes many find guidance. But He does not let anyone go astray thereby except those who are sinful

  • Abdul Haleem

    God does not shy from drawing comparisons even with something as small as a gnat, or larger: the believers know it is the truth from their Lord, but the disbelievers say, ‘What does God mean by such a comparison?’ Through it He makes many go astray and leads many to the right path. But it is only the rebels He makes go astray:

  • Arthur John Arberry

    God is not ashamed to strike a similitude even of a gnat, or aught above it. As for the believers, they know it is the truth from their Lord; but as for unbelievers, they say, 'What did God desire by this for a similitude?' Thereby He leads many astray, and thereby He guides many; and thereby He leads none astray save the ungodly

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Why, God is not ashamed to set forth a parable of a gnat, or anything beyond; and as for those who believe, they know that it is truth from the Lord; but as for those who disbelieve, they say, 'What is it that God means by this as a parable? He leads astray many and He guides many;' - but He leads astray only the evildoers;

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Behold! Allah does not disdain to set forth a similitude even of a gnat, or anything lower or higher; and as for those who believe, they know that it is truth from the Lord; but as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What is it that Allah means by this as a parable? He leads astray many and He guides many;"- but He leads astray only the evildoers;

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Surely Allah does not shy from striking a likeness even of a gnat, or anything above it. So for the ones who have believed, (then) they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, and as for the ones who have disbelieved, then they say, "What is it that Allah would (teach) by this for a similitude?"Thereby He leads many into error, and thereby He guides many; and thereby in no way does He lead into error anyone except the immoral. (The ungodly, the depraved)

  • George Sale

    Moreover God will not be ashamed to propound in a parable a gnat, or even a more despicable thing; for they who believe will know it to be the truth from their Lord; but the unbelievers will say, What meaneth God by this parable? He will thereby mislead many, and will direct many thereby: but He will not mislead any thereby, except the transgressors,

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Indeed, Allah is not ashamed to use the similitude of things, even as low as the mosquito as well as the highest. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; But those who reject Faith will say: "What does Allah mean by this similitude?" But He does not cause (people) to lose (their path) except those who give (themselves) up.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Indeed, Allâh does not disdain to cite a parable of (a thing) even (as small as) a gnat or (of something) smaller than that. (Be it as it may) those who have believed know that this is a true (parable) from their Lord. As for those who disbelieve say, `What could Allâh mean by (citing) such a parable?' Many does He adjudge to be erring because of these (parables) and many does He guide through them. Yet it is only the transgressors whom He adjudges to be erring because of them.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Indeed Allah is not ashamed to draw a parable whether it is that of a gnat or something above it. As for those who have faith, they know it is the truth from their Lord; and as for the faithless, they say, ‘What did Allah mean by this parable?’ Thereby He leads many astray, and thereby He guides many; and He leads no one astray thereby except the transgressors