Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

So woe to those who write the Writ with their hands, then say: “This is from God,” that they might sell it at a cheap price; so woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.

فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذ۪ينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِاَيْد۪يهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هٰذَا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِه۪ ثَمَناً قَل۪يلاًۜ فَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا كَتَبَتْ اَيْد۪يهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ
Fawaylun lillatheena yaktuboona alkitababi-aydeehim thumma yaqooloona hatha min AAindi Allahiliyashtaroo bihi thamanan qaleelan fawaylun lahum mimmakatabat aydeehim wawaylun lahum mimma yaksiboon
#wordmeaningroot
1fawaylunSo woe
2lilladhīnato those who
3yaktubūnawriteكتب
4l-kitābathe bookكتب
5bi-aydīhimwith their (own) handsيدي
6thummathen
7yaqūlūnathey sayقول
8hādhāThis
9min(is)
10ʿindifromعند
11l-lahiAllah
12liyashtarūto barterشري
13bihiwith it
14thamanan(for) a priceثمن
15qalīlanlittleقلل
16fawaylunSo woe
17lahumto them
18mimmāfor what
19katabathave writtenكتب
20aydīhimtheir handsيدي
21wawaylunand woe
22lahumto them
23mimmāfor what
24yaksibūnathey earnكسب
  • Aisha Bewley

    Woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say ‘This is from Allah’ to sell it for a paltry price. Woe to them for what their hands have written! Woe to them for what they earn!

  • Progressive Muslims

    So woe to those who write the Scripture with their hands then Say: "This is from God, " so that they can seek a cheap gain! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they gained.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Then, woe unto those (their scholars) who write the Scripture with their own hands and claim, "This is from Allah. " They traffic with it for petty gains. (They distort the Scripture tampering with its verses to suit their designs and exploit those who are illiterate). Woe unto them for what their hands do write, and for the earning they make thereby."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    So woe to those who write the Writ with their hands, then say: “This is from God,” that they might sell it at a cheap price; so woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    So woe to those who write the Book with their hands then say: "This is from God," so that they can purchase with it a cheap price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they gained.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    So woe to those who write the book with their hands then say, "This is from God," so that they can seek a cheap gain! Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they have gained.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Therefore, woe to those who distort the scripture with their own hands, then say, "This is what GOD has revealed," seeking a cheap material gain. Woe to them for such distortion, and woe to them for their illicit gains.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    But woe to them who fake the Scriptures and say: "This is from God, " so that they might earn some profit thereby; and woe to them for what they fake, and woe to them for what they earn from it!

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

    So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Woe, then, unto those who write down, with their own hands, divine writ, and then say. "This is from God," in order to acquire a trifling gain thereby; woe, then, unto them for what their hands have written, and woe unto them for all that they may have gained!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Therefore woe be unto those who write the Scripture with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah," that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written, and woe unto them for that they earn thereby.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Woe, then, to those who write out the Scriptures with their own hands and then, in order to make a trifling gain, claim: "This is from Allah." Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they thus earn.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    In cconsequence, woe upon those who reproduce Allah’s Book by wording it differently in a demagogic way, distorting meanings and relating them to Allah in order to exchange the truth for the vanity of the fleeting and ephemeral world. Woe betide them for their wrongful and unclean hands, they shall be miserable as a result of their sinful iniquities.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Shame and pity on the learned ones of them who fabricate some verses and then say: "These are the words of God. " They do so in order to make some money. They do not realize that they are digging their own grave with those hands and that what their earnings in this manner will lead to their ruins.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, "This is from Allâh," to purchase with it a little price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for that they earn thereby.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from Allah," to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    So woe to those who distort the Scripture with their own hands then say, "This is from Allah"—seeking a fleeting gain! So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they have earned.

  • Taqi Usmani

    So, woe to those who write the Book with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah", so that they may gain thereby a trifling price. Then, woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.

  • Abdul Haleem

    So woe to those who write something down with their own hands and then claim, ‘This is from God,’ in order to make some small gain. Woe to them for what their hands have written! Woe to them for all that they have earned!

  • Arthur John Arberry

    So woe to those who write the Book with their hands, then say, 'This is from God,' that they may sell it for a little price; so woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for their earnings.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    But woe to those who write out the Book with their hands and say 'this is from God;' to buy therewith a little price! and woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they gain!

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    But woe to those who write out the Book with their own hands and say "This is from Allah"; to buy therewith a little price! And woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they gain!

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    So woe to (the ones) who write the Book with their hands; thereafter they say, "This is from (the Providence of) Allah, that they may trade it for a little price; So, woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they have earned.

  • George Sale

    And woe unto them who transcribe corruptly the book of the law with their hands, and then say, this is from God: That they may sell it for a small price. Therefore woe unto them because of that which their hands have written; and woe unto them for that which they have gained.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: "This is from Allah. " To gain from it for a lowly price! Woe to them for what they write, and for the gain they make from it.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Woe, therefore, to those who write the Scripture with their own hands and then say, `This is from Allâh. ' They do so that they may thereby acquire some paltry gains. Woe to them for what their hands have written (to give them out as Word of God). Again (We say), woe to them for what they do (of evil deed).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    So woe to those who write the Book with their hands and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ that they may sell it for a paltry gain. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn!