Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

O you who heed warning: avoid much assumption; some assumption is sin. And spy not; neither backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it. And be in prudent fear of God; God is accepting of repentance and merciful.

يَٓا اَيُّهَا الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَث۪يراً مِنَ الظَّنِّۚ اِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ اِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَبْ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاًۜ اَيُحِبُّ اَحَدُكُمْ اَنْ يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ اَخ۪يهِ مَيْتاً فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُۜ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ تَـوَّابٌ رَح۪يمٌ
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanooijtaniboo katheeran mina aththanni innabaAAda aththanni ithmun walatajassasoo wala yaghtab baAAdukum baAAdanayuhibbu ahadukum an ya/kula lahma akheehimaytan fakarihtumoohu wattaqoo Allaha inna Allahatawwabun raheem
#wordmeaningroot
1yāayyuhāO you who believe
2alladhīnaO you who believe
3āmanūO you who believeامن
4ij'tanibūAvoidجنب
5kathīranmuchكثر
6minaof
7l-ẓanithe assumptionظنن
8innaIndeed
9baʿḍasomeبعض
10l-ẓaniassumptionظنن
11ith'mun(is) sinاثم
12walāAnd (do) not
13tajassasūspyجسس
14walāand (do) not
15yaghtabbackbiteغيب
16baʿḍukumsome of youبعض
17baʿḍan(to) othersبعض
18ayuḥibbuWould likeحبب
19aḥadukumone of youاحد
20anto
21yakulaeatاكل
22laḥma(the) fleshلحم
23akhīhi(of) his brotherاخو
24maytandeadموت
25fakarih'tumūhuNay, you would hate itكره
26wa-ittaqūAnd fear Allahوقي
27l-lahaAnd fear Allah
28innaindeed
29l-lahaAllah
30tawwābun(is) Oft-Returningتوب
31raḥīmunMost Mercifulرحم
  • Aisha Bewley

    You who have iman! avoid most suspicion. Indeed some suspicion is a crime. And do not spy and do not backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat his brother’s dead flesh? No, you would hate it. And have taqwa of Allah. Allah is Ever-Returning, Most Merciful.

  • Progressive Muslims

    O you who believe, you shall avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is sinful. And do not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another. Would one of you enjoy eating the flesh of his dead brother You certainly would hate this. You shall observe God. God is Redeemer, Merciful.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Avoid much suspicion and guesswork. For, behold, some of such suspicion and guesswork deplete your communal energy. And spy not upon one another, nor shall you backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would detest it! Be mindful of Allah. Verily, Allah is Relenting, Merciful.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    O you who heed warning: avoid much assumption; some assumption is sin. And spy not; neither backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it. And be in prudent fear of God; God is accepting of repentance and merciful.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    O you who believe, you shall avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is sinful. And do not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite. Would any of you enjoy eating the flesh of his dead brother? You certainly would hate this. You shall observe God. God is Redeemer, Merciful.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    O you who acknowledge, you shall avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is sinful. Do not spy on one another, nor shall you gossip one another. Would one of you enjoy eating the flesh of his dead brother? You certainly would hate this. You shall observe God. God is Redeemer, Compassionate.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    O you who believe, you shall avoid any suspicion, for even a little bit of suspicion is sinful. You shall not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another; this is as abominable as eating the flesh of your dead brother. You certainly abhor this. You shall observe GOD. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    O you who believe, avoid most suspicions: Some suspicions are indeed sins. So do not pry into others' secrets and do not backbite. Would any of you like to eat a dead brother's flesh? You would surely be revolted by it Then fear God. He is certainly forgiving and kind.

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

    O you who have believed, avoid much assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.

  • Muhammad Asad

    O you who have attained to faith! Avoid most guesswork for, behold, some of guesswork is a sin; and do not spy upon one another, and neither allow your­selves to speak ill of one another behind your backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would loathe it! And be conscious of God. Verily, God is an accep­tor of repentance, a dispenser of grace!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    O ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)! And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting, Merciful.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Believers, avoid being excessively suspicious, for some suspicion is a sin.* Do not spy,* nor backbite one another.* Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?* You would surely detest it. Have fear of Allah. Surely Allah is much prone to accept repentance, is Most Compassionate.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    O you who believe with hearts reflecting the image of religious and spiritual virtues and their deeds wisdom and piety. Avoid suspicion in many instances and the conjecture of the existence of something evil or wrong without proof; suspicion in some instances is indeed a sin. Nor play the spy upon each other or peer inquisitively and impertinently into the nature of other peoples' actions, nor traduce or slander one another by speaking evil or falsehood or speaking maliciously behind his or her back. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother! Indeed you would shrink from it with horror. Therefore, keep Allah in mind and entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Him, Allah is indeed Tawabun (Relenting) and Rahimun (Merciful). Allah indicates to people that He weighs them not by their parentage, lineage, descent or rank in life, but by the image their hearts reflect.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    It is forbidden for the believers to have an extremely suspicious mind. Some kind of suspicions are indeed sins. Do not spy on each other and do not backbite one another ; is there any among you who would like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Indeed none. Be mindful of God as He accepts the repentance; He is the Most Merciful.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it... But fear Allah: For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    O  believers! Avoid many suspicions, ˹for˺ indeed, some suspicions are sinful. And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of their dead brother? You would despise that! And fear Allah. Surely Allah is ˹the˺ Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.

  • Taqi Usmani

    O you who believe, abstain from many of the suspicions. Some suspicions are sins. And do not be curious (to find out faults of others), and do not backbite one another. Does one of you like that he eats the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is Most-Relenting, Very-Merciful.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Believers, avoid making too many assumptions- some assumptions are sinful- and do not spy on one another or speak ill of people behind their backs: would any of you like to eat the flesh of your dead brother? No, you would hate it. So be mindful of God: God is ever relenting, most merciful.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    O believers, eschew much suspicion; some suspicion is a sin. And do not spy, neither backbite one another; would any of you like to eat the flesh of his brother dead? You would abominate it. And fear you God; assuredly God turns, and He is All-compassionate.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    O ye who believe! carefully avoid suspicion; verily, some suspicion is a sin. And do not play the spy, nor backbite each other; would one of you like to eat his dead brother's flesh?- why! ye would abhor it! then fear God; verily, God is relentant, compassionate.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    O you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft relenting, Merciful.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    O you who have believed, avoid much surmise; surely some surmise is a vice. And do not spy on each other, (Literally: some of you on some others) nor backbite one another; would any of you love to eat the flesh of his brother dead? So you would hate it! And be pious to Allah; surely Allah is Superbly Relenting, Ever-Merciful.

  • George Sale

    O true believers, carefully avoid entertaining a suspicion of another: For some suspicions are a crime. Inquire not too curiously into other mens failings: Neither let the one of you speak ill of another in his abscence. Would any of you desire to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Surely ye would abhor it. And fear God: For God is easy to be reconciled, and merciful.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion (as much as possible): Indeed some (types of) suspicion are sins: And do not spy on each other, do not speak ill of each other, behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? No! You would hate it... But fear Allah: Verily, Allah is One Who accepts repentance (Tawwab), Most Merciful (Raheem).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    O you who believe! eschew much suspicion, for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And do not spy into the secrets of one another, nor backbite one another, would anyone of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Why, you would loath it. Take Allâh as (your) shield. Surely, Allâh is Oft-Returning (with compassion and is) Ever Merciful.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    O you who have faith! Avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins. And do not spy on or backbite one another. Will any of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it. And be wary of Allah; indeed Allah is all-clement, all-merciful.