Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“Or a creation of what is great within your breasts!” And they will say: “Who will bring us back?” Say thou: “He who created you the first time.” Then they will shake their heads at thee and say: “When is it?” Say thou: “It may be that it is near:

اَوْ خَلْقاً مِمَّا يَكْبُرُ ف۪ي صُدُورِكُمْۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَنْ يُع۪يدُنَاۜ قُلِ الَّذ۪ي فَطَرَكُمْ اَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۚ فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ اِلَيْكَ رُؤُ۫سَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتٰى هُوَۜ قُلْ عَسٰٓى اَنْ يَكُونَ قَر۪يباً
Aw khalqan mimma yakburu fee sudoorikumfasayaqooloona man yuAAeeduna quli allathee fatarakumawwala marratin fasayunghidoona ilayka ruoosahumwayaqooloona mata huwa qul AAasa an yakoona qareeba
#wordmeaningroot
1awOr
2khalqana creationخلق
3mimmāof what
4yakburu(is) greatكبر
5in
6ṣudūrikumyour breastsصدر
7fasayaqūlūnaThen they will sayقول
8manWho
9yuʿīdunāwill restore usعود
10quliSayقول
11alladhīHe Who
12faṭarakumcreated youفطر
13awwala(the) firstاول
14marratintimeمرر
15fasayun'ghiḍūnaThen they will shakeنغض
16ilaykaat you
17ruūsahumtheir headsراس
18wayaqūlūnaand they sayقول
19matāWhen (will)
20huwait (be)
21qulSayقول
22ʿasāPerhapsعسي
23anthat
24yakūna(it) will beكون
25qarībansoonقرب
  • Aisha Bewley

    Or indeed any created thing that you think is harder still!’ They will say, ‘Who will bring us back again?’ Say: ‘He who brought you into being in the first place. ’ They will shake their heads at you and ask, ‘When will it happen?’ Say: ‘It may well be that it is very near.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    "Or a creation that is held dear in your chests. " They will Say: "Who will return us" Say: "The One who initiated you the first time." They will shake their heads to you and Say: "When is this" Say: "Perhaps it is near."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    "Or fossilize into forms as far away from life as you can imagine, you shall be raised up. " Then they might say, "Who shall bring us back to life?" Tell them, "He Who initiated you in the first place." They will then shake their heads and say, "When will that be?" Say, "It may be sooner than you think!"

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “Or a creation of what is great within your breasts!” And they will say: “Who will bring us back?” Say thou: “He who created you the first time.” Then they will shake their heads at thee and say: “When is it?” Say thou: “It may be that it is near:

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "Or a creation that is held dear in your chests." They will say: "Who will return us?" Say: "The One who initiated you the first time." They will shake their heads to you and say: "When is this?" Say: "Perhaps it is near."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "Or a creation that is held dear in your chests." They will say, "Who will return us?" Say, "The One who initiated you the first time." They will shake their heads to you and say, "When is this?" Say, "Perhaps it is near."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "Even if you turn into any kind of creation that you deem impossible." They will then say, "Who will bring us back?" Say, "The One who created you in the first place." They will then shake their heads and say, "When will that be?" Say, "It may be closer than you think."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Or some other created thing which may seem to you most difficult (to create)!" They will then say: "Who will revert us back?" Say: "He who originated you in the first place. " They will shake their heads at you and say: "When will that be?" Say: "In the near future, perhaps,

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

    Or creation of that which is great within your breasts. " And they will say, "Who will restore us?" Say, "He who brought you forth the first time." Then they will nod their heads toward you and say, "When is that?" Say, "Perhaps it will be soon -

  • Muhammad Asad

    or any substance which, to your minds, appears yet farther removed !" And thereupon they ask, "Who is it that will' bring us back ?"-say thou: "He who has brought you into being in the first instance. " And thereupon they shake their heads at thee and ask, "When shall this be?"-say thou: "It may well be soon,

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    or any other form of creation you deem hardest of all (to recreate from)." They will certainly ask: "Who will bring us back (to life)?" Say: "He Who created you in the first instance." They will shake their heads at you and inquire: "When will that be?"* Say: "Perhaps that time might have drawn near;

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "Or any other material you have in mind and you know it is beyond animation" There and then they shall say: "who will then restore us to life?" Say to them: "He who brought you into being and caused you to exist in the first creation". There, they shall shake their heads to you in doubt and ask: "When". Say to them: "It may well be quite soon".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Say: "The One Who created you at first place. " Then they will shake their heads at you and say: “When will this happen?” Say: “Perhaps sooner than you think!”

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    "Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts (thoughts to be resurrected, even then you shall be resurrected)." Then, they will say: "Who shall bring us back (to life)?" Say: "He Who created you first!" Then, they will shake their heads at you and say: "When will that be?" Say: "Perhaps it is near!"

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "Or created matter which, in your minds, is hardest (to be raised up),- (Yet shall ye be raised up)!" then will they say: "Who will cause us to return?" Say: "He who created you first!" Then will they wag their heads towards thee, and say, "When will that be?" Say, "May be it will be quite soon!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    or whatever you think is harder to bring to life!" Then they will ask ˹you˺, "Who will bring us back ˹to life˺?” Say, “The One Who created you the first time.” They will then shake their heads at you and ask, “When will that be?” Say, “Perhaps it is soon!”

  • Taqi Usmani

    or any creation you deem harder in your hearts." Thereupon they will ask, "Who will bring us back?” Say, “The One who created you for the first time.” So, they will shake their heads before you and say, “When shall that be?” Say, “May be, it is near.”

  • Abdul Haleem

    or any other substance you think hard to bring to life.’ Then they will say, ‘Who will bring us back?’ Say, ‘The One who created you the first time.’ Then they will shake their heads at you and say, ‘When will that be?’ Say, ‘It may well be very soon:

  • Arthur John Arberry

    or some creation yet more monstrous in your minds!' Then they will say, 'Who will bring us back?' Say: 'He who originated you the first time. ' Then they will shake their heads at thee, and they will say, 'When will it be?' Say: 'It is possible that it may be nigh,

  • E. Henry Palmer

    `or a creature, the greatest your breasts can conceive -!' Then they shall say, 'Who is to restore us?' Say, 'He who originated you at first;' and they will wag their heads and say, 'When will that be?' Say, 'It may, perhaps, be nigh. '

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    "Or a created thing which, in your mind, is greater (or harder to reproduce) yet you shall be raised" Then they shall say, "Who is to restore us?" Say, "He who originated you at first;" Then they will wag their heads and say, "When will that be?" Say, "It may, perhaps, be soon. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Or (some) creation from among that which is (yet) greatly (admired) in your breasts!" Then they will soon say, "Who will bring us back?" Say, "The one who originated you the first time. " Then they will wag their heads at you and they will say, "When will it be?" Say, "It may be drawing near."

  • George Sale

    or some creature more improbable in your opinions to be raised to life. But they will say, who shall restore us to life? Answer, He who created you the first time: And they will wag their heads at thee, saying, when shall this be? Answer, peradventure it is nigh.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "Or (be any) created matter which to you, is greater (and harder) in your hearts (to be raised up— Still you shall be raised up)!" Then they will (still) say: "Who will cause us to come back (alive)?" Say: "He, Who created you first!" Then they will shake their heads towards you and say, "When will that be?” Say, "May be, it is near!

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    `Or some other creation yet more hard (that you can possibly conceive) in your mind, (even then you shall be raised to a new life). ' Thereupon they will say, `Who will restore us (to life)?' Say, `The same Who originated you the first time.' At this, then, they will shake their heads at you (expressing wonder and disbelief in being raised) and will say, `When will it come to pass?' Say, `May be it is near.'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    or a creature more fantastic to your minds!’ They will say, ‘Who will bring us back?’ Say, ‘He who originated you the first time. ’ They will nod their heads at you, and say, ‘When will that be?’ Say, ‘Maybe it is near!