Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“Those whose effort is astray in the life of this world when they think that they are doing good work;

اَلَّذ۪ينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ اَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعاً
Allatheena dalla saAAyuhumfee alhayati addunya wahum yahsaboonaannahum yuhsinoona sunAAa
#wordmeaningroot
1alladhīnaThose
2ḍallais lostضلل
3saʿyuhumtheir effortسعي
4in
5l-ḥayatithe lifeحيي
6l-dun'yā(of) the worldدنو
7wahumwhile they
8yaḥsabūnathinkحسب
9annahumthat they
10yuḥ'sinūna(were) acquiring goodحسن
11ṣun'ʿan(in) workصنع
  • Aisha Bewley

    People whose efforts in the life of the dunya are misguided while they suppose that they are doing good. ’

  • Progressive Muslims

    "Those whose efforts in the worldly life were wasted while they thought they were doing good!"

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    They are the ones whose effort in the life of the world remains misdirected. And yet they think that they are doing good work. (They work in the wrong cause, contrary to the Divine Reminder).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “Those whose effort is astray in the life of this world when they think that they are doing good work;

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "Those whose efforts in the worldly life were wasted while they thought they were doing good!"

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Those whose efforts in the worldly life were wasted while they thought they were doing good!"

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "They are the ones whose works in this life are totally astray, but they think that they are doing good."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Theirs whose effort is misspent in pursuit of the pleasures of the world, even though they think they are doing good things. "

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

    those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work. "

  • Muhammad Asad

    " they whose labour has gone astray in this world's life, and who none the less think that they are doing good works:

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    It will be those whose effort went astray* in the life of the world and who believe nevertheless that they are doing good.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "They are those who presumed upon Providence and conducted themselves in life according to false concepts and they thought they were doing what is right".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    "They are the ones who think what they are doing is good and that all their good deeds are nullified. "

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?"

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹They are˺ those whose efforts are in vain in this worldly life, while they think they are doing good!"

  • Taqi Usmani

    Those are the ones whose effort in the worldly life has gone in vain, while they think they are doing well.

  • Abdul Haleem

    whose efforts in this world are misguided, even when they think they are doing good work?

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Those whose striving goes astray in the present life, while they think that they are working good deeds.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    those who erred in their endeavours after the life of this world, and who think they are doing good deeds. '

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Say, "Shall we inform you of those who lose most by their works?

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    The ones whose endeavor errs away in the present life, (Literally: the lowly life, i. e., the life of this world) and they reckon that they are doing fair work.

  • George Sale

    whose endeavour in the present life hath been wrongly directed, and who think they do the work which is right?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "Those whose actions were wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?"

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (They are) those whose efforts are (all) lost in (pursuit of things relating to) the life of this world, yet they think they are doing works of good manufacturing.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Those whose endeavour goes awry in the life of the world, while they suppose they are doing good. ’