Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

When he had reached the setting of the sun, and found it setting in a murky spring, and found a people nearby, We said: “O Dhūl-Qarnayn: thou shalt either punish, or take concerning them good.”

حَتّٰٓى اِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ ف۪ي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا قَوْماًۜ قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ اِمَّٓا اَنْ تُعَذِّبَ وَاِمَّٓا اَنْ تَتَّخِذَ ف۪يهِمْ حُسْناً
Hatta itha balaghamaghriba ashshamsi wajadaha taghrubu fee AAaynin hami-atinwawajada AAindaha qawman qulna ya thaalqarnayni imma an tuAAaththiba wa-imma antattakhitha feehim husna
#wordmeaningroot
1ḥattāUntil
2idhāwhen
3balaghahe reachedبلغ
4maghriba(the) setting placeغرب
5l-shamsi(of) the sunشمس
6wajadahāhe found itوجد
7taghrubusettingغرب
8in
9ʿaynina springعين
10ḥami-atin(of) dark mudحما
11wawajadaand he foundوجد
12ʿindahānear itعند
13qawmana communityقوم
14qul'nāWe saidقول
15yādhāO Dhul-qarnain
16l-qarnayniO Dhul-qarnainقرن
17immāEither
18an[that]
19tuʿadhibayou punishعذب
20wa-immāor
21an[that]
22tattakhidhayou takeاخذ
23fīhim[in] them
24ḥus'nan(with) goodnessحسن
  • Aisha Bewley

    until he reached the setting of the sun and found it setting in a muddy spring and found a people by it. We said, ‘Dhu’l-Qarnayn! You can either punish them or else you can treat them with gentleness.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    Until he reached the setting of the sun, and he found it setting at a boiling lake, and he found near it a people. We said: "O Two Eras, either you are to punish, or you are to do them good."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Conquering land to the West toward Lydia, he reached as far as the Black Sea. ) The sun was setting and it appeared to him as if it was setting in the dark waters. (The local nation, given to wrongdoing, fought against him and lost). We said, "O Zul-Qarnain! Either punish or be kind to them."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    When he had reached the setting of the sun, and found it setting in a murky spring, and found a people nearby, We said: “O Dhūl-Qarnayn: thou shalt either punish, or take concerning them good.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Until he reached the setting of the sun; he found it setting at a hot spring, and he found a people near it. We said: "O Two Horned One, either you shall punish, or you shall do them good."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Until he reached the setting of the sun, and he found it setting at a black water, and he found near it a people. We said, "O Two Eras, either you are to punish, or you are to do them good."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    When he reached the far west, he found the sun setting in a vast ocean, and found people there. We said, "O Zul-Qarnain, you can rule as you wish; either punish, or be kind to them."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Till he reached the point of the setting sun, and saw it set behind a muddy lake, and near it found a people. We said: "O Dhu'l-Qarnain, you may either punish them or treat them with kindness."

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

    Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish or else adopt among them goodness."

  • Muhammad Asad

    till, when he came to the setting of the sun, it appeared to him that it was setting in a dark, turbid sea; and nearby he found a people . We said: "O thou Two-Horned One! Thou mayest either cause to suffer or treat them with kindness!"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    until when he reached the very limits where the sun sets, he saw it setting in dark turbid waters; and nearby he met a people. We said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, you have the power to punish or to treat them with kindness."

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    He took the lead in an expedition toward he west until he reached a body of water -said to be the Atlantic Ocean, or more likely a mirky land abounding in swamps– where -he thought when viewing the horizon- the sun sets and where he found a -disorderly and unruly- people over whom We gave him authority. We left to him the manner of dealing with them. Either you punish them, We said or show them kindness;

  • Bijan Moeinian

    If you want, punish them (for their wrongdoings and style of life) or (forgive their past behavior and) rule them with kindness. "

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allâh) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    until he reached the setting ˹point˺ of the sun, which appeared to him to be setting in a spring of murky water, where he found some people. We said, "O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Either punish them or treat them kindly."

  • Taqi Usmani

    until when he reached the point of sunset, he found it setting into a miry spring, and found a people near it. We said, "O Dhul-Qarnain, either punish them or adopt good behavior with them."

  • Abdul Haleem

    then, when he came to the setting of the sun, he found it setting into a muddy spring. Nearby he found some people and We said, ‘Dhu ’l-Qarnayn, you may choose to punish or show kindness to.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and he found nearby a people. We said, 'O Dhool Karnain, either thou shalt chastise them, or thou shalt take towards them a way of kindness.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    until when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a black muddy spring, and he found thereat a people. ' We said, 'O Dhu 'l Qarnain! thou mayest either torment these people, or treat them well.'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And he followed a way,

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, (The western part of the then known world) he found it setting in a muddy spring, and he found a people at it. We said, "O Thulqarnayn, either you will torment (them) or you will take to yourself towards them a fair (way)."

  • George Sale

    until he came to the place where the sun setteth; and he found it to set in a spring of black mud; and he found near the same a certain people. And we said, O Dhu'lkarnein, either punish this people, or use gentleness towards them.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it set in a pool of murky water: And near it he found a people: We said: "O Zul-Qarnain! You either punish them or treat them with kindness. "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    So that when he reached (the land of) the setting of the sun, (the western most part of his empire,) he found it (- the sun) disappearing (as if) in a vast muddy pool of murky water (- the Black Sea), and close to it he found a certain people. We said, `Dhul-Qarnain! you may either punish (them) or treat them with kindness. (They being at your disposal.)'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    When he reached the place where the sun sets, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and by it he found a people. We said, ‘O Dhul Qarnayn! You may either punish them, or treat them with kindness.’