Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And when thou seest them, their forms please thee; and if they speak, thou listenest to their speech as if they were propped up pieces of dry wood. They think every blast is against them. They are the enemy; so beware thou of them. May God curse them! How are they deluded!

وَاِذَا رَاَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ اَجْسَامُهُمْۜ وَاِنْ يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْۜ كَاَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُسَنَّدَةٌۜ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْۜ هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْۜ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللّٰهُۘ اَنّٰى يُؤْفَـكُونَ
Wa-itha raaytahum tuAAjibuka ajsamuhumwa-in yaqooloo tasmaAA liqawlihim kaannahum khushubunmusannadatun yahsaboona kulla sayhatinAAalayhim humu alAAaduwwu fahtharhum qatalahumuAllahu anna yu/fakoon
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-idhāAnd when
2ra-aytahumyou see themراي
3tuʿ'jibukapleases youعجب
4ajsāmuhumtheir bodiesجسم
5wa-inand if
6yaqūlūthey speakقول
7tasmaʿyou listenسمع
8liqawlihimto their speechقول
9ka-annahumas if they (were)
10khushubunpieces of woodخشب
11musannadatunpropped upسند
12yaḥsabūnaThey thinkحسب
13kullaeveryكلل
14ṣayḥatinshoutصيح
15ʿalayhim(is) against them
16humuThey
17l-ʿaduwu(are) the enemyعدو
18fa-iḥ'dharhumso beware of themحذر
19qātalahumuMay destroy themقتل
20l-lahuAllah
21annāHowاني
22yu'fakūnaare they deludedافك
  • Aisha Bewley

    When you see them, their outward form appeals to you, and if they speak you listen to what they say. But they are like propped-up planks of wood. They imagine every cry to be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah fight them! How they are perverted!

  • Progressive Muslims

    And when you see them, you are impressed by their physical stature; and when they speak, you listen to their eloquence. They are like blocks of wood propped-up. They think that every call is intended for them. These are the enemies, so beware of them. May God condemn them; they have deviated.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Now when you see them, their looks may impress you. And if they speak, you are inclined to listen to their speech. But they are like wooden logs propped up. (Empty of inner strength unable to stand on their own feet). They think that every call is directed against them. These are the real enemies, so beware of them. Allah condemns them. They are far deviated.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And when thou seest them, their forms please thee; and if they speak, thou listenest to their speech as if they were propped up pieces of dry wood. They think every blast is against them. They are the enemy; so beware thou of them. May God curse them! How are they deluded!

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And when you see them, you are impressed by their physical stature; and when they speak, you listen to their eloquence. They are like blocks of wood propped-up. They think that every call is intended for them. These are the enemies, so beware of them. May God condemn them; they have deviated.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    When you see them, you are impressed by their physical stature; and when they speak, you listen to their eloquence. They are like blocks of wood propped up. They think that every call is against them. These are the enemies, so beware of them. May God condemn them; they have deviated.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    When you see them, you may be impressed by their looks. And when they speak, you may listen to their eloquence. They are like standing logs. They think that every call is intended against them. These are the real enemies; beware of them. GOD condemns them; they have deviated.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Pleasing seem their persons when you look at them; and when they talk, you listen to their speech. Yet they are like the wooden panelling of a wall. They imagine every rebuke to be directed against them. They are the enemies, beware of them. May God damn them, how pervert are they!

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

    And when you see them, their forms please you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. as if they were pieces of wood propped up - they think that every shout is against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?

  • Muhammad Asad

    Now when thou seest them, their outward appearance may please thee; and when they speak, thou art inclined to lend ear to what they say. as if they were timbers propped up, they think that every shout is against them. They are the enemies , so beware of them. "May God destroy them!" How perverted are their minds!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And when thou seest them their figures please thee; and if they speak thou givest ear unto their speech. (They are) as though they were blocks of wood in striped cloaks. They deem every shout to be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah confound them! How they are perverted!

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    When you look at them, their persons are pleasing, and when they speak, you pay heed to what they say.* But in truth they are (merely) beams of timber propped-up (against a wall).* They consider every shout they hear to be directed against them.* They are your utter enemies;* guard against them.* May Allah do away with them!* How are they being turned away (from the Truth)?*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    If you see them you admire their physical or material frames, their looks speak affection and their discourse speaks their presence, and when they speak they speak all cream, skimmed, and they speak sense that you cannot help but open to them your heart's ears, while in effect their words are flattering and hollow, devoid of belief, just as hollow stems of trees are devoid of life. Prompted by sense of quiet and by anxiety for their safety, they are vulnerable and susceptible to a physical force, they are susceptible to a loud cry be it uttered in approbation or denunciation. They are the avowed enemy; beware of them; Allah condemns them in as much as they are worth. How could they deviate from the path of righteousness to the path of vanity!

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When you meet the hypocrites, their appearance pleases you. When you listen to them, however, you detect their true nature which is as worthless of a hollow timber dressed up. They are suspicious of any spoken word and take it personally. They are the enemies of Islam; beware of them as they carry the curse of their Lord.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as blocks of wood propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allâh curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the Right Path?

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and when they speak, thou listenest to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up, (unable to stand on their own). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of Allah be on them! How are they deluded (away from the Truth)!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    When you see them, their appearance impresses you. And when they speak, you listen to their ˹impressive˺ speech. But they are ˹just˺ like ˹worthless˺ planks of wood leaned ˹against a wall˺. They think every cry is against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah condemn them! How can they be deluded ˹from the truth˺?

  • Taqi Usmani

    And if you see them, their physiques would attract you, and if they speak, you would (like to) listen to their speech (because of their eloquence). (Yet, being devoid of substance,) it is as if they were propped up beams of timber. They deem every shout (they hear) to be against them (out of cowardice). They are the enemy; so beware of them. May Allah destroy them. How perverted are they!

  • Abdul Haleem

    When you see them , their outward appearance pleases you; when they speak, you listen to what they say. But they are like propped-up tim-bers––they think every cry they hear is against them––and they are the enemy. Beware of them. May God confound them! How devious they are!

  • Arthur John Arberry

    When thou seest them, their bodies please thee; but when they speak, thou listenest to their speech, and it is as they were propped-up timbers. They think every cry is against them. They are the enemy; so beware of them. God assail them! How they are perverted!

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And when thou seest them, their persons please thee; but if they speak, thou listenest to their speech: they are like timber propped up: they reckon every noise against them! They are the foe, so beware of them!- God fight against them, how they lie!

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And when you see them, their persons will please you, and if they speak, you will listen to their speech; they are like big pieces of wood clad with garments. They think every cry to be against them. They are the enemy, therefore beware of them; the curse of Allah be on them. How perverted they are!

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And when you see them, you admire their figures; and in case they speak, you hear their speech as if they were propped-up timbers. They reckon every shout is against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah assail them! However are they diverged (from the Truth)!

  • George Sale

    When thou beholdest them, their persons please thee: And if they speak, thou hearest their discourse with delight. They resemble pieces of timber set up against a wall. They imagine every shout to be against them. They are enemies; wherefore beware of them. God curse them: How are they turned aside from the truth!

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And when you look at them, their bodies (that they show) please you; And when they speak, you listen to their words. They are like blocks of wood propped up, (unable to stand by themselves). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so (keep yourselves) beware of them. May the curse of Allah be on them! How are they deluded (away from the right truth).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    When you see them, their (handsome) figures please you, and if they speak (a masked and polished speech), you listen to their speech. (They look) as though they were wooden statues clad in garments. They think every loud cry is one (raised) against them. They themselves are (your) enemies (in reality), so beware of them. May Allâh ruin them! To what (perversities) are they being turned away (from the Truth)?

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    When you see them, their bodies impress you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. Yet they are like dry logs set reclining . They suppose every cry is directed against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah assail them, where do they stray?!