Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Do you not say, when calamity has befallen you — you having caused the double thereof: — “Whence is this?” Say thou: “It is from yourselves; God is over all things powerful.”

اَوَلَمَّٓا اَصَابَتْكُمْ مُص۪يبَةٌ قَدْ اَصَبْتُمْ مِثْلَيْهَاۙ قُلْتُمْ اَنّٰى هٰذَاۜ قُلْ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اَنْفُسِكُمْۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَد۪يرٌ
Awa lamma asabatkum museebatunqad asabtum mithlayha qultum anna hathaqul huwa min AAindi anfusikum inna Allaha AAalakulli shay-in qadeer
#wordmeaningroot
1awalammāOr when
2aṣābatkumstruck youصوب
3muṣībatundisasterصوب
4qadsurely
5aṣabtumyou (had) struck (them)صوب
6mith'layhātwice of itمثل
7qul'tumyou saidقول
8annāFrom whereاني
9hādhā(is) this
10qulSayقول
11huwaIt
12min(is)
13ʿindifromعند
14anfusikumyourselvesنفس
15innaIndeed
16l-lahaAllah
17ʿalā(is) on
18kullieveryكلل
19shayinthingشيا
20qadīrunAll-Powerfulقدر
  • Aisha Bewley

    Why is it that when a calamity happens to you, when you have already inflicted twice as much, you say, ‘How could this possibly happen?’ Say, ‘It has come from your own selves. ’ Allah has power over all things.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And so it was when you suffered setback; even though you afflicted them with twice as much setback; you said: "Where is this coming from" Say: "It is from yourselves. " God is capable of all things.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Now that you have suffered a setback at Uhud, remember you inflicted twice as much on the enemy at Badr. You say, "How did this happen?" Say (O Messenger), "This is from your own selves." (3:152). Allah has appointed due measure for everything.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Do you not say, when calamity has befallen you — you having caused the double thereof: — “Whence is this?” Say thou: “It is from yourselves; God is over all things powerful.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And so it was when you suffered setback; even though you afflicted them with twice as much setback; you said: "Where is this coming from?" Say: "It is from yourselves." God is capable of all things.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    It was when you suffered setback. Even though you afflicted them with twice as much setback, you said, "Where is this coming from?" Say, "It is from yourselves." God is capable of all things.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Now that you have suffered a setback, and even though you inflicted twice as much suffering (upon your enemy), you said, "Why did this happen to us?" Say, "This is a consequence of your own deeds." GOD is Omnipotent.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    How is it that when misfortune befell you, you said: "Where has this come from?" -- even though you had inflicted disaster twice as great on (the enemy). Say: "This has come from your own selves." Surely God has power over all things.

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

    Why when a disaster struck you , although you had struck with one twice as great, you said, "From where is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves. " Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

  • Muhammad Asad

    AND DO YOU, now that a calamity has befallen you after you had inflicted twice as much , ask yourselves, "How has this come about?" Say: "It has come from your own selves. " Verily, God has the power to will anything:

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And was it so, when a disaster smote you, though ye had smitten (them with a disaster) twice (as great), that ye said: How is this? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): It is from yourselves. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And how come when a calamity befell you, you began to ask: 'How has this come about?' even though the enemy has suffered at your hands (in the Battle of Badr) double what you have suffered! Say: This calamity has been brought about by yourselves. Surely Allah is All-Powerful.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Now that you have been wedded to a calamity which you brought upon yourselves by consequence of disobedience when the two forces met, a calamity which does not compare with that you brought on your enemy that was twice as severe; now you ask: "How did it happen and what was it due to?" Say to them O Muhammad "You brought it on yourselves as a logical conclusion for your wrongful action. Allah is indeed Qadirun over all things"

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Now that you have suffered a set back you wonder why? Did you not make the enemy suffer twice as much (in the previous battle of Badr the Muslims killed disbelievers and got prisoners; in this battle of Ohud they suffered casualties)? Let them know that their failure is their own fault God is the Most Powerful.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    (What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to us?" Say (to them), "It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds)." And Allâh has power over all things.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    What! When a single disaster smites you, although ye smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, do ye say?- "Whence is this?" Say (to them): "It is from yourselves: For Allah hath power over all things."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Why is it when you suffered casualties ˹at Uḥud˺—although you had made your enemy suffer twice as much ˹at Badr˺—you protested, "How could this be?"? Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “It is because of your disobedience.” Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything.

  • Taqi Usmani

    How is it that, when you suffered a hardship the twice of which you had inflicted upon them, you say, "Where did this come from?" Say, “This is from your own selves. Allah is surely Powerful over everything.”

  • Abdul Haleem

    Why do you say, when a calamity befalls you, even after you have inflicted twice as much damage , ‘How did this happen?’? , say, ‘You brought it upon yourselves.’ God has power over everything:

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Why, when an affliction visited you, and you had visited twice over the like of it, did you say, 'How is this?' Say: 'This is from your own selves; surely God is powerful over everything. '

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Or when an accident befals you, and ye have fallen on twice as much, ye say, 'How is this?' Say, 'It is from yourselves. Verily, God is mighty over all.'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    What! When a small disaster befalls you, though you have smitten them with twice as much, do you say, "How is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves. Verily, Allah has Power over all things."

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And is it that as soon as an affliction befell (Literally: afflicted) you, (and) you had already afflicted (i. e. afflicted) twice over the like of it, did you say, "However is this?" Say, "It is from your own selves; surely Allah is Ever-Determiner over everything."

  • George Sale

    After a misfortune hath befallen you at Ohod, -- ye had already obtained two equal advantages -- do ye say, whence cometh this? Answer, this is from yourselves: For God is almighty.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    What! When a single misfortune strikes you, although you have struck (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say? "From where is this (come to us)?" Say (to them): "It is from yourselves: For Allah is Able (Khadir) to do all things. "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (So what) when you suffered a loss (at the Battle of Uhud) you had already inflicted a loss (upon your enemy) twice as heavy as that (at the Battle of Badr), you (began to) say, `Whence is this?' Say, `It is of your own making. ' Surely, Allâh is the Possessor of full power to do all that He will.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    What, when an affliction visits you —while you have inflicted twice as much— do you say, ‘How is this?’! Say, ‘This is from your own souls. ’ Indeed Allah has power over all things.