Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And if they argue with thee, then say thou: “I have submitted my face to God, as have those who follow me.” And say thou to those given the Writ and to the unschooled: “Have you submitted?” And if they have submitted, then are they guided; but if they turn away, then upon thee is only the notification; and God sees the servants.

فَاِنْ حَٓاجُّوكَ فَقُلْ اَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلّٰهِ وَمَنِ اتَّـبَعَنِۜ وَقُلْ لِلَّذ۪ينَ اُو۫تُوا الْكِتَابَ وَالْاُمِّيّ۪نَ ءَاَسْلَمْتُمْۜ فَاِنْ اَسْلَمُوا فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْاۚ وَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُۜ وَاللّٰهُ بَص۪يرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ۟
Fa-in hajjooka faqul aslamtu wajhiyalillahi wamani ittabaAAani waqul lillatheena ootooalkitaba walommiyyeena aaslamtum fa-inaslamoo faqadi ihtadaw wa-in tawallaw fa-innama AAalaykaalbalaghu wallahu baseerun bilAAibad
#wordmeaningroot
1fa-inThen if
2ḥājjūkathey argue with youحجج
3faqulthen sayقول
4aslamtuI have submittedسلم
5wajhiyamyselfوجه
6lillahito Allah
7wamaniand (those) who
8ittabaʿanifollow meتبع
9waqulAnd sayقول
10lilladhīnato those who
11ūtūwere givenاتي
12l-kitābathe Bookكتب
13wal-umiyīnaand the unlettered peopleامم
14a-aslamtumHave you submitted yourselvesسلم
15fa-inThen if
16aslamūthey submitسلم
17faqadithen surely
18ih'tadawthey are guidedهدي
19wa-inBut if
20tawallawthey turn backولي
21fa-innamāthen only
22ʿalaykaon you
23l-balāghu(is) to [the] conveyبلغ
24wal-lahuAnd Allah
25baṣīrun(is) All-Seerبصر
26bil-ʿibādiof [His] slavesعبد
  • Aisha Bewley

    If they argue with you, say, "I have submitted myself completely to Allah, and so have all who follow me." Say to those given the Book and those who have no Book, "Have you become Muslim?" If they become Muslim, they have been guided. If they turn away, you are only responsible for transmission. Allah sees His slaves.

  • Progressive Muslims

    If they debate with you, then Say: "I have surrendered myself to God, as well as those who follow me. " And say to those who have received the Scripture and the Gentiles: "Have you surrendered" If they have surrendered then they are guided, and if they turn away, then you are only to deliver, and God is watcher over the servants.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    If they argue with you (O Messenger), tell them, "I have submitted to Allah; I and those who follow me. " Say to the People of the Scripture, and to those who claim no scripture, "Would you submit?" If they submit, then they have been guided but if they turn away, then your duty is only to convey the Message. Allah is Seer of His servants.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And if they argue with thee, then say thou: “I have submitted my face to God, as have those who follow me.” And say thou to those given the Writ and to the unschooled: “Have you submitted?” And if they have submitted, then are they guided; but if they turn away, then upon thee is only the notification; and God sees the servants.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    If they debate with you, then say: "I have submitted myself to God, as well as those who follow me." And say to those who have received the Book and the Gentiles: "Have you submitted?" If they have submitted then they are guided, and if they turn away, then you are only to deliver, and God is Seer over the servants.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    If they debate with you, then say, "I have peacefully surrendered myself to God, as well as those who follow me." In addition, say to those who were given the book and the Gentiles: "Have you peacefully surrendered?" If they have peacefully surrendered then they are guided; but if they turn away, then you are only to deliver. God is watcher over the servants.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    If they argue with you, then say, "I have simply submitted myself to GOD; I and those who follow me." You shall proclaim to those who received the scripture, as well as those who did not, "Would you submit?" If they submit, then they have been guided, but if they turn away, your sole mission is to deliver this message. GOD is Seer of all people.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Even then if they argue, tell them: "I have bowed in submission to God, and so have my followers. " And tell the people of the Book and the Arabs: "Do you submit?" If they do, they will find the right path; if they turn away, your duty is to deliver the message. And God keeps an eye on His votaries.

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

    So if they argue with you, say, "I have submitted myself to Allah , and those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture and the unlearned, "Have you submitted yourselves?" And if they submit , they are rightly guided; but if they turn away - then upon you is only the notification. And Allah is Seeing of servants.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Thus, if they argue with thee, say, "I have surrendered my whole being unto God, and all who follow me!" - and ask those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime, as well as all unlettered people, "Have you surrendered yourselves unto Him?" And if they surrender themselves unto Him, they are on the right path; but if they turn away - behold, thy duty is no more than to deliver the message: for God sees all that is in His creatures.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And if they argue with thee, (O Muhammad), say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and (so have) those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not: Have ye (too) surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message (unto them). Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And if they remonstrate with you, tell them: 'I have submitted my whole being to Allah, and so have those who follow me.' And ask the People of the Book as well as those who follow no heavenly Scripture: 'Have you also submitted (to Allah)?'* If they have submitted to Him, they are indeed on the right way but if they deviate from submitting to Allah, then your duty is merely to deliver the message. Allah observes the affairs of His servants.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Should Ahl al-Kitab argue with you, O Muhammad, and maintain their irreverent position by adducing their unfounded reasons, then say to them: "I have vowed to resign myself to Allah’s purpose and I have conformed my will and my reason to His blessed will. So have those who fell into line with me." Say to them and to the illiterates: "Are you now satisfied with what you heard and have your doubts been satisfied? If you are, then conform to Islam". If they do, then they are on the path of righteousness, but should they turn a deaf ear and their hearts cannot hear the truth, you are only responsible for relating the message. Allah keeps a watchful eye upon His creation and upon the way people conduct themselves in life and He knows the attributes inherent in each and all.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Therefore, if they (the followers of other man made religions) dispute with you, say to them: "My followers and I have submitted ourselves only to God {and call ourselves the Submitters (Muslim in Arabic)}" Then say to the Jews, Christian and those who are ignorant: “Are you also willing to submit yourself to the will of God?” If they say “yes”, they are guided. If they refuse, do not worry as your only mission is to relay the words of the Lord; leave them to God as He watches over His servants.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    So if they dispute with you (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) say: "I have submitted myself to Allâh (in Islâm), and (so have) those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): "Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allâh in Islâm)?" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allâh is All-Seer of (His) slaves.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    So if they dispute with thee, say: "I have submitted My whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, Thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    So if they argue with you ˹O Prophet˺, say, "I have submitted myself to Allah, and so have my followers." And ask those who were given the Scripture and the illiterate ˹people˺, “Have you submitted yourselves ˹to Allah˺?” If they submit, they will be ˹rightly˺ guided. But if they turn away, then your duty is only to deliver ˹the message˺. And Allah is All-Seeing of ˹His˺ servants.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Then, if they argue with you, say: "I have submitted myself to Allah, and (so did) those who have followed me." And say to those who have been given the Book, and to the unlettered: “Do you submit?” If they submit, they will be on the right path. Yet, if they turn back, then you have only to convey the message. Allah is watchful over (all of) His servants.

  • Abdul Haleem

    if they argue with you , say, ‘I have devoted myself to God alone and so have my followers.’ Ask those who were given the Scripture, as well as those without one, ‘Do you too devote yourselves to Him alone?’ If they do, they will be guided, but if they turn away, your only duty is to convey the message. God is aware of His servants.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    So if they dispute with thee, say: 'I have surrendered my will to God, and whosoever follows me. And say to those who have been given the Book and to the common folk: 'Have you surrendered?' If they have surrendered, they are right guided; but if they turn their backs, thine it is only to deliver the Message; and God sees His servants.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And if they would dispute with thee, then say, 'I turn my face with resignation unto God, and whoso follows me. ' And say to those who have been given the Book, unto the Gentiles, 'Are ye, too, resigned' and if they are resigned, then are they guided. But if they turn their backs, then thou hast only to preach, and God looks on his servants.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And if they dispute with you, then say, "I have surrendered my whole self unto Allah, and so have those who follows me. " And say to those who have been given the Book, and unto the unlearned (or unread or Gentiles), "Have ye, too, surrendered" and if they surrender, then are they truly guided. But if they turn their backs, then your duty is only to convey the message unto them. Allah is Seer of His servants.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    So, in case they argue with you, then say, "I have surrendered my face to Allah and whoever closely follows me (has surrendered his face to Allah). " And say to the ones to whom the Book was brought and to the common folk, (The pagans) "Have you surrendered (too)?" So, in case they have surrendered, then they are (rightly) guided; and in case they turn away, then surely you have only the proclamation (of the Message). And Allah is Ever-Beholding of (His) bondmen.

  • George Sale

    If they dispute with thee, say, I have resigned my self unto God, and he who followeth me doth the same: And say unto them who have received the scriptures, and to the ignorant, do ye profess the religion of Islam? Now if they embrace Islam, they are surely directed; but if they turn their backs, verily unto thee belongeth preaching only; for God regardeth his servants.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    So if they disagree with you, say: "I have submitted my whole self to Allah, and so have those who follow me. " And say to the People of the Book and to those who have not yet learned: "Do you (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn away, your duty (O Prophet) is to convey the Message; And Allah is All Seeing (Baseer), for all His servants.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    But if they dispute with you say, `I have completely submitted myself to (the will and guidance of) Allâh and (so have) those who follow me. ' And say to those who had been given the Scripture and to the unlettered, `Have you also submitted yourselves?' Indeed, they will be following true guidance if they submit themselves (to the will of God). But if they turn back then your responsibility is only to convey (the message). Allâh is Ever Watchful of His servants.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    So if they argue with you, say, ‘I have submitted my will to Allah, and he who follows me. ’ And say to those who were given the Book and the uninstructed ones, ‘Do you submit?’ If they submit, they will certainly be guided; but if they turn away, then your duty is only to communicate; and Allah sees best the servants.