Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

It is not for a mortal that God should give him the Writ and judgment and prophethood, then he should say to men: “Be servants to me rather than God”; but: “Be men of God by what you have taught of the Writ, and by what you have studied.”

مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ اَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ اللّٰهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَاداً ل۪ي مِنْ دُونِ اللّٰهِ وَلٰكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيّ۪نَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَۙ
Ma kana libasharin anyu/tiyahu Allahu alkitaba walhukmawannubuwwata thumma yaqoola linnasikoonoo AAibadan lee min dooni Allahi walakinkoonoo rabbaniyyeena bima kuntum tuAAallimoonaalkitaba wabima kuntum tadrusoon
#wordmeaningroot
1Not
2kānaisكون
3libasharinfor a humanبشر
4anthat
5yu'tiyahugives himاتي
6l-lahuAllah
7l-kitābathe Bookكتب
8wal-ḥuk'maand the wisdomحكم
9wal-nubuwataand the Prophethoodنبا
10thummathen
11yaqūlahe saysقول
12lilnnāsito the peopleنوس
13kūnūBeكون
14ʿibādanworshippersعبد
15of me
16minfrom
17dūnibesidesدون
18l-lahiAllah
19walākinbut (would say)
20kūnūBeكون
21rabbāniyyīnaworshippers of the Lordربب
22bimābecause
23kuntumyou have beenكون
24tuʿallimūnateachingعلم
25l-kitābathe Bookكتب
26wabimāand because
27kuntumyou have beenكون
28tadrusūnastudying (it)درس
  • Aisha Bewley

    It is not right for any human being that Allah should give him the Book and Judgement and Prophethood, and then that he should say to people, ‘Be worshippers of me rather than Allah. ’ Rather he will say, ‘Be people of the Lord because of your knowledge of the Book and because you study.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    It is not for a human that God would give him the Scripture and the authority and the prophethood, then he would say to the people: "Be servants to me rather than God!", rather: "Be devotees for what you have been taught of the Scripture, and for what you studied. "

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Never would a human being, whom Allah has blessed with the Scripture, Wisdom and Prophethood, say to people, "Be servants of me instead of Allah. " Instead he would say, "Become men of God by spreading the knowledge of the Scripture and the teachings you learn there from."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    It is not for a mortal that God should give him the Writ and judgment and prophethood, then he should say to men: “Be servants to me rather than God”; but: “Be men of God by what you have taught of the Writ, and by what you have studied.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    It is not for any human being that God would give him the Book and the authority and the prophethood, then he would say to the people: "Be servants to me rather than God!" Rather: "Be Devotees for what you have been taught of the Book, and of what you have studied."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    It is not for a human that God would give him the book, the authority, and the prophethood, then he would say to the people: "Be servants to me rather than to God!", rather: "Be devotees to what you have been taught of the book, and to what you studied."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Never would a human being whom GOD blessed with the scripture and prophethood say to the people, "Idolize me beside GOD." Instead, (he would say), "Devote yourselves absolutely to your Lord alone," according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    It is not for a mortal to whom God reveals the Book and the judgement and the prophethood to say to the people: "Be my votaries instead of God's, " but (to say): "Become learned in divine law, by virtue of teaching and studying the Book. "

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

    It is not for a human that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allah," but , "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied. "

  • Muhammad Asad

    It is not conceivable that a human being unto whom God had granted revelation, and sound judgment, and prophethood, should thereafter have said unto people, "Worship me beside God"; but rather , "Become men of God by spreading the knowledge of the divine writ, and by your own deep study . "

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    It is not (possible) for any human being unto whom Allah had given the Scripture and wisdom and the prophethood that he should afterwards have said unto mankind: Be slaves of me instead of Allah; but (what he said was): Be ye faithful servants of the Lord by virtue of your constant teaching of the Scripture and of your constant study thereof.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    It does not befit a man that Allah should grant him His Book and sound judgement and prophet-hood, and thereafter he should say to men: 'Become servants to me apart from Allah.' He would rather say: 'Become dedicated men of Allah, in accord with the dictates of the Book you have been teaching and studying.'

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    It is hardly intelligible that a human on whom Allah confers the Book and the wisdom and the prerogative of Prophethood would demand of the people to worship him in lieu of Allah. Rather he would ask of them by virtue of right and authority to pay reverence and veneration to Allah, the Creator, and to adore Him with appropriate acts and rites and devotion. This is the logical sequence which Allah has imparted to them, the divine knowledge which they have imparted to people, the divine knowledge which they themselves have applied their minds to its acquisition.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    No man, to whom God gives the Book, wisdom and Prophet hood, would say to the people: "Worship me instead of God (as Christians attribute it to Christ. )" Such person (Jesus) will surely say: “Worship none but the Lord (Matthew 4-10.) Be sincere Rabbis in teaching the Scripture as you have learnt (and do not falsify it.)”

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allâh has given the Book and Al-Hukm (the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion) and Prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allâh’s." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbâniyyûn (learned men of religion who practise what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the prophetic office, should say to people: "Be ye my worshippers rather than Allah's": on the contrary (He would say) "Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all: For ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    It is not appropriate for someone who Allah has blessed with the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to say to people, "Worship me instead of Allah." Rather, he would say, “Be devoted to the worship of your Lord ˹alone˺—by virtue of what you read in the Scripture and what you teach.”

  • Taqi Usmani

    It is not (possible) for a man that Allah gives him the Book, the wisdom and the prophethood, then he starts saying to the people "Become my worshippers, aside from Allah" rather, (he would say), “Be men of the Lord; as you have been teaching the Book, and as you have been learning it.”

  • Abdul Haleem

    No person to whom God had given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood would ever say to people, ‘Be my servants, not God’s.’ , ‘You should be devoted to God because you have taught the Scripture and studied it closely.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    It belongs not to any mortal that God should give him the Book, the Judgment, the Prophethood, then he should say to men, 'Be you servants to me apart from God. ' Rather, 'Be you masters in that you know the Book, and in that you study.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    It is not right for a man that God should give him a Book, and judgment, and prophecy, and that then he should say to men, 'Be ye servants of mine rather than of God;' but be ye rather masters of teaching the Book and of what ye learn.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    It is not possible for a man to whom Allah has given the Scripture and the Wisdom and the Prophethood, that then he should say to men, "Be you servants of mine rather than of Allah;" but (what he said was) "Be you rather faithful servants of the Lord in teaching the Scripture of what you learn. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    In no way should a mortal (to whom) Allah brings the Book and the Judgment and the Prophethood thereafter say to mankind, "Be bondmen to me, apart from Allah. " But, (i.e. But he should say) "Be lordly (i.e. teachers of Divine Law and worshipers of Allah) in that you used to teach the Book and in that you used to study (it)."

  • George Sale

    It is not fit for a man, that God should give him a book of revelations, and wisdom, and prophecy; and then he should say unto men, be ye worshippers of me, besides God; but he ought to say, be ye perfect in knowledge and in works, since ye know the scriptures, and exercise your selves therein.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the position of a prophet, can say to people; "Be you my worshippers rather than Allah’s:" On the contrary (he would say): "Be you the worshippers of Him, Who is truly the Cherisher of all: For you have been taught the Book and you have studied it truthfully. "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    It is not given to a human being that Allâh should give him the Book, the sovereignty and the prophethood and then he should say to the people, `Be servants to me beside Allâh. ' He would rather say, `Be you the sole devotees of (Allâh) the Lord, for you teach the Book and because you study (it).'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    It does not behoove any human that Allah should give him the Book, judgement and prophethood, and then he should say to the people, ‘Be my servants instead of Allah. ’ Rather , ‘Be a godly people, because of your teaching the Book and because of your studying it.’