Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And if you retaliate, then retaliate with the like of that wherewith you are harmed; but if you are patient, it is better for the patient.

وَاِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِه۪ۜ وَلَئِنْ صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِلصَّابِر۪ينَ
Wa-in AAaqabtum faAAaqiboobimithli ma AAooqibtum bihi wala-in sabartum lahuwakhayrun lissabireen
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-inAnd if
2ʿāqabtumyou retaliateعقب
3faʿāqibūthen retaliateعقب
4bimith'liwith the likeمثل
5of what
6ʿūqib'tumyou were afflictedعقب
7bihiwith [it]
8wala-inBut if
9ṣabartumyou are patientصبر
10lahuwasurely (it) is
11khayrunbetterخير
12lilṣṣābirīnafor those who are patientصبر
  • Aisha Bewley

    If you want to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you are patient, it is better to be patient.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And if you punish, then punish with equivalence to that which you were punished. And if you are patient then it is better for the patient ones.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Hence, if you have to respond to an attack in argument, respond only to the extent of the attack leveled against you. But to bear with patience is indeed far better for the steadfast.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And if you retaliate, then retaliate with the like of that wherewith you are harmed; but if you are patient, it is better for the patient.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And if you punish, then punish with equivalence to that which you were punished. And if you are patient then it is better for the patient ones.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    If you penalize, then punish with an equivalent punishment inflicted on you. If you show patience then it is better for the patient ones.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    And if you punish, you shall inflict an equivalent punishment. But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge), it would be better for the patient ones.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    If you have to retaliate, do so to the extent you have been injured; but if you forbear it is best for those who bear with fortitude.

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

    And if you punish , punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Hence, if you have to respond to an attack (in argument, respond only to the extent of the attack levelled against you; but to bear yourselves with patience is indeed far better for (you, since God is with those who are patient in adversity.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    If ye punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted. But if ye endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    If you take retribution, then do so in proportion to the wrong done to you. But if you can bear such conduct with patience, indeed that is best for the steadfast.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And if you should inflict punishment, exact a retribution or make reprisals for injury, harm or wrong, then you may avenge your right with a similar injury and to the same extent. But if you bear the wrong and bear with the wrongful -as an obligation to Allah and not a reflection of human weakness- you shall possess your souls, derive great benefits and advantage yourselves of Allah's expectative grace.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    If you decide to retaliate, be fair in retaliation. However, it will be better (up to certain point) to be patient (rather than revengeful.)

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allâh), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sâbirûn (the patient).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    If you retaliate, then let it be equivalent to what you have suffered. But if you patiently endure, it is certainly best for those who are patient.

  • Taqi Usmani

    And if you were to harm (them) in retaliation, harm them to the measure you were harmed. And if you opt for patience, it is definitely much better for those who are patient.

  • Abdul Haleem

    If you have to respond to an attack, make your response proportionate, but it is best to stand fast.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And if you chastise, chastise even as you have been chastised; and yet assuredly if you are patient, better it is for those patient.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    But if ye punish, punish (only) as ye were punished; but if ye are patient, it is best for those who are patient.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    But if you punish (or catch them out), punish (or catch them out) only with the like of that with which you were afflicted; but if you endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And in case you (This is addressed to all believers) punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith you were punished; and indeed in case you endure patiently, indeed it is more charitable of the patient.

  • George Sale

    If ye take vengeance on any, take a vengeance proportionable to the wrong which hath been done you; but if ye suffer wrong patiently, verily this will be better for the patient.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And if you punish them, then no worse than that they punish you: But if you show patience that is really the best for those who are patient.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Believers!) if you have to punish (the oppressors) then punish them to the extent you have been persecuted. But if you endure patiently, remember it is far better for the patiently persevering.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    And if you retaliate, retaliate with the like of what you have been made to suffer, but if you are patient that is surely better for the patient.