Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Our word to a thing when We intend it is that We but say to it: “Be thou,” and it is.

اِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَيْءٍ اِذَٓا اَرَدْنَاهُ اَنْ نَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ۟
Innama qawluna lishay-inithaaradnahu an naqoola lahu kun fayakoon
#wordmeaningroot
1innamāOnly
2qawlunāOur Wordقول
3lishayinto a thingشيا
4idhāwhen
5aradnāhuWe intend itرود
6an(is) that
7naqūlaWe sayقول
8lahuto it
9kunBeكون
10fayakūnuand it isكون
  • Aisha Bewley

    Our Word to a thing when We desire it is just to say to it ‘Be!’ and it is.

  • Progressive Muslims

    It is Our saying to a thing if We want it, to say to it: "Be," and it is.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Whenever We Will anything to be, We say unto it Our Word "Be" and it is. (The moment We pass a Decree in the World of Command, it goes into action).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Our word to a thing when We intend it is that We but say to it: “Be thou,” and it is.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Indeed, Our saying to a thing, if We wanted it, is that We say to it: 'Be,' and it is.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    When we want something, our word is only to say to it: "Be," and it is.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    To have anything done, we simply say to it, "Be," and it is.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Yet when We will a thing We have only to say: "Be", and it is.

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

    Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Whenever We will anything to be, We but say unto it Our word "Be" -and it is.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And Our word unto a thing, when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: Be! and it is.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    (As for the possibility of resurrection, bear in mind that) whenever We do will something, We have to do no more than say: "Be", and it is.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Indeed, all it takes when We will to bring anything into existence is simply to say to it: "Be" and it is.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    As to how powerful the Lord is, to have something done, I simply say: "Be" and it is immediately created.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Verily! Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "Be!" - and it is.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    For to anything which We have willed, We but say the word, "Be", and it is.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    If We ever will something ˹to exist˺, all We say is: "Be!" And it is!

  • Taqi Usmani

    Whenever We intend to do something, We do no more than say to it, "Be," and it comes to be.

  • Abdul Haleem

    When We will something to happen, all that We say is, ‘Be,’ and it is.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    The only words We say to a thing, when We desire it, is that We say to it 'Be,' and it is.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    We only say unto a thing we wish, ' BE,' and it is.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    We only say unto a thing We intend, the Word, "BE," and it is.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Surely Our only Saying to a thing when We have willed it, is that We say to it, "Be!" so it is.

  • George Sale

    Verily our speech unto any thing, when We will the same, is, that we only say unto it, be; and it is.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Verily, to anything that We have willed (to be), We only say the word, "Be", and it is.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Our word to a thing when We intend it (to come into being) is only that We say to it, `Be' and it comes to be.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    All that We say to a thing, when We will it, is to say to it ‘Be!’ and it is.