Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he had tidings — whether to hold it in contempt, or bury it in the dust. In truth, evil is what they judge.

يَتَوَارٰى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ مِنْ سُٓوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِه۪ۜ اَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلٰى هُونٍ اَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِۜ اَلَا سَٓاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
Yatawara mina alqawmi minsoo-i ma bushshira bihi ayumsikuhu AAala hoonin amyadussuhu fee atturabi ala saa mayahkumoon
#wordmeaningroot
1yatawārāHe hides himselfوري
2minafrom
3l-qawmithe peopleقوم
4min(because) of
5sūithe evilسوا
6of what
7bushirahe has been given good newsبشر
8bihiabout
9ayum'sikuhuShould he keep itمسك
10ʿalāin
11hūninhumiliationهون
12amor
13yadussuhubury itدسس
14in
15l-turābithe dustترب
16alāUnquestionably
17sāaevilسوا
18(is) what
19yaḥkumūnathey decideحكم
  • Aisha Bewley

    He hides away from people because of the evil of the good news he has been given. Should he keep her ignominiously or bury her in the earth? What an evil judgement they make!

  • Progressive Muslims

    He hides from his people because of the bad news he has received. Shall he keep her with dishonour, or bury her in the sand Miserable indeed is how they judge!

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Ashamed, he hides himself from people, because of the bad news given to him. He even asks himself, "Shall I keep the baby grudgingly, or bury her deep in the dust?" Oh, evil indeed is what they decide!

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he had tidings — whether to hold it in contempt, or bury it in the dust. In truth, evil is what they judge.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He hides from his people because of the bad news he has received. Shall he keep her with dishonor, or bury her in the sand? Miserable indeed is how they judge!

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He hides from his people because of the bad news he has received. Shall he keep her with dishonor, or bury her in the sand? Miserable indeed is how they judge!

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Ashamed, he hides from the people, because of the bad news given to him. He even ponders: should he keep the baby grudgingly, or bury her in the dust. Miserable indeed is their judgment.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    And hides from people for shame at the news, (at a loss) whether he should keep her with shame, or bury her in the ground. How bad is the judgement that they make!

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

    He hides himself from the people because of the ill of which he has been informed. Should he keep it in humiliation or bury it in the ground? Unquestionably, evil is what they decide.

  • Muhammad Asad

    avoiding all people because of the evil of the glad tiding which he has received, Shall he keep this despite the contempt -or shall he bury it in the dust? Old, evil indeed is whatever they decide!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He hideth himself from the folk because of the evil of that whereof he hath had tidings, (asking himself): Shall he keep it in contempt, or bury it beneath the dust. Verily evil is their judgment.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    and he hides himself from people because of the bad news, thinking: should he keep the child despite disgrace, or should he bury it in dust? How evil is their estimate of Allah!*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    He hides from people or keeps out of sight to conceal the news, which allegedly defames him and blackens his repute. He does not know whether to keep his child alive and be both defamed and despised or bury her in the dust and consign her and the news to oblivion. Evil indeed is the resolution uniting their evil thoughts.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Such disbeliever becomes so upset (with what he considers as disgrace) that he hides himself from the people while considering to live with such "disgrace" or bury her alive! What an evil decision to make.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah! what an evil (choice) they decide on?

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    He hides himself from the people because of the bad news he has received. Should he keep her in disgrace, or bury her ˹alive˺ in the ground? Evil indeed is their judgment!

  • Taqi Usmani

    He hides himself from people because of the (self-presumed) bad news given to him (and wonders): Shall he keep it despite the disgrace (he will face in the society), or put it away into the dust? In fact, evil is what they decide.

  • Abdul Haleem

    In his shame he hides himself away from his people because of the bad news he has been given. Should he keep her and suffer contempt or bury her in the dust? How ill they judge!

  • Arthur John Arberry

    as he hides him from the people because of the evil of the good tidings that have been given unto him, whether he shall preserve it in humiliation, or trample it; into the dust. Ah, evil is that they judge!

  • E. Henry Palmer

    He skulks away from the people, for the evil tidings he has heard;- is he to keep it with its disgrace, or to bury it in the dust?- aye! evil is it that they judge!

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    He skulks away from the people, for the evil tidings he has heard; - is he to keep it with its disgrace, or to bury it in the dust? - Ah! How evil is their judgment (or choice)!

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    He hides himself from (Literally: overlays himself beyond) (the sight) of the people because of the odious tidings (given) him, whether he should retain it in degradation or shove it in the dust. Verily, odious is (the way) they judge!

  • George Sale

    He hideth himself from the people, because of the ill tidings which have been told him; considering within himself whether he shall keep it with disgrace, or whether he shall bury it in the dust. Do they not make an ill judgment?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    He hides himself with shame from his people, because of the bad news he has! Will he keep it (the baby) with pain and disgrace, or bury her it in the dust? Oh! What an evil (choice) they decide on?

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    He hides himself (in shame) from the people because of the (so called) bad news he has received, (considering) whether he should keep her (alive) inspite of disgrace, or commit her somewhere in the dust. Look! evil (in every way) is the judgment they make.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He hides from the people out of distress at the news he has been brought: shall he retain it in humiliation, or bury it in the ground! Look! Evil is the judgement that they make.