Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

So strike not similitudes for God; God knows, and you know not.

فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا لِلّٰهِ الْاَمْثَالَۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَعْلَمُ وَاَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Fala tadriboo lillahial-amthala inna Allaha yaAAlamu waantum lataAAlamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1falāSo (do) not
2taḍribūput forthضرب
3lillahifor Allah
4l-amthālathe similitudeمثل
5innaIndeed
6l-lahaAllah
7yaʿlamuknowsعلم
8wa-antumand you
9lā(do) not
10taʿlamūnaknowعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    Do not try to make metaphors for Allah. Allah knows and you do not know.

  • Progressive Muslims

    So do not give parables to God. God knows while you do not know.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Therefore, compare none with Allah. Surely Allah knows and you do not know.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    So strike not similitudes for God; God knows, and you know not.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    So do not give examples to God. God knows while you do not know.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    So do not give parables to God. God knows while you do not know.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Therefore, do not cite the examples for GOD; GOD knows while you do not know.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    So do not invent similitudes for God. Indeed God knows, and you do not know.

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

    So do not assert similarities to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Hence, do not coin any similitudes for Gods Verily, God knows , whereas you have no knowledge.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    So coin not similitudes for Allah. Lo! Allah knoweth; ye know not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    So do not strike any similitudes to Allah.* Allah knows whereas you do not know.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And you infidels must realize that Allah is beyond all comparison and like unto Him there is none. Therefore, do not set to Him examples nor express to Him comparisons and parables nor draw similes between Him and created beings, animate or inanimate, for He Knows and you do not.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Do not compare God with any other "power" (as He is the Most powerful, and unlike other “powers” can be easily reached at through acts of worship. ) Remember, God knows while you do not know.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    So put not forward similitudes for Allâh (as there is nothing similar to Him, nor He resembles anything). Truly! Allâh knows and you know not.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Invent not similitudes for Allah: for Allah knoweth, and ye know not.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    So do not set up equals to Allah, for Allah certainly knows and you do not know.

  • Taqi Usmani

    So, do not coin similarities for Allah. Surely, Allah knows and you do not know.

  • Abdul Haleem

    So do not make up images about God: God knows and you do not.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    So strike not any similitudes for God; surely God knows, and you know not.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Do not then strike out parables for God! Verily, God knows, but ye do not know.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Do not then coin similitudes for Allah! Verily, Allah knows, but you know not.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    So do not strike (any) similitudes for Allah; surely Allah knows and you do not know.

  • George Sale

    Wherefore liken not any thing unto God: For God knoweth, but ye know not.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    So, do not make up similitude for Allah: Truly, Allah knows and you do not know.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    So coin not similitudes to Allâh. Allâh knows (its evil) and you do not know.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    So do not draw comparisons for Allah: indeed Allah knows and you do not know.