Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And God strikes a similitude: — two men: one of them dumb, not having power over anything, and a burden on his master: wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal with one who enjoins justice, and is on a straight path?

وَضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلاً رَجُلَيْنِ اَحَدُهُمَٓا اَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلٰى شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلٰى مَوْلٰيهُۙ اَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّهْهُ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍۜ هَلْ يَسْتَو۪ي هُوَۙ وَمَنْ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِۙ وَهُوَ عَلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَق۪يمٍ۟
Wadaraba Allahu mathalanrajulayni ahaduhuma abkamu la yaqdiru AAalashay-in wahuwa kallun AAala mawlahu aynamayuwajjihhu la ya/ti bikhayrin hal yastawee huwa wamanya/muru bilAAadli wahuwa AAala siratinmustaqeem
#wordmeaningroot
1waḍarabaAnd Allah sets forthضرب
2l-lahuAnd Allah sets forth
3mathalanan exampleمثل
4rajulayni(of) two menرجل
5aḥaduhumāone of themاحد
6abkamu(is) dumbبكم
7not
8yaqdiruhe has powerقدر
9ʿalāon
10shayinanythingشيا
11wahuwawhile he
12kallun(is) a burdenكلل
13ʿalāon
14mawlāhuhis masterولي
15aynamāWherever
16yuwajjihhuhe directs himوجه
17not
18yatihe comesاتي
19bikhayrinwith any goodخير
20halIs
21yastawīequalسوي
22huwahe
23wamanand (the one) who
24yamurucommandsامر
25bil-ʿadli[of] justiceعدل
26wahuwaand he
27ʿalā(is) on
28ṣirāṭina pathصرط
29mus'taqīminstraightقوم
  • Aisha Bewley

    Allah makes another metaphor: two men, one of them deaf and dumb, unable to do anything, a burden on his master, no matter where he directs him he brings no good, is he the same as someone who commands justice and is on a straight path?

  • Progressive Muslims

    And God puts forth the example of two men, one of them is mute and he cannot achieve anything, and he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he points him, he does not come with any good. Is he the same as one who orders good and he is upon a straight path

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Allah gives you another example of two men. One of them is he whose faculties of speech and mind are totally disabled. He cannot do anything of his own accord and he is totally dependent on his care-provider, unable to bring forth any good in any way. Can such a one be considered equal of the man who is fit, enjoins justice and himself walks the Straight Path? (Allah expects you to use your faculties to the best of your abilities).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And God strikes a similitude: — two men: one of them dumb, not having power over anything, and a burden on his master: wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal with one who enjoins justice, and is on a straight path?

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And God puts forth the example of two men, one of them is mute and he cannot achieve anything, and he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he points him, he does not come with any good. Is he the same as one who orders good and he is upon a straight path?

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    God puts forth the example of two men, one of them is mute and he cannot control anything, and he is a burden to his master. Wherever he points him, he does not come with any good. Is he the same as one who orders good and he is on a straight path?

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    And GOD cites the example of two men: one is dumb, lacks the ability to do anything, is totally dependent on his master - whichever way he directs him, he cannot produce anything good. Is he equal to one who rules with justice, and is guided in the right path?

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    God presents another example of two men, one dumb and unable to do a thing and is a burden on his master. Wherever he is sent he returns without any good (result). Could he be equal to one who enjoins what is just, and follows the right path?

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

    And Allah presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?

  • Muhammad Asad

    And God propounds the parable of two men -one of them dumb, unable to do anything of his own accord, and a sheer burden on his master: to whichever task the latter directs him, he accomplishes no good. Can such a one be considered the equal of who enjoins the doing of what is right and himself follows a straight way?

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And Allah coineth a similitude: Two men, one of them dumb, having control of nothing, and he is a burden on his owner; whithersoever he directeth him to go, he bringeth no good. Is he equal with one who enjoineth justice and followeth a straight path (of conduct)?

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Allah sets forth another parable: There are two men, one of whom is dumb and has no power over anything; he is a burden to his master, and wheresoever his master directs him, he fails to bring forth any good. Can such a person be the equal of one who enjoins justice and himself follows the Right Way?

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Again Allah cites an instance of two other men in illustration of a general truth: one of them is mute, unable to accomplish anything, totally dependent on his master for his livelihood. Wherever he sends him to perform a work he utterly fails to accomplish the desired end. Does he compare width his master who is whole just and keeps on the path of righteousness!

  • Bijan Moeinian

    As another example, consider two men. One of them is dumb and (like the creatures of God who are totally dependent upon Him) incapable of doing any thing good. Is such person equal to the other one who (like God) rules with justice and follows the right way? (If the answer is no, then why are you making good for nothing gods of yours equal to God?)

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And Allâh puts forward (another) example of two men, one of them dumb, who has no power over anything (disbeliever), and he is a burden on his master; whichever way he directs him, he brings no good. Is such a man equal to one (believer in the Islâmic Monotheism) who commands justice, and is himself on the Straight Path?

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Allah sets forth (another) Parable of two men: one of them dumb, with no power of any sort; a wearisome burden is he to his master; whichever way be directs him, he brings no good: is such a man equal with one who commands Justice, and is on a Straight Way?

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    And Allah sets forth a parable of two men: one of them is dumb, incapable of anything. He is a burden on his master. Wherever he is sent, he brings no good. Can such a person be equal to the one who commands justice and is on the Straight Path?

  • Taqi Usmani

    And Allah gives another example: There are two men. One of them is dumb who is unable to do anything, and he is a burden on his master. Wherever he directs him to, he brings no good. Can he be equal to the one who enjoins justice and is on the straight path?

  • Abdul Haleem

    God presents another illustration: two men, one of them dumb, unable to do anything, a burden to his carer- whatever task he directs him to, he achieves nothing good- can he be considered equal to one who commands justice and is on the straight path?

  • Arthur John Arberry

    God has struck a similitude: two men, one of them dumb, having no power over anything, and he is a burden upon his master -- wherever he despatches him, he brings no good. Is he equal to him who bids to justice, and is on a straight path?

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And God has struck out a parable: two men, one of them dumb, able to do nothing, a burden to his lord wherever he directs him he comes not with success; is he to be held equal with him who bids what is just and who is on the right way?

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And Allah coins another similitude (parable): two men, one of them dumb, able to do nothing, a burden to his lord; wherever he directs him he brings no success; is he to be held equal with him who bids what is just and who is on the Straight Way?

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And Allah has struck a similitude: two men, one of them dumb, unable to determine anything, and he is wholly dependent upon his patronizer-wherever he directs him, he comes up with no charitable (acts). Is he equal to him who commands to justice and is on a straight Path?

  • George Sale

    God also propoundeth as a parable two men; one of them born dumb, who is unable to do or understand any thing, but is a burden unto his master; whithersoever he shall send him, he shall not return with any good success: Shall this man, and he who hath his speech and understanding, and who commandeth that which is just, and followeth the right way, be esteemed equal?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And Allah brings forward (another) case of two men: One of them dumb, with no power of any type, he is a tiresome burden on his master; Wherever he (master) directs him (the dumb one), he brings no good: Is such a man equal to one who acts justly, and is on the Straight Path?

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And Allâh sets forth an excellent description of (other) two men. One of them is dumb and has no power over anything and he is a useless burden on his master; wherever he sends him he fetches no good. Can he be like the man who enjoins justice and who follows the exact right path? (No, not at all.)

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Allah draws parable: Two men, one of whom is dumb, having no power over anything and who is a liability to his master: wherever he directs him he does not bring any good. Is he equal to someone who enjoins justice and is on a straight path?