Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Those who avoid the enormities of sin and sexual immoralities save slight mistakes — thy Lord is vast in forgiveness. He best knew you when He produced you from the earth, and when you were foetuses in the wombs of your mothers; then hold not yourselves to be pure; He best knows those of prudent fear.

اَلَّذ۪ينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَـبَٓائِرَ الْاِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ اِلَّا اللَّمَمَۜ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِۜ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ اِذْ اَنْشَاَكُمْ مِنَ الْاَرْضِ وَاِذْ اَنْتُمْ اَجِنَّةٌ ف۪ي بُطُونِ اُمَّهَاتِكُمْۚ فَلَا تُزَكُّٓوا اَنْفُسَكُمْۜ هُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقٰى۟
Allatheena yajtaniboona kaba-iraal-ithmi walfawahisha illa allamama innarabbaka wasiAAu almaghfirati huwa aAAlamu bikum ithanshaakum mina al-ardi wa-ith antum ajinnatun feebutooni ommahatikum fala tuzakkoo anfusakumhuwa aAAlamu bimani ittaqa
#wordmeaningroot
1alladhīnaThose who
2yajtanibūnaavoidجنب
3kabāiragreatكبر
4l-ith'misinsاثم
5wal-fawāḥishaand the immoralitiesفحش
6illāexcept
7l-lamamathe small faultsلمم
8innaindeed
9rabbakayour Lordربب
10wāsiʿu(is) vastوسع
11l-maghfirati(in) forgivenessغفر
12huwaHe
13aʿlamu(is) most knowing about youعلم
14bikum(is) most knowing about you
15idhwhen
16ansha-akumHe produced youنشا
17minafrom
18l-arḍithe earthارض
19wa-idhand when
20antumyou (were)
21ajinnatunfetusesجنن
22in
23buṭūni(the) wombsبطن
24ummahātikum(of) your mothersامم
25falāSo (do) not
26tuzakkūascribe purityزكو
27anfusakum(to) yourselvesنفس
28huwaHe
29aʿlamuknows bestعلم
30bimani(he) who
31ittaqāfearsوقي
  • Aisha Bewley

    To whoever avoids the major wrong actions and indecencies – except for minor lapses – truly your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He has most knowledge of you when He first produced you from the earth, and when you were embryos in your mothers’ wombs. So do not claim purity for yourselves. He knows best those who have taqwa.

  • Progressive Muslims

    They avoid major sins and lewdness, except for minor offences. Your Lord is with vast forgiveness. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the Earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' wombs. Therefore, do not acclaim yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Those who abstain from the greater transgressions that deplete the communal energy, and from shameful deeds and stinginess, even though they may sometimes waver, behold, your Lord is Immense in absolving their imperfections. He knows you best since He brings you into being from the earth, and when you were still hidden in the bellies of your mothers? Therefore, claim not piety for yourselves. He knows best as to who walks aright.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Those who avoid the enormities of sin and sexual immoralities save slight mistakes — thy Lord is vast in forgiveness. He best knew you when He produced you from the earth, and when you were foetuses in the wombs of your mothers; then hold not yourselves to be pure; He best knows those of prudent fear.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    They avoid major sins and immorality, except for minor offences. Your Lord is with vast forgiveness. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in the wombs of your mothers. Therefore, do not ascribe purity to yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They avoid major sins and lewdness, except for minor offences. Your Lord is with vast forgiveness. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were fetuses in your mothers' wombs. Therefore, do not acclaim yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord's forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    As for those who avoid the greater sins and shameful acts, except minor trespasses, your Lord's forgiveness surely has great amplitude. He is fully knowledgeable of you as He produced you from the earth, and since you were a foetus in your mother's womb. So do not assert your goodness; he is better who takes heed and preserves himself.

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

    Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.

  • Muhammad Asad

    As for those who avoid the grave sins and shameful deeds - even though they may some­times stumble behold, thy Sustainer is abounding in forgiveness. He is fully aware of you when He brings you into being out of dust, and when you are still hidden in your mothers’ wombs: do not, then, consider your­selves pure - He knows best as to who is conscious of Him.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Those who avoid enormities of sin and abominations, save the unwilled offences - (for them) lo! thy Lord is of vast mercy. He is Best Aware of you (from the time) when He created you from the earth, and when ye were hidden in the bellies of your mothers. Therefor ascribe not purity unto yourselves. He is Best Aware of him who wardeth off (evil).

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    on those who avoid grave sins and shameful deeds, even if they may sometimes stumble into lesser offences. Surely your Lord is abounding in His Forgiveness. Very well is He aware of you since He produced you from the earth, and while you were still in your mothers' wombs and not yet born. So do not boastfully claim yourselves to be purified. He fully knows those that are truly Godfearing.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Those who avoid major sins and do not commit themselves to an evil line of conduct, but occasionally fall into mistakes, faults or errors may find Allah Ghafrun (Forgiving),and Rahimun (Merciful); He knows well your nature, your character, and condition of mind besides your disposition and your temperament; for it is He Who brought you into being from the earth, then He embedded you in your mothers' wombs; therefore justify not yourselves before him; He knows best those whose hearts are impressed with the image of virtues and whose deeds with wisdom and piety.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    The righteous ones are those who avoid great sins and shameful acts; occasionally falling prey to small sins. Indeed your Lord is generous in forgiving. He knows you the best as He is the One Who created you at first place and has observed you as embryos inside your mothers’ wombs. Therefore do not be proud of your "purity": God alone knows best who is really pious and honors the God with the utmost respect.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Those who avoid great sins (See the Qur’ân, Verses: 6:152,153) and Al-Fawâhish (illegal sexual intercourse) except the small faults, - verily, your Lord is of Vast Forgiveness. He knows you well when He created you from the earth (Adam), and when you were fetuses in your mothers’ wombs. So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him .

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only (falling into) small faults,- verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, And when ye are hidden in your mothers' wombs. Therefore justify not yourselves: He knows best who it is that guards against evil.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    those who avoid major sins and shameful deeds, despite ˹stumbling on˺ minor sins. Surely your Lord is infinite in forgiveness. He knew well what would become of you as He created you from the earth and while you were ˹still˺ fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not ˹falsely˺ elevate yourselves. He knows best who is ˹truly˺ righteous.

  • Taqi Usmani

    -those who abstain from the major sins and from shameful acts, except minor involvements. Indeed your Lord is extensive in forgiveness. He knows you more than anyone else (from a time) when He created you from the earth and when you were embryos in the wombs of your mothers. So, do not claim purity (from faults) for your selves. He knows best who is God-fearing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    As for those who avoid grave sins and foul acts, though they may commit small sins, your Lord is ample in forgiveness. He has been aware of you from the time He produced you from the earth and from your hiding places in your mothers’ wombs, so do not assert your own goodness:He knows best who is mindful of Him.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Those who avoid the heinous sins and indecencies, save lesser offences surely thy Lord is wide in His forgiveness. Very well He knows you, when He produced you from the earth, and when you were yet unborn in your mothers' wombs; therefore hold not yourselves purified; God knows very well him who is godfearing.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    those who shun great sins and iniquities, - all but venial faults,- verily, thy Lord is of ample forgiveness; He knows best about you, when He produced you from the earth, and when ye were embryos in the wombs of your mothers. Make not yourselves out, then, to be pure; He knows best who it is that fears.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Those who keep aloof from the great sins and the indecencies, except the passing idea (or the unwilling or small offence); surely your Lord is liberal in forgiving. He knows you best when He brings you forth from the earth and when you are embryos in the wombs of your mothers; therefore attribute not purity to your souls (or justify not yourselves); He knows best who it is who guards himself against evil.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    The ones who avoid the great (kinds) of vice and obscenities, except lesser offences; surely your Lord is Ever-Embracing in (His) forgiveness. He knows you best, as He brought you into being from the earth, and as you were embryos in your mothers' bellies; so do not (consider) yourselves cleansed; (only) He knows best him who is pious.

  • George Sale

    As to those who avoid great crimes, and hainous sins, and are guilty only of lighter faults; verily thy Lord will be extensive in mercy towards them. He well knew you when He produced you out of the earth, and when ye were embryo's in your mothers' wombs: Wherefore justify not your selves: He best knoweth the man who feareth Him.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Those who keep away from great sins and shameful deeds, only (being caught up in) small faults— Surely, your Lord is plentiful in forgiveness. He knows you well when he creates you out of the earth (your chromosomes), and when you are hidden in your mothers’ wombs. Therefore do not justify yourselves: He knows best who it is who keeps away evil.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Those who avoid grave sins and open shameful deeds but (who are sometimes guilty) only (of) minor offences (will find) your Lord is Lord of immense protection (and resorts to His mercy in such cases). He knows you full well (since) when He created you from the earth and when you were embryos in the wombs of your mothers. So make no pretensions to the purity of your souls. It is He Who knows best who (truly and fully) guards against evil.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Those who avoid major sins and indecencies, excepting lapses. Indeed your Lord is expansive in forgiveness. He knows you best since He produced you from the earth, and since you were fetuses in the bellies of your mothers. So do not flaunt your piety: He knows best those who are Godwary.