Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And he inspected the birds, and said: “How is it with me that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent?

وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَٓا اَرَى الْهُدْهُدَۘ اَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَٓائِب۪ينَ
Watafaqqada attayra faqalama liya la ara alhudhuda am kana minaalgha-ibeen
#wordmeaningroot
1watafaqqadaAnd he inspectedفقد
2l-ṭayrathe birdsطير
3faqālaand saidقول
4Why
5liyaWhy
6not
7arāI seeراي
8l-hud'hudathe hoopoeهدهد
9amor
10kānais heكون
11minafrom
12l-ghāibīnathe absentغيب
  • Aisha Bewley

    He inspected the birds and said, ‘How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is it absent without leave?

  • Progressive Muslims

    And he inspected the birds, then said: "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent"

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Leaving the peaceful tribe of An-Naml alone, Solomon marched forward. ) As he examined the cavalry, he said, "How is it that I do not see the commander

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And he inspected the birds, and said: “How is it with me that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent?

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And he inspected the birds, then said: "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent?"

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He inspected the birds, then said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent?"

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    He inspected the birds, and noted: "Why do I not see the hoopoe? Why is he missing?

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    When he reviewed the Tair, he said: "How is it I do not see Hud-hud? Is he absent?

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

    And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?

  • Muhammad Asad

    And he looked in vain for the birds; and so he said: How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or could he be among the absent?

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And he sought among the birds and said: How is it that I see not the hoopoe, or is he among the absent?

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    (On another occasion) Solomon inspected the birds and said: "Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Is he among the absentees?

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And he inspected the birds and took a muster of them, only to find one missing, he said: "Why do I not see the hoopoe or has he been among the absentees!" (A bird of the family upupidae especially the typical upupa epops, conspicuous by its variegated plumage and large erectile crest).

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Once he summoned all birds in his army. When he took the attendance, he realized that the Hoopoe was absent.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    He inspected the birds, and said: "What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹One day˺ he inspected the birds, and wondered, "Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent?

  • Taqi Usmani

    And (once) he (Sulaimān) checked the birds and said, "How is it with me that I do not see the hudhud (hoopoe)? Rather he has disappeared.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Solomon inspected the birds and said, ‘Why do I not see the hoopoe? Is he absent?

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And he reviewed the birds; then he said, 'How is it with me, that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent?

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And he reviewed the birds, and said, 'How is it I see not the hoopoe? is he then amongst the absent?

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And he (Solomon) smiled, laughing at her speech, and said, "O Lord! Excite (cause) me to be thankful for Thy favour, wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and to do righteousness which may please Thee; and include me by Thy Grace amongst Thy righteous servants!"

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And he reviewed the birds; then he said, "what is it with me that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent?

  • George Sale

    And he viewed the birds, and said, what is the reason that I see not the lapwing? Is she absent?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And he took a troop of the birds, and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? (A bird with feathers like a crown on its head ) or is he from those absent?

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And (once) he reviewed the birds and the (cavalry of) swift running horses and said, `How is it that I do not see (my officer named) Hudhud? Is he deliberately absent?

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    he reviewed the birds, and said, ‘Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is he absent?’