Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

He said: “O my people: why will you hasten on the evil before the good? Oh, that you did but ask pardon of God, that you might obtain mercy!”

قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِۚ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Qala ya qawmi limatastaAAjiloona bissayyi-ati qabla alhasanati lawlatastaghfiroona Allaha laAAallakum turhamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1qālaHe saidقول
2yāqawmiO my peopleقوم
3limaWhy
4tastaʿjilūna(do) you seek to hastenعجل
5bil-sayi-atithe evilسوا
6qablabeforeقبل
7l-ḥasanatithe goodحسن
8lawlāWhy not
9tastaghfirūnayou ask forgivenessغفر
10l-laha(of) Allah
11laʿallakumso that you may
12tur'ḥamūnareceive mercyرحم
  • Aisha Bewley

    He said, ‘My people, why are you so anxious to hasten the bad before the good? If only you would ask for forgiveness from Allah, so that mercy might perhaps be shown to you. ’

  • Progressive Muslims

    He said: "My people, why do you hasten with evil ahead of good If you would only seek God's forgiveness, perhaps you will receive mercy. "

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Saleh said, "O My people! Why do you hasten to commit evil instead of doing good? Why do you not (mend your ways and) ask Allah to forgive you, so that you may become worthy of His Mercy?"

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    He said: “O my people: why will you hasten on the evil before the good? Oh, that you did but ask pardon of God, that you might obtain mercy!”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He said: "My people, why do you hasten with evil ahead of good? If you would only seek the forgiveness of God, perhaps you will receive mercy."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He said, "My people, why do you hasten with evil ahead of good? If you would only seek God's forgiveness, perhaps you will receive mercy."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    He said, "O my people, why do you hasten to commit evil instead of good works? If only you implore GOD for forgiveness, you may attain mercy."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    (Saleh) said: "O people, why do you wish to hasten evil rather than good? Why not ask for God's forgiveness? You may well be forgiven. "

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

    He said, "O my people, why are you impatient for evil instead of good? Why do you not seek forgiveness of Allah that you may receive mercy?"

  • Muhammad Asad

    Said : Why do you seek to hasten the coming upon you of evil instead of hoping for the good?" Why do you not, rather, ask God to forgive you your sins, so that you might be graced with His mercy?”

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He said: O my people! Why will ye hasten on the evil rather than the good? Why will ye not ask pardon of Allah, that ye may receive mercy.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Salih said: "My people, why do you wish to hasten that evil rather than good* should come upon you? Why should you not seek pardon from Allah so that mercy be shown to you?"

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    He -Saleh- said to them -to those who disbelieved him and challenged his warnings-: "O my people, Why do you defiantly wish evil be hastened on rather than good! If only you invoke Allah's forgiveness He might hopefully extend His mercy to you".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Saleh said: " My people, why do you rush into committing sins instead of doing good deeds? Repent and ask God for forgiveness; may He have mercy on you.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allâh’s Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allâh, that you may receive mercy?"

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    He said: "O my people! why ask ye to hasten on the evil in preference to the good? If only ye ask Allah for forgiveness, ye may hope to receive mercy.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    He urged ˹the disbelieving group˺, "O my people! Why do you ˹seek to˺ hasten the torment rather than grace? If only you sought Allah’s forgiveness so you may be shown mercy!"

  • Taqi Usmani

    He said, "My people, why do you seek evil to come sooner before good? Why do you not seek forgiveness from Allah, so that you are treated with mercy?"

  • Abdul Haleem

    Salih said, ‘My people, why do you rush to bring what is bad rather than good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God, so that you may be given mercy?’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    He said, 'O my people, why do you seek to hasten evil before good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God? Haply so you will find mercy. '

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Said he, 'O my people! why do ye hasten on evil acts before good deeds? why do ye not ask forgiveness of God? haply ye may obtain mercy. '

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And We sent unto Thamud their brother Salih, saying "Serve Allah;" but behold! they became two parties quarrelling!

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    He said, "O my people, why do you seek to hasten odious (deeds) before fair (ones)? Had you asked forgiveness from Allah, possibly you would be (offered) mercy!"

  • George Sale

    Saleh said, O my people, why do ye hasten evil rather than good? Unless ye ask pardon of God, that ye may obtain mercy, ye are lost.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    He said: "O my people! Why do you hurry to evil rather than the good? If you only ask Allah for forgiveness, you can (still) hope to receive (His) mercy. "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    He said, `O my people! why do you seek to hasten on evil, rather than good, (and you ask for a sign of destruction instead of that of bliss for you)? Why do you not ask for Allâh's protection so that you may be shown mercy?'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He said, ‘O My people! Why do you press for evil sooner than for good? Why do you not plead to Allah for forgiveness so that you may receive His mercy?’