Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

There is no good in much of their private conversation ­— save whoso enjoins charity or what is fitting, or right ordering among men; and whoso does that, seeking the good pleasure of God, We will bestow upon him a great reward.

لَا خَيْرَ ف۪ي كَث۪يرٍ مِنْ نَجْوٰيهُمْ اِلَّا مَنْ اَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ اَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ اَوْ اِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِۜ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ ابْتِغَٓاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللّٰهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْت۪يهِ اَجْراً عَظ۪يماً
La khayra fee katheerin min najwahumilla man amara bisadaqatin aw maAAroofin aw islahinbayna annasi waman yafAAal thalika ibtighaamardati Allahi fasawfa nu/teehi ajran AAatheema
#wordmeaningroot
1(There is) no
2khayragoodخير
3in
4kathīrinmuchكثر
5minof
6najwāhumtheir secret talkنجو
7illāexcept
8man(he) who
9amaraordersامر
10biṣadaqatincharityصدق
11awor
12maʿrūfinkindnessعرف
13awor
14iṣ'lāḥinconciliationصلح
15baynabetweenبين
16l-nāsithe peopleنوس
17wamanAnd who
18yafʿaldoesفعل
19dhālikathat
20ib'tighāaseekingبغي
21marḍātipleasureرضو
22l-lahi(of) Allah
23fasawfathen soon
24nu'tīhiWe will give himاتي
25ajrana rewardاجر
26ʿaẓīmangreatعظم
  • Aisha Bewley

    There is no good in much of their secret talk, except in the case of those who enjoin sadaqa, or what is right, or putting things right between people. If anyone does that, seeking the pleasure of Allah, We will give him an immense reward.

  • Progressive Muslims

    There is no good in most of what they desire, except whoever orders a charity or kindness or reconciliation between the people. And whoever does this seeking God's favour, We will give him a great reward.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    There is no good in much of their secret conferences. Most meetings that take place behind closed doors are detrimental to humanity. However, whoever arranges meetings that discuss matters of social welfare, economic equity, human resource development, just legislation and reconciliation of conflicts seeking Allah's Approval, We shall bestow upon him / her a great Reward.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    There is no good in much of their private conversation ­— save whoso enjoins charity or what is fitting, or right ordering among men; and whoso does that, seeking the good pleasure of God, We will bestow upon him a great reward.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    There is no good in most of what they privately confer, except whoever orders a charity or kindness or reconciliation between the people. And whoever does this seeking the grace of God, We will give him a great recompense.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    There is no good in most of their confidential talk, except whoever orders a charity or kindness or reconciliation between the people. Whoever does this seeking God's favor, We will give him a great reward.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    There is nothing good about their private conferences, except for those who advocate charity, or righteous works, or making peace among the people. Anyone who does this, in response to GOD's teachings, we will grant him a great recompense.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Their confidential counsels are seldom for the good, save of those who talk of charity or goodness or peace among men. Whosoever does so for the pleasure of God, We shall give him an ample reward.

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

    No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah - then We are going to give him a great reward.

  • Muhammad Asad

    NO GOOD comes, as a rule, out of secret confabulations - saving such as are devoted to en­joining charity, or equitable dealings, or setting things to rights between people: and unto him who does this out of a longing for God's goodly acceptance We shall in time grant a mighty reward.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    There is no good in much of their secret conferences save (in) him who enjoineth almsgiving and kindness and peace-making among the people. Whoso doeth that, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall bestow on him a vast reward.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Most of their secret conferrings are devoid of good, unless one secretly enjoins in charity, good deeds, and setting the affairs of men right. We shall grant who ever does that seeking to please Allah a great reward.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    There is nothing useful nor reliable for a purpose or efficient in a function in much of their secret counsel and in the thoughts they convey reciprocally in talk uttered below their breath unless it be in accord with wisdom and piety that it enjoins benevolence, equity and the inducement to peace among people and the principles of justice. And he whose lines of character are broad and clear as to feature willingness to comply with divine principles for the sake of piety shall be a recipient of Allah's grace; We will requite him with a great reward.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When a person murmurs in somebody’s ear , usually nothing good comes out of it; except when he invites the person to righteousness, engagement in charity or making peace among the people. I (God) will give a great reward to the one who does so to please His Lord.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allâh’s Cause), or Ma‘rûf (Islâmic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allâh has ordained), or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allâh, We shall give him a great reward.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    In most of their secret talks there is no good: But if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or conciliation between men, (Secrecy is permissible): To him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give a reward of the highest (value).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    There is no good in most of their secret talks—except those encouraging charity, kindness, or reconciliation between people. And whoever does this seeking Allah’s pleasure, We will grant them a great reward.

  • Taqi Usmani

    There is no good in most of their whisperings, unless one bids charity or a fair action, or reconciliation between people. The one who does this, to seek Allah’s pleasure, We shall give him a great reward.

  • Abdul Haleem

    There is no good in most of their secret talk, only in commanding charity, or good, or reconciliation between people. To anyone who does these things, seeking to please God, We shall give a rich reward;

  • Arthur John Arberry

    No good is there in much of their conspiring, except for him who bids to freewill offering, or honour, or setting things right between the people. Whoso does that, seeking God's good pleasure, We shall surely give him a mighty wage.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    There is no good in most of what they talk in private; save in his who bids almsgiving, or kindness, or reconciliation between men; and whoso does this, craving the good pleasure of God, we will give to him a mighty hire.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    There is no good in much of their secret conferences; save in his who bids almsgiving, or kindness, or reconciliation between men; and whoever does this, craving the good pleasure of Allah, we will give to him a mighty reward.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    No charity (i. e. benefit) is there in much of their private conferences, except for him who commands donation (i.e. enjoins "people" to donate), or beneficence, or righteousness (Or: conciliation and reform) among mankind. And whoever performs that seeking the gracious satisfaction of Allah, then We will eventually bring him a magnificent reward.

  • George Sale

    There is no good in the multitude of their private discourses, unless in the discourse of him who recommendeth alms, or that which is right, or agreement amongst men: Whoever doth this out of a desire to please God, We will surely give him a great reward.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    There is no good in most of their secret talks: Except if one thinks of a deed of charity, or of justice, or of bringing men together: To (the person) who does this for the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give him a reward of the highest (value).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    There is no good in many of their secret conferences. But (good lies only in the secret deliberations of) those who enjoin charity, equitable dealings or making peace between people. And whoso does that, seeking the pleasure of Allâh, We shall soon bestow a great reward on him.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    There is no good in much of their secret talks, excepting him who enjoins charity or what is right or reconciliation between people, and whoever does that, seeking Allah’s pleasure, soon We shall give him a great reward.