Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

O you who heed warning: approach not the duty when you are intoxicated until you understand what you say; nor when you are unclean (save passing by upon the path), until you wash. And if you were ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from the privy, or you have lain with women, then find not water: resort to clean soil, and wipe your faces and your hands; God is pardoning and forgiving.

يَٓا اَيُّهَا الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاَنْتُمْ سُكَارٰى حَتّٰى تَعْلَمُوا مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُباً اِلَّا عَابِر۪ي سَب۪يلٍ حَتّٰى تَغْتَسِلُواۜ وَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضٰٓى اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ اَوْ جَٓاءَ اَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَٓائِطِ اَوْ لٰمَسْتُمُ النِّسَٓاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَٓاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَع۪يداً طَيِّباً فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَاَيْد۪يكُمْۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَفُواًّ غَفُوراً
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoola taqraboo assalata waantum sukarahatta taAAlamoo ma taqooloona walajunuban illa AAabiree sabeelin hattataghtasiloo wa-in kuntum marda aw AAala safarin awjaa ahadun minkum mina algha-iti aw lamastumuannisaa falam tajidoo maan fatayammamoo saAAeedantayyiban famsahoo biwujoohikum waaydeekuminna Allaha kana AAafuwwan ghafoora
#wordmeaningroot
1yāayyuhāO you
2alladhīnawho
3āmanūbelieve[d]امن
4(Do) not
5taqrabūgo nearقرب
6l-ṣalatathe salatصلو
7wa-antumwhile you
8sukārā(are) intoxicatedسكر
9ḥattāuntil
10taʿlamūyou knowعلم
11what
12taqūlūnayou are sayingقول
13walāand not
14junuban(when you are) impureجنب
15illāexcept
16ʿābirī(when) passingعبر
17sabīlin(through) a wayسبل
18ḥattāuntil
19taghtasilūyou have bathedغسل
20wa-inAnd if
21kuntumyou areكون
22marḍāillمرض
23awor
24ʿalāon
25safarina journeyسفر
26awor
27jāacameجيا
28aḥadunoneاحد
29minkumof you
30minafrom
31l-ghāiṭithe toiletغوط
32awor
33lāmastumuyou have touchedلمس
34l-nisāathe womenنسو
35falamand not
36tajidūyou findوجد
37māanwaterموه
38fatayammamūthen do tayammumيمم
39ṣaʿīdan(with) earthصعد
40ṭayyibancleanطيب
41fa-im'saḥūand wipe (with it)مسح
42biwujūhikumyour facesوجه
43wa-aydīkumand your handsيدي
44innaIndeed
45l-lahaAllah
46kānaisكون
47ʿafuwwanOft-Pardoningعفو
48ghafūranOft-Forgivingغفر
  • Aisha Bewley

    You who have iman! do not approach the prayer when you are drunk, so that you will know what you are saying, nor in a state of major impurity – unless you are travelling – until you have washed yourselves completely. If you are ill or on a journey, or any of you have come from the lavatory or touched women, and you cannot find any water, then do tayammum with pure earth, wiping your faces and your hands. Allah is Ever-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving.

  • Progressive Muslims

    O you who believe, do not come near the contact-method while you are drunk, until you know what you are saying. Nor if you have had intercourse, unless travelling, until you bathe. And if you are ill, or traveling, or one of you has excreted feces, or you had sexual contact with the women, and could not find water: then you shall make ablution with clean soil by wiping your faces and hands. God is Pardoning, Forgiving.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (Those who attain belief shall promptly establish the Divine System in the community, and the Masjid would assume the role of the community center. The believers will assemble in the Masjid for prayer, and to address social welfare and community action). O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Join not the Salat congregation if your mind is beclouded for any reason, until you understand what you utter, else you might say senseless words that disturb the assembly. Physical cleanliness contributes to moral purity. So, take a bath after ceremonial impurity. If you are traveling, or are ill, or coming from the privy, and cannot find water, take a little clean sand or earth and lightly rub your faces and hands, before entering the Masjid. (This will help you prepare psychologically for the assembly (5:6)). Allah pardons and absolves your imperfections.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    O you who heed warning: approach not the duty when you are intoxicated until you understand what you say; nor when you are unclean (save passing by upon the path), until you wash. And if you were ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from the privy, or you have lain with women, then find not water: resort to clean soil, and wipe your faces and your hands; God is pardoning and forgiving.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    O you who believe, do not come near the contact prayer while you are intoxicated, until you know what you are saying. Nor if you have had intercourse, unless traveling, until you bathe. And if you are ill, or traveling, or one of you has excreted feces, or you had sexual contact with the women, and could not find water, then you shall select from the clean soil; you shall wipe your faces and hands. God is Pardoning, Forgiving.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    O you who acknowledge, do not come near the contact prayer while you are drunk, until you know what you are saying. Nor if you have had intercourse, unless traveling, until you bathe. If you are ill, or traveling, or one of you come from the bathroom, or you had sexual contact with the women, and could not find water: then you shall seek clean soil and wipe your faces and hands. God is Pardoning, Forgiving.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual orgasm without bathing, unless you are on the road, traveling; if you are ill or traveling, or you had urinary or fecal-related excretion (such as gas), or contacted the women (sexually), and you cannot find water, you shall observe Tayammum (dry ablution) by touching clean dry soil, then wiping your faces and hands therewith. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    O you who believe, do not perform your service of prayer when you are intoxicated until you are sure of what you are saying, nor when in a state of seminal pollution, until you have taken a bath, except when you are travelling. But in case you are ill or are travelling, or you have relieved yourself of nature's call, or cohabited with a woman, and cannot find water, then take wholesome dust and pass it over your face and hands: God is benign and forgiving.

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

    O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through , until you have washed . And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands . Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.

  • Muhammad Asad

    O YOU who have attained to faith! Do not attempt to pray while you are in a state of drunkenness, until you know what you are saying; nor yet in a state requiring total ablution, until you have bathed - except if you are travelling . But if you are ill, or are travelling, or have just satisfied a want of nature, or have cohabited with a woman, and can find no water - then take resort to pure dust, passing lightly over your face and your hands. Behold, God is indeed an absolver of sins, much-forgiving.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Believers! Do not draw near to the Prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying nor while you are defiled - save when you are travelling - until you have washed yourselves. If you are either ill or travelling or have satisfied a want of nature or have had contact with women and can find no water, then betake yourselves to pure earth, passing with it lightly over your face and your hands.Surely Allah is All-Relenting, All-Forgiving.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    O you who conformed to Islam: Do not engage in the act of worship while you are under the influence of intoxicants nor pray when you are spiritually unconditioned, unless you are on the road, until you have bathed. And if you are sick or on the road or have defecated or touched women and the sensation or contact stirred you to passion, and you did not find water for ablution, then metaphoric ablution be a religious rite: apply clean sand, dust or dry earth lightly to your faces and hands; Allah is ever 'Afawun (Indulgent) and Ghafurun.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    O’ you who believe, do not worship God while you are intoxicated so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual contact without bathing. If you are sick , traveling, have relieved yourself and had sex with a woman and cannot find water, then touch clean soil and wipe of your hands and face; surely God forgives and pardons

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    O you who believe! Approach not As-Salât (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Janâba,(i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allâh is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,- nor in a state of ceremonial impurity (Except when travelling on the road), until after washing your whole body. If ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. For Allah doth blot out sins and forgive again and again.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    O believers! Do not approach prayer while intoxicated until you are aware of what you say, nor in a state of ˹full˺ impurity—unless you merely pass through ˹the mosque˺—until you have bathed. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth, wiping your faces and hands. And Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.

  • Taqi Usmani

    O you who believe! Do not go near Salāh when you are intoxicated, until you know what you say, nor in a state of ‘major impurity’.,-save when you are traversing a way-until you take a bath. If you are sick, or in travel, or if one of you has come after relieving himself, or you have had contact with women, and you find no water, go for some clean dust and wipe your faces and hands (with it). Surely, Allah is Most-Pardoning, Most-Forgiving.

  • Abdul Haleem

    You who believe, do not come anywhere near the prayer if you are intoxicated, not until you know what you are saying; nor if you are in a state of major ritual impurity- though you may pass through the mosque- not until you have bathed; if you are ill, on a journey, have relieved yourselves, or had intercourse, and cannot find any water, then find some clean sand and wipe your faces and hands with it. God is always ready to pardon and forgive.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    O believers, draw not near to prayer when you are drunken until you know what you are saying, or defiled -- unless you are traversing a way -- until you have washed yourselves; but if you are sick, or on a journey, or if any of you comes from the privy, or you have touched women, and you can find no water, then have recourse to wholesome dust and wipe your faces and your hands; God is All-pardoning, All-forgiving.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    O ye who believe! approach not prayer while ye are drunk, until ye well know what ye say; nor yet while polluted,- unless ye be passing by the way,- until ye have washed yourselves. But if ye are sick, or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy, or if ye have touched a woman, and ye cannot find water, then use good surface sand and wipe your faces and your hands therewith; verily, God pardons and forgives.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    O you who believe! Approach not prayer while you are drunk (or mentally dull), until you know (can understand) what you are saying; nor yet while polluted - unless you are on a journey - until you have washed yourselves. But if you are sick, or on a journey, or one of you come from the toilet, or if you have touched a woman, and you cannot find water, then use clean sand (or earth) and wipe your faces and your hands therewith. Verily, Allah is Benign and Forgiving.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    O you who have believed, do not draw near to prayer (when) you are drunken until you know what you are saying, nor (when) you are ritually unclean, (i. e. unclean through the emission of semen, or sexual discharge "in woman") except when you are traversing a way, until you have washed yourselves. And in case you are sick, or on a journey, or (in case) any of you comes from the privy, or you have had contact with women, yet you have not found water, so have recourse to good soil, (i.e. a high dry place, a mounting place) then wipe (most of) your faces and hands. Surely Allah has been Ever-Clement, Ever-Forgiving.

  • George Sale

    O true believer, come not to prayer when ye are drunk, until ye understand what ye say; nor when ye are polluted by emission of seed, unless ye be travelling on the road, until ye wash yourselves. But if ye be sick, or on a journey, or any of you come from easing nature, or have touched women, and find no water; take fine clean sand and rub your faces and your hands therewith; for God is merciful and inclined to forgive.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    O you who believe! Do not approach prayers (in a murky mind) intoxicated, until you can understand all that you say— Nor in a state of ceremonial impurity except when traveling on the road, until after washing your whole body; And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes from offices of nature, or you have been in contact with women, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth and rub with it your faces and hands. Truly, Allah is Ever-Pardoning (’Afuw) and All Forgiving (Ghafoor, again and again).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    O you who believe! do not go near Prayer when you are not in full possession of your senses, until you understand all that you say (in your Prayers); nor (occupy yourselves in Prayer) when you are unclean (and under an obligation to have a bath) until you have bathed yourselves. But (you can do without a bath) when you are travelling a long way. If you are taken ill or (are) on a journey, or if one of you comes from the privy, or you have had (sexual) contact with women and you find no water (for bathing or ablution) then have recourse to pure and clean dust and wipe your faces and your hands (therewith). Indeed, Allâh is Most Benign, Great Protector.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    O you who have faith! Do not approach prayer when you are intoxicated, until you know what you are saying, nor in the state of ritual impurity —except while passing through— until you have washed yourselves. But if you are sick or on a journey, or any of you has come from the toilet, or you have touched women, and you cannot find water, then make your ablution on clean ground and wipe a part of your faces and your hands. Indeed Allah is all-excusing, all-forgiving.