Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And they swore by God their strongest oaths, that if thou shouldst command them, they would go forth. Say thou: “Swear not — obedience is known”; God is aware of what you do.

وَاَقْسَمُوا بِاللّٰهِ جَهْدَ اَيْمَانِهِمْ لَئِنْ اَمَرْتَهُمْ لَيَخْرُجُنَّۜ قُلْ لَا تُقْسِمُواۚ طَاعَةٌ مَعْرُوفَةٌۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ خَب۪يرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Waaqsamoo billahi jahda aymanihimla-in amartahum layakhrujunna qul la tuqsimoo taAAatunmaAAroofatun inna Allaha khabeerun bima taAAmaloon
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-aqsamūAnd they swearقسم
2bil-lahiby Allah
3jahdastrongجهد
4aymānihimtheir oathsيمن
5la-inthat if
6amartahumyou ordered themامر
7layakhrujunnasurely they (would) go forthخرج
8qulSayقول
9(Do) not
10tuq'simūswearقسم
11ṭāʿatunObedienceطوع
12maʿrūfatun(is) knownعرف
13innaIndeed
14l-lahaAllah
15khabīrun(is) All-Awareخبر
16bimāof what
17taʿmalūnayou doعمل
  • Aisha Bewley

    They have sworn by Allah with their most earnest oaths that if you give them the command, they will go out. Say: ‘Do not swear. Honourable obedience is enough. Allah is aware of what you do.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    And they swear by God with their strongest oaths that if you would only command them they would mobilize. Say: "Do not swear, for obedience is an obligation. God is Expert over what you do."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Whereas there are some who swear by Allah solemnly that, if you order them, they will go forth to any mission. Say, "Swear not! Obedience is virtuous. Verily, Allah is Aware of all you do."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And they swore by God their strongest oaths, that if thou shouldst command them, they would go forth. Say thou: “Swear not — obedience is known”; God is aware of what you do.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And they swear by God with their strongest oaths that if you would only command them they would mobilize. Say: "Do not swear, for obedience is an obligation. God is Expert over what you do."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They swear by God with their strongest oaths that if you would only command them they would mobilize. Say: "Do not swear, for obedience is an obligation. God is Ever-aware of what you do."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They swear by GOD, solemnly, that if you commanded them to mobilize, they would mobilize. Say, "Do not swear. Obedience is an obligation. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    They swear solemnly by God: "If you command us we shall go forth. " Say: "Do not swear. What is wanted is obedience, as should be. God is certainly aware of what you do."

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

    And they swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if you ordered them, they would go forth . Say, "Do not swear. obedience is known. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with that which you do."

  • Muhammad Asad

    Now they do swear by God with their most solemn oaths that if thou shouldst ever bid them to do so, they would most certainly go forth . Say: "Swear not! Reasonable compliance . Verily, God is aware of all that you do!"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    They swear by Allah solemnly that, if thou order them, they will go forth. Say: Swear not; known obedience (is better). Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    (The hypocrites) solemnly swear by Allah: "If you order us, we shall surely go forth (and fight in the cause of Allah)." Tell them: "Do not swear. The state of your obedience is known.* Allah is well aware of all that you do."*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And they -the hypocrites- make a solemn declaration with an appeal to Allah that should you O Muhammad command them to join forces even though it be at the cost of quitting their homes and forsaking their families, they shall obey. Say to them: "You may spare your oaths, the nature of your obedience declares itself in your actions which together with your words do not accord;" "Allah is 'Alimun indeed of all that you do."

  • Bijan Moeinian

    They swear by God that if they are called to serve in the army, they will leave their homes to join. Say: "Do not swear; obedience is an obligation. God knows what you are doing."

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    They swear by Allâh their strongest oaths, that if only you would order them, they would leave (their homes for fighting in Allâh’s Cause). Say: "Swear you not; (this) obedience (of yours) is known (to be false). Verily, Allâh knows well what you do."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that, if only thou wouldst command them, they would leave (their homes). Say: "Swear ye not; Obedience is (more) reasonable; verily, Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    They swear by Allah their most solemn oaths that if you ˹O Prophet˺ were to command them, they would certainly march forth ˹in Allah’s cause˺. Say, "˹You˺ do not ˹have to˺ swear; your obedience is well known!" Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”

  • Taqi Usmani

    And they (the hypocrites) swear by Allah on forceful oaths that if you (O prophet) order them, they will certainly leave (their homes for Jihād ). Say, "do not swear, (the reality of your) obedience is known. Indeed Allah is fully aware of what you do."

  • Abdul Haleem

    solemnly swear by God that if you commanded them, they would march out. Tell them, ‘Do not swear: it is reasonable obedience that is required, and God is aware of everything you do.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    They have sworn by God the most earnest oaths, if thou commandest them they will go forth. Say: 'Do not swear; honourable obedience is sufficient. Surely God is aware of the things you do.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    They swear by God with their most strenuous oath that hadst Thou ordered them they would surely go forth. Say, 'Do not swear - reasonable obedience; verily, God knows what ye do.'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    He who obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, such indeed are the victorious.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And they have sworn by Allah their most earnest oaths (that) indeed in case you command them, indeed they will definitely go out. Say, "Do not swear (i.e. He recognizes your failure to obey). Beneficent obedience (is better). Surely Allah is Ever-Cognizant of whatever you do."

  • George Sale

    They swear by God, with a most solemn oath, that if thou commandest them, they will go forth from their houses and possessions. Say, swear not to a falsehood: Obedience is more requisite: And God is well acquainted with that which ye do.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    They gave their strongest oath by Allah that, if you were to only order them, they would (even) leave (their homes). Say: "You do not (just) swear; Obeying is (more) reasonable to hold your oath; Surely, Allah is quite familiar with all that you do."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    They (- the hypocrites) swear to Allâh by their most earnest oaths that if you only command them (for defensive fight) they will certainly march forth (from their homes). Say, `Do not swear, only reasonable obedience in what is right and lawful (is all that is required from you).' Surely, Allâh is Aware of what you do.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    They swear by Allah with solemn oaths that if you order them they will surely go forth. Say, ‘Do not swear! Honourable obedience . Allah is indeed well aware of what you do.’