Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And mocked were messengers before thee; and I granted those who ignored warning respite; then I seized them — and how was My retribution!

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَاَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ اَخَذْتُهُمْ۠ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
Walaqadi istuhzi-a birusulin min qablikafaamlaytu lillatheena kafaroo thumma akhathtuhumfakayfa kana AAiqab
#wordmeaningroot
1walaqadiAnd certainly
2us'tuh'zi-awere mockedهزا
3birusulinMessengersرسل
4minfrom
5qablikabefore youقبل
6fa-amlaytubut I granted respiteملو
7lilladhīnato those who
8kafarūdisbelievedكفر
9thummathen
10akhadhtuhumI seized themاخذ
11fakayfaand howكيف
12kānawasكون
13ʿiqābiMy penaltyعقب
  • Aisha Bewley

    Messengers before you were mocked. I gave those who were kafir a little more time and then I seized them. How terrible was My retribution!

  • Progressive Muslims

    And messengers before you were ridiculed, but I gave time to those who rejected, then I took them. Then how was My punishment

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    And verily, Messengers were mocked before you, but I gave the rejecters plenty of Respite. At length I seized them, and how awesome was My Requital!

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And mocked were messengers before thee; and I granted those who ignored warning respite; then I seized them — and how was My retribution!

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Andmessengers before you were mocked, but I gave time to those who had rejected, then I took them; so how was My punishment?

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Messengers before you were ridiculed, but I gave time to those who rejected, then I took them. Then how was My punishment?

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Messengers before you have been ridiculed; I permitted the disbelievers to carry on, then I punished them. How terrible was My retribution!

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Many an apostle have they mocked before you; but I allowed the unbelievers respite, then I seized them. How severe was My punishment then!

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

    And already were messengers ridiculed before you, and I extended the time of those who disbelieved; then I seized them, and how was My penalty.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And, indeed, before thy time have apostles been derided, and for a while I gave rein to those who were bent on denying the truth: but then I took them to task - and how awesome was My retribution!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And verily messengers (of Allah) were mocked before thee, but long I bore with those who disbelieved. At length I seized them, and how (awful) was My punishment!

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Surely the Messengers before you were ridiculed, but I always initially granted respite to those who disbelieved, and then I seized them (with chastisement). Then, how awesome was My chastisement!

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Messengers sent before you O Muhammad were also bombarded with foul epithets. The infidels mocked them and gave them a lick with the rough side of their tongues, and called them everything they could lay their tongues to. But despite their wickedness, I put their punishment in respite, then I cast them down from a position of prosperity and power and brought them to ruin, and how unbearable was the retribution.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    The prophets before you also were subject to the disbelievers’ mockery. I put up with them for a while and then subjected them to my punishment; how awful was my punishment.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And indeed (many) Messengers were mocked at before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم), but I granted respite to those who disbelieved, and finally I punished them. Then how (terrible) was My punishment!

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Mocked were (many) messengers before thee: but I granted respite to the unbelievers, and finally I punished them: Then how (terrible) was my requital!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Other messengers had already been ridiculed before you, but I delayed the disbelievers ˹for a while˺ then seized them. And how ˹horrible˺ was My punishment!

  • Taqi Usmani

    Messengers have been mocked at before you, so I let the disbelievers go on for a while. Then I seized them. So, how was My punishment?

  • Abdul Haleem

    Many messengers before you were mocked, but I granted respite to the disbelievers: in the end, I took them to task- how terrible My punishment was!

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Messengers indeed were scoffed at before thee, and I respited the unbelievers; then I seized them -- and how was my retribution?

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Before thee have apostles been mocked at; and those who misbelieved have I allowed to range at large; and then it caught them up! How then was my punishment?

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And if there were a Quran by which the mountains were moved, or by which the earth was torn asunder, or the dead made to speak (this would be the one, but what would be the point) - Nay, Allah's is the whole command! Did not those who believe know that if Allah had pleased He would have guided all mankind? As for those who disbelieve calamity (disaster) does not cease to overtake them for what they do, or it dwells close by their homes until Allah's promise comes to pass. Verily, Allah fails not in His promise.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And Messengers indeed were readily mocked at even before you; so I reprieved the ones who disbelieved; thereafter I took them (away). So how was My punishment!

  • George Sale

    Apostles before thee have been laughed to scorn; and I permitted the infidels to enjoy a long and happy life: But afterwards I punished them; and how severe was the punishment which I inflicted on them!

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And indeed (many) messengers (of Allah) were mocked before you: But I (Allah) gave (a short) relief to the disbelievers, and finally I (Allah) punished them: Them how (terrible) was My (Allah’s) punishment!

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And surely Messengers before you were treated scornfully. But (at first) I granted respite to those who disbelieved, after that I took them to task; and (behold) how (exemplary) was then My punishment.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Apostles were certainly derided before you. But then I gave respite to those who were faithless, then I seized them; so how was My retribution?