Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“What — one brought up among ornaments and in conflict not seen!”)

اَوَمَنْ يُنَشَّؤُ۬ا فِي الْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِي الْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُب۪ينٍ
Awaman yunashshao fee alhilyatiwahuwa fee alkhisami ghayru mubeen
#wordmeaningroot
1awamanThen (is one) who
2yunasha-uis brought upنشا
3in
4l-ḥil'yatiornamentsحلي
5wahuwaand he
6in
7l-khiṣāmithe disputeخصم
8ghayru(is) notغير
9mubīninclearبين
  • Aisha Bewley

    ‘What! Someone brought up among pretty trinkets who cannot produce a cogent argument!’

  • Progressive Muslims

    "What good is an offspring that is brought up to be beautiful, and cannot help in a fight"

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    (He says), "What! That which has to be raised in ornaments?" And then he finds himself in an inner conflict (whether to let the daughter live or bury her in the dust! (16:58-59. )

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “What — one brought up among ornaments and in conflict not seen!”)

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "What good is an offspring that is brought up to be beautiful, and cannot help in a fight?"

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "What good is an offspring that is brought up to be beautiful, and cannot help in a fight?"

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    (They say,) "What is good about an offspring that is brought up to be beautiful, and cannot help in war?"

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Can one who has been raised on ornaments and cannot present her case coolly in a dispute (be associated with God?)

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

    So is one brought up in ornaments while being during conflict unevident ?

  • Muhammad Asad

    "What! one who is to be reared for the sake of ornament?" and thereupon he finds himself torn by a vague inner conflict.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    (Liken they then to Allah) that which is bred up in outward show, and in dispute cannot make itself plain?

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Do they assign to Allah one who grows up amidst ornaments and is not well-versed in the art of disputation?

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Is it befitting to ascribe to Allah a creature who is born and raised surrounded by ornaments and articles of personal decoration and fails to defend an argument!

  • Bijan Moeinian

    How dare they to assign a baby girl, wrapped up in ornaments and unable even to talk, as God’s daughter?

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    (Like they then for Allâh) a creature who is brought up in adornments (wearing silk and gold ornaments, i.e. women), and who in dispute cannot make herself clear?

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Is then one brought up among trinkets, and unable to give a clear account in a dispute (to be associated with Allah)?

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹Do they attribute to Him˺ those who are brought up in fineries and are not commanding in disputes?

  • Taqi Usmani

    Is it that (Allah has chosen) those (as His offspring) who are grown up in ornaments and who cannot express themselves in debate clearly?

  • Abdul Haleem

    ‘Someone who is brought up amongst trinkets, who cannot put together a clear argument?’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    What, one who is reared amid ornaments and, when the time of altercation comes, is not to be seen?

  • E. Henry Palmer

    What! one brought up amongst ornaments, and who is always in contention without obvious cause?

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    What! (Liken they Allah to) that which is bred among ornaments and which in disputes cannot make itself plain (or give an account of itself)!

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Is he who is brought up amid ornaments and in adversariness is without (demonstrable) evidence (to be associated with Allah)?

  • George Sale

    Do they therefore attribute unto God female issue, which are brought up among ornaments, and are contentious without cause?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Then, is one brought up in pettiness, and unable to give clear account in a dispute (to have the likeness to Allah)?

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Is he your god) who is brought up in the midst of ornaments and who is unable to make a clear expression (to an argument) and a plain speech in disputation (and discussions).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    ‘What! One who is brought up amid ornaments and is inconspicuous in contests?’