Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Is it they who distribute the mercy of thy Lord? We have distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world and raised some of them above others in degree, that some of them might take others in service; but the mercy of thy Lord is better than what they amass.

اَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَۜ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَع۪يشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً سُخْرِياًّۜ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
Ahum yaqsimoona rahmata rabbika nahnuqasamna baynahum maAAeeshatahum fee alhayatiaddunya warafaAAna baAAdahum fawqabaAAdin darajatin liyattakhitha baAAduhumbaAAdan sukhriyyan warahmatu rabbika khayrun mimmayajmaAAoon
#wordmeaningroot
1ahumDo they
2yaqsimūnadistributeقسم
3raḥmata(the) Mercyرحم
4rabbika(of) your Lordربب
5naḥnuWe
6qasamnā[We] distributeقسم
7baynahumamong themبين
8maʿīshatahumtheir livelihoodعيش
9in
10l-ḥayatithe lifeحيي
11l-dun'yā(of) the worldدنو
12warafaʿnāand We raiseرفع
13baʿḍahumsome of themبعض
14fawqaaboveفوق
15baʿḍinothersبعض
16darajātin(in) degreesدرج
17liyattakhidhaso that may takeاخذ
18baʿḍuhumsome of themبعض
19baʿḍanothersبعض
20sukh'riyyan(for) serviceسخر
21waraḥmatuBut (the) Mercyرحم
22rabbika(of) your Lordربب
23khayrun(is) betterخير
24mimmāthan what
25yajmaʿūnathey accumulateجمع
  • Aisha Bewley

    Is it, then, they who allocate the mercy of your Lord? We have allocated their livelihood among them in the life of the dunya and raised some of them above others in rank so that some of them are subservient to others. But the mercy of your Lord is better than anything they amass.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Is it they who assign your Lord's mercy We have assigned their shares in this worldly life, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that they would take one another in service. The mercy from your Lord is far better than that which they amass.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    But are they the ones who distribute your Lord's Grace (of Revelation)? Nay, it is We Who distribute among them even their material needs in the life of the world. And We grade them in work so that they might help one another (with different skills). And the Grace of your Lord (the revealed Guidance) is better than all the wealth they amass. (16:53), (16:71).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Is it they who distribute the mercy of thy Lord? We have distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world and raised some of them above others in degree, that some of them might take others in service; but the mercy of thy Lord is better than what they amass.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Is it they who assign the mercy of your Lord? We have assigned their share in this worldly life, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that they would take one another in service. The mercy from your Lord is far better than that which they amass.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Is it they who assign your Lord's mercy? We have assigned their shares in this worldly life, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that they would take one another in service. The mercy from your Lord is far better than what they amass.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Are they the ones who assign your Lord's mercy? We have assigned their shares in this life, raising some of them above others in ranks, in order to let them serve one another. The mercy from your Lord is far better than any material they may hoard.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Are they the ones who dispense the favour of your Lord? It is He who apportions the means of livelihood among them in this world, and raises some in position over the others to make some others submissive. The favours of your Lord are better than what they amass.

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

    Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.

  • Muhammad Asad

    But is it they who distribute thy Sustainer’s grace? it is We who distribute their means of livelihood among them in the life of this world, and raise some of them by degrees above others, to the end that they might avail themselves of one another’s help - : and this thy Sustainer’s grace is better than all that they may amass.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Is it they who apportion thy Lord's mercy? We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of the world, and raised some of them above others in rank that some of them may take labour from others; and the mercy of thy Lord is better than (the wealth) that they amass.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Is it they who distribute the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who have distributed their livelihood among them in the life of this world, and have raised some above others in rank that some of them may harness others to their service. Your Lord's Mercy is better than all the treasures that they hoard.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Do they distribute or apportion the grace of Allah your Creator and His mercy to whom they please! It is We Who have apportioned their livelihood among them here and allotted their sharas authoritatively that they have no choice. We promoted and exalted in rank, honour, estimation, development, power and wealth, some above others and arranged them in grades so that they render obedience and service to one another and minister to the comfort of each other. But to be a recipient of the mercy and efficacious grace of Allah. your Creator, outweighs all that you may accumulate or treasure up in life.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Since when do they decide whom shall God assign as His Prophet? Do they not know that it is God Who has distributed among them whatever they own, giving some superiority in rank so that they themselves help each other? Know that your Lord’s mercy (prophet hood) worth much more than the wealth of your leaders

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) is better than the (wealth of this world) which they amass.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Is it they who distribute your Lord’s mercy? We ˹alone˺ have distributed their ˹very˺ livelihood among them in this worldly life and raised some of them in rank above others so that some may employ others in service. ˹But˺ your Lord’s mercy is far better than whatever ˹wealth˺ they amass.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Is it they who allocate the mercy of your Lord? We have allocated among them their livelihood in the worldly life, and have raised some of them over others in ranks, so that some of them may put some others to work. And the mercy of your Lord is much better than what they accumulate.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Are they the ones who share out your Lord’s grace? We are the ones who give them their share of livelihood in this world and We have raised some of them above others in rank, so that some may take others into service: your Lord’s grace is better than anything they accumulate.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    What, is it they who divide the mercy of the Lord? We have divided between them their livelihood in the present life, and raised some of them above others in rank, that some of them may take others in servitude; and the mercy of thy Lord is better than that they amass.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Is it they who distribute the mercy of thy Lord? We distribute amongst them their livelihood in the life of this world, and we exalt some of them above others in degrees, that some may take others into subjection; but the mercy of thy Lord is better than that which they amass.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Will they distribute (portion out, administer) the mercy of your Lord? We distribute among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have exalted some of them above others in degrees, that some of them may take others in subjection (or take labour from others or command and direct others); and the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Is it they who divide the mercy of your Lord? We have divided among them their subsistence in the present life (Literally: the lowly life, i. e., the life of this world) and raised some of them above (some) others in degrees, that some of them may take to themselves (some) others in subjection; and the mercy of your Lord is more charitable (i.e., better) than whatever they heap (Literally: gather) together.

  • George Sale

    Do they distribute the mercy of thy Lord? We distribute their nesessary provision among them, in this present life, and We raise some of them several degrees above the others, that the one of them may take the other to serve him: And the mercy of thy Lord is more valuable than the riches which they gather together.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Is it they who would give out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We (reference to Allah) Who distribute their living between them. And in the life of this world, We (reference to Allah) raise some of them above others in position, so that some may ask (and order) others to work. But the Mercy of your Lord is better than the (wealth) that they gather

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    What! is it they who distribute the grace of your Lord? Nay, but it is We Who distribute among them their livelihood pertaining to the present life. We exalt them (in rank) one over another so that some of them may take others in service. And the grace of your Lord is much better than what they amass (of the worldly provisions).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Is it they who dispense the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have dispensed among them their livelihood in the present life, and raised some of them above others in rank, so that some may take others into service, and your Lord’s mercy is better than what they amass.