God has struck a similitude: — a man concerning whom are partners quarrelling, and a man in submission to one man. Are they equal in likeness? Praise belongs to God! The truth is, most of them know not.
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ḍaraba | Allah sets forth | ضرب |
| 2 | l-lahu | Allah sets forth | |
| 3 | mathalan | an example | مثل |
| 4 | rajulan | a man | رجل |
| 5 | fīhi | about him | |
| 6 | shurakāu | partners | شرك |
| 7 | mutashākisūna | quarreling | شكس |
| 8 | warajulan | and a man | رجل |
| 9 | salaman | (belonging) exclusively | سلم |
| 10 | lirajulin | to one man | رجل |
| 11 | hal | are | |
| 12 | yastawiyāni | they both equal | سوي |
| 13 | mathalan | (in) comparison | مثل |
| 14 | l-ḥamdu | All praise | حمد |
| 15 | lillahi | (be) to Allah | |
| 16 | bal | Nay | |
| 17 | aktharuhum | most of them | كثر |
| 18 | lā | (do) not | |
| 19 | yaʿlamūna | know | علم |
Allah has made a metaphor for them of a man owned by several partners in dispute with one another and another man wholly owned by a single man. Are they the same? Praise be to Allah! The fact is that most of them do not know.
God cites the example of a man who has partners that dispute with each other, and a man who has given to dealing with only one man. Are they the same Praise be to God; most of them do not know.
Allah gives you another example: There is a man who deals with several disputing supervisors, compared to a man who deals with only one consistent supervisor. Are these two equal as regards their condition? All Praise is due to Allah (the One Master of all mankind!) Nay, but most of them know not (the Bliss of strict Monotheism (12:39)).
God has struck a similitude: — a man concerning whom are partners quarrelling, and a man in submission to one man. Are they equal in likeness? Praise belongs to God! The truth is, most of them know not.
God puts forth the example of a man who has partners that dispute with each other, and a man who has given to dealing with only one man. Are they the same? Praise be to God; most of them do not know.
God cites the example of a man who has partners that dispute with each other, and a man who has given to dealing with only one man. Are they the same? Praise be to God; most of them do not know.
GOD cites the example of a man who deals with disputing partners (Hadith), compared to a man who deals with only one consistent source (Quran). Are they the same? Praise be to GOD; most of them do not know.
God advances the example of a man who is owned (as slave in common) by a number of men at loggerheads, and another man who is owned by only one. Are these two alike in attribute? God be praised; yet many of them do not know.
Allah presents an example: a slave owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah ! But most of them do not know.
God sets forth a parable: A man who has for his masters several partners, at variance with one another, and a man depending wholly on one person: can these two be deemed equal as regards their condition? all praise is due to God : but most of them do not understand this.
Allah coineth a similitude: A man in relation to whom are several part-owners, quarrelling, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in similitude? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.
Allah propounds a parable: there is a man whose ownership is shared by several quarrelsome masters, each pulling him to himself; and there is another who is exclusively owned by one man. Can the two be alike? All praise and thanks be to Allah. But most of them are unaware.
Allah cites an instance of a man -a slave- who serves many masters who are quarrelsome and unable to find the concord for their perpetual discord, consequently, he is perplexed and at a loss. And another slave who serves only one master and by consequence he has peace of mind and he knows what pleases and what displeases his master and proceeds accordingly. Do they compare! yet most people do not realize this fact.
God hereby cites the following example: "Is the one who is pulled by contradictory orders in peace or the one who receives only consistent order from one source?" . Praise be to God. What a pity that most of them do not get it.
Allâh puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners (like those who worship others along with Allâh) disputing with one another, and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master (like those who worship Allâh Alone). Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks be to Allâh! But most of them know not.
Allah puts forth a Parable a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! but most of them have no knowledge.
Allah sets forth the parable of a slave owned by several quarrelsome masters, and a slave owned by only one master. Are they equal in condition? Praise be to Allah! In fact, most of them do not know.
Allah has given an example: There is a man (enslaved and) owned by some partners having rivalry with each other, and (on the other hand,) there is a man solely owned by a single man. Can they be equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! (The truth stands established). But, most of them do not know.
God puts forward this illustration: can a man who has for his masters several partners at odds with each other be considered equal to a man devoted wholly to one master? All praise belongs to God, though most of them do not know.
God has struck a similitude -- a man in whom partners disagreeing share, and a man the property of one man. Are the two equal in likeness? Praise belongs to God! Nay, but most of them do not know.
God has struck out a parable, a man who has partners who oppose each other and a man who is wholly given up to another; shall they be deemed equal in similitude? praise be to God! nay, but most of them know not!
Allah sets forth a similitude: There is a slave who belongs to several partners, differing (or quarrelling) with one another, and there is another slave wholly owned by one man. Are the two alike in condition? (All) praise is due to Allah. Nay! most of them do not know.
Allah has struck a smilitude: a man in whom associates are at variance with each other, and a man wholly submissive to (one) man. Are the two equal (in likeness)? Praise be to Allah; no indeed, (but) most of them do not know.
God propoundeth as a parable a man who hath several companions which are at mutual variance, and a man who committeth himself wholly to one person: Shall these be held in equal comparison? God forbid! But the greater part of them do not understand.
Allah puts forth a parable (the story with meaning and guidance in it)— A slave belonging to many different partners, (false gods) disputing with one another and a slave belonging only to one master: Are those two equal in comparison? All the Praises (and thanks) be to Allah! But most of them do not know.
Allâh describes the condition of a man belonging to several partners contending with one another; and (there is) another man devoted wholly to one person. Are the two alike in condition? (No how can they be?) All true and perfect praise belongs to Allâh. But most of them do not know (this truth).
Allah draws an example: a man jointly owned by several contending masters, and a man belonging entirely to one man: are the two equal in comparison? All praise belongs to Allah! But most of them do not know.