Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And not equal are the good and the evil. Repel thou with that which is better, and then is he between whom and thee is enmity like a loyal friend;

وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُۜ اِدْفَعْ بِالَّت۪ي هِيَ اَحْسَنُ فَاِذَا الَّذ۪ي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَاَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَم۪يمٌ
Wala tastawee alhasanatu walaassayyi-atu idfaAA billatee hiya ahsanufa-itha allathee baynaka wabaynahu AAadawatunkaannahu waliyyun hameem
#wordmeaningroot
1walāAnd not
2tastawī(are) equalسوي
3l-ḥasanatuthe good (deed)حسن
4walāand
5l-sayi-atuthe evil (deed)سوا
6id'faʿRepelدفع
7bi-allatīby (that) which
8hiya[it]
9aḥsanu(is) betterحسن
10fa-idhāthen behold
11alladhīOne who
12baynakabetween youبين
13wabaynahuand between himبين
14ʿadāwatun(was) enmityعدو
15ka-annahu(will become) as if he
16waliyyun(was) a friendولي
17ḥamīmunintimateحمم
  • Aisha Bewley

    A good action and a bad action are not the same. Repel the bad with something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Not equal are the good and the bad response. You shall resort to the one which is better. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Since good conduct and bad conduct cannot be alike, repel evil words and deeds in a way that is decent. And, behold, he, between whom and you there was enmity, may become as though he was your bosom friend!

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And not equal are the good and the evil. Repel thou with that which is better, and then is he between whom and thee is enmity like a loyal friend;

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Not equal are the good and the bad response. You shall resort to the one which is better. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Not equal are the good and the bad response. You shall resort to the one which is better. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy may become your best friend.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with what is good. Then you will find your erstwhile enemy like a close. affectionate friend.

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

    And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel by that which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity as though he was a devoted friend.

  • Muhammad Asad

    But good and evil cannot be equal, repel thou with something that is better and lo! he between whom and thyself was enmity as though he had been close , a true friend!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    (O Prophet), good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with that which is good, and you will see that he, between whom and you there was enmity, shall become as if he were a bosom friend (of yours).

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Nor does a deed crowned with equity and good will compare with a deed tinted with evil and ill - will. Therefore repel what affects you with distaste and aversion by what is morally and spiritually sublime, and there you will find that he who harbours to you enmity and ill - will has come to be as though he were a friend actuated with the feeling of sincerity.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    (Mohammad), know that goodness and evil are not equal. Therefore resort to the nicest response . It is only then that your worse enemy may turn to be your best friend one day.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allâh orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Good and evil cannot be equal. Respond ˹to evil˺ with what is best, then the one you are in a feud with will be like a close friend.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with what is best, and you will see that the one you had mutual enmity with him will turn as if he were a close friend.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Good and evil cannot be equal. , repel evil with what is better and your enemy will become as close as an old and valued friend,

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Not equal are the good deed and the evil deed. Repel with that which is fairer and behold, he between whom and thee there is enmity shall be as if he were a loyal friend.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Good and evil shall not be deemed alike; repel (evil) with what is best, and lo! He between whom and thyself was enmity is as though he were a warm patron.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel evil with what is best, when lo! He between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were an intimate friend.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And not equal are the fair deed and the odious deed. Repel with that which is fairest; then, only then, he between whom and you there is enmity will be as if he were an intimate constant patron.

  • George Sale

    Good and evil shall not be held equal. Turn away evil with that which is better; and behold, the man between whom and thyself there was enmity, shall become, as it were, thy warmest friend:

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And good deeds and evil deeds cannot be equal. (So) give up (evil) with what is better: Then verily, he (the one) between whom and you, was hatred, will become like your friend and close companion (to you as a Muslim brother)!

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And good and evil are not alike. Repel (evil) with that (benign and graceful way) which is best, and lo, the person between whom and you there is enmity will behave as if he were your warm-hearted friend.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Good and evil are not equal. Repel with what is best. behold, he between whom and you was enmity, will be as though he were a sympathetic friend.