Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the final outcome of those before them? They were more numerous than they, and stronger in power and impact in the earth; but there availed them not what they earned.

اَفَلَمْ يَس۪يرُوا فِي الْاَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذ۪ينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْۜ كَانُٓوا اَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَاَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَاٰثَاراً فِي الْاَرْضِ فَمَٓا اَغْنٰى عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
Afalam yaseeroo fee al-ardi fayanthurookayfa kana AAaqibatu allatheena min qablihimkanoo akthara minhum waashadda quwwatan waatharanfee al-ardi fama aghna AAanhum ma kanooyaksiboon
#wordmeaningroot
1afalamDo they not
2yasīrūtravelسير
3through
4l-arḍithe landارض
5fayanẓurūand seeنظر
6kayfahowكيف
7kānawasكون
8ʿāqibatu(the) endعقب
9alladhīna(of) those who
10min(were) before them
11qablihim(were) before themقبل
12kānūThey wereكون
13aktharamore numerousكثر
14min'humthan them
15wa-ashaddaand mightierشدد
16quwwatan(in) strengthقوي
17waāthāranand impressionsاثر
18in
19l-arḍithe landارض
20famābut not
21aghnāavailedغني
22ʿanhumthem
23what
24kānūthey used toكون
25yaksibūnaearnكسب
  • Aisha Bewley

    Have they not travelled in the land and seen the final fate of those before them? They were more numerous than them and greater in strength and left more and deeper traces on earth, but what they earned was of no use to them.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Have they not roamed the Earth and noted the consequences for those who were before them They used to be greater in number than them and mightier in strength, and they had built more in the land. Yet, all that they had earned could not avail them.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Have they not, then, journeyed about the earth and seen what happened in the end to those who lived before them? They were more numerous than these, and greater in power than these are, and stronger in the impact they left upon earth. But all that they ever achieved availed them not, and it failed to make them truly rich.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the final outcome of those before them? They were more numerous than they, and stronger in power and impact in the earth; but there availed them not what they earned.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who were before them? They used to be greater in number than them and mightier in strength, and they had built more in the land. Yet, all that they had earned could not avail them.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who were before them? They used to be greater in number than they are and mightier in strength, and they had built more in the land. Yet, all that they had earned could not avail them.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who preceded them? They used to be greater in number, greater in power, and possessed a greater legacy on earth. Yet, all their achievements did not help them in the least.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Have they not travelled in the land and seen how was the end of those before them who were far more numerous than they and more strong, and have left behind them traces on the earth. And yet nothing of what they did profited them.

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

    Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.

  • Muhammad Asad

    HAVE THEY, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those who lived before their time? More numerous were they, and greater in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but all that they ever achieved was of no avail to them –

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those before them? They were more numerous than these, and mightier in power and (in the) traces (which they left behind them) in the earth. But all that they used to earn availed them not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Did* they not journey in the land that they may behold the end of those who had gone before them? They were more numerous and greater in strength and left behind more splendid traces in the land. Yet their attainments did not avail them.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Have they not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds' eyes to see the fatal consequence of those who preceded them, who were mightier by force of numbers and far mightier in power and their diligence never wearied! They left more material indicating prosecution with activity and perseverance. Yet all the advantages they availed themselves of did not afford them help nor did they serve their purpose!

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Have they not ever traveled to see the ruins of the other civilizations? The latter were more populated, mightier and left more traces behind. Yet all their materialistic achievements did not protect them

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Have they not travelled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more in number than them and mightier in strength, and in the traces (they have left behind them) in the land; yet all that they used to earn availed them not.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were more numerous than these and superior in strength and in the traces (they have left) in the land: Yet all that they accomplished was of no profit to them.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those who were ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in number and might and ˹richer in˺ monuments throughout the land, but their ˹worldly˺ gains were of no benefit to them.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Have they not traveled through the earth and seen how was the fate of those before them? Most of them were more in numbers than these, and superior in vigor and vestiges left on the earth. So then, whatever they used to earn did not work for them at all.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Have they not travelled through the land and seen how those who lived before them met their end? They were more numerous than them, stronger than them, and made a more impressive mark on the land, yet what they achieved was of no use to them at all.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    What, have they not journeyed in the land and beheld how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than themselves in might and left firmer traces in the earth; yet that they earned did not avail them.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Have they not journeyed on in the land and seen how was the end of those before them, who were more numerous than they and stronger in might, and in their vestiges which are still in the land? but of no avail to them was that which they had earned.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than these and greater in strength and in the traces they made in the earth, but what they earned availed them not.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Have they then not traveled in the earth so they (could) look into how was the end of the ones before them? They were more numerous than themselves, and more valiant in power, and (left) more tracks in the earth; yet in no way did whatever they used to earn avail them.

  • George Sale

    Do they not pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who were before them? They were more numerous than these, and more mighty in strength, and left more considerable monuments of their power in the earth: Yet that which they had acquired, profited them not.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the end of those before them? They were more in number than them and (even) stronger in might and in the traces (they have left behind) in the land: Yet all that they did was of no use to them.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Have they never travelled in the land so that they could see how (miserable) the end of their predecessors was? They were superior to them in numbers, mightier in force and stronger in respect of the (firm) marks, (fortification and monumental buildings) in the land; yet all their acquisitions were of no avail to them.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Have they not travelled over the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? They were more numerous than them and were greater in power and with respect to the effects in the land. But what they used to earn did not avail them.