Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

It is not for God to take a son. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a matter, He but says to it: “Be thou,” and it is.

مَا كَانَ لِلّٰهِ اَنْ يَتَّخِذَ مِنْ وَلَدٍۙ سُبْحَانَهُۜ اِذَا قَضٰٓى اَمْراً فَاِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُۜ
Ma kana lillahi anyattakhitha min waladin subhanahu itha qadaamran fa-innama yaqoolu lahu kun fayakoon
#wordmeaningroot
1Not
2kāna(it) isكون
3lillahifor Allah
4anthat
5yattakhidhaHe should takeاخذ
6minany son
7waladinany sonولد
8sub'ḥānahuGlory be to Himسبح
9idhāWhen
10qaḍāHe decreesقضي
11amrana matterامر
12fa-innamāthen only
13yaqūluHe saysقول
14lahuto it
15kunBeكون
16fayakūnuand it isكون
  • Aisha Bewley

    It is not fitting for Allah to have a son. Glory be to Him! When He decides on something, He just says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.

  • Progressive Muslims

    God was never to take a son, be He glorified. If He decrees a matter, then He simply says to it: "Be," and it is.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    It does not befit God that He begets a son. He is Glorious, High above (what they say). When He decrees a thing, it starts happening.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    It is not for God to take a son. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a matter, He but says to it: “Be thou,” and it is.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    God was never to take a son, be He glorified. If He decrees a matter, then He simply says to it: 'Be,' and it is.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    God was never to take a son, be He glorified. If He decrees a matter, then He simply says to it: "Be," and it is.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    It does not befit GOD that He begets a son, be He glorified. To have anything done, He simply says to it, "Be," and it is.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    It does not behove God to have a son. Too immaculate is He! When He decrees a thing He has only to say: "Be", and it is.

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

    It is not for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

  • Muhammad Asad

    It is not conceivable that God should have taken unto Himself a son: limitless is He in His glory! When He wills a thing to be, He but says unto it "Be" -and it is!

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    It does not befit Allah to take for Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a thing He only says: "Be" and it is.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    It is never becoming that Allah should adopt or beget a son. Praise be to Him and extolled are His glorious attributes. When He determines no matter what, He only says "Be" and it is.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    It is beneath the dignity of God to have a son. The Glorious One is so Powerful that it suffice for Him to say "Be" and, whatever He has willed, will be created.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    It befits not (the Majesty of) Allâh that He should beget a son . Glorified (and Exalted) be He (above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing, He only says to it: "Be!" - and it is.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    It is not for Allah to take a son! Glory be to Him. When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, "Be!" And it is!

  • Taqi Usmani

    It is not for Allah to have a son. Pure is He. When He decides a thing, He simply says to it, "Be" and it comes to be.

  • Abdul Haleem

    it would not befit God to have a child. He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it is.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    It is not for God to take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a thing, He but says to it 'Be,' and it is.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    God could not take to himself any son! celebrated be His praise! when He decrees a matter He only says to it, 'BE,' and it is;

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Such was Jesus, the son of Mary. This is the statement of truth concerning which they doubt (or dispute).

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    In no way is it for Allah to take to Him a child. All Extolment be to Him! When He decrees a Command, then He only says to it, "Be!" and it is.

  • George Sale

    It is not meet for God, that He should have any son: God forbid! When He decreeth a thing, He only saith unto it, be; and it is.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    It is not suited for (Almighty) Allah that He should father a son. Glory to Him (Allah)! When He determines anything, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    It does not behove (the Majesty of) Allâh to take to Himself a son. Holy is He. When He decrees a matter He only commands it `Be' and it comes to be.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    It is not for Allah to take a son. Immaculate is He! When He decides on a matter, He just says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.