Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And when We decreed death for him, there indicated his death to them only a creature of the earth eating at his staff. But when he fell down, it became clear to the domini that had they but known the Unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating punishment.

فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلٰى مَوْتِه۪ٓ اِلَّا دَٓابَّةُ الْاَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنْسَاَتَهُۚ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ الْجِنُّ اَنْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ الْغَيْبَ مَا لَبِثُوا فِي الْعَذَابِ الْمُه۪ينِ
Falamma qadaynaAAalayhi almawta ma dallahum AAala mawtihi illadabbatu al-ardi ta/kulu minsaatahu falammakharra tabayyanati aljinnu an law kanoo yaAAlamoonaalghayba ma labithoo fee alAAathabi almuheen
#wordmeaningroot
1falammāThen when
2qaḍaynāWe decreedقضي
3ʿalayhifor him
4l-mawtathe deathموت
5not
6dallahumindicated to themدلل
7ʿalā[on]
8mawtihihis deathموت
9illāexcept
10dābbatua creatureدبب
11l-arḍi(of) the earthارض
12takulueatingاكل
13minsa-atahuhis staffنسا
14falammāBut when
15kharrahe fell downخرر
16tabayyanatibecame clearبين
17l-jinu(to) the jinnجنن
18anthat
19lawif
20kānūthey hadكون
21yaʿlamūnaknownعلم
22l-ghaybathe unseenغيب
23not
24labithūthey (would have) remainedلبث
25in
26l-ʿadhābithe punishmentعذب
27l-muhīnihumiliatingهون
  • Aisha Bewley

    Then when We decreed that he should die, nothing divulged his death to them except the worm which ate his staff; so that when he fell down it was made clear to the jinn that if they had truly had knowledge of the Unseen they need not have stayed there suffering humiliating punishment.

  • Progressive Muslims

    Then, when We decreed death for him, nothing informed them of his death until a worm kept eating from his staff, so when he fell down, the Jinn realised that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating retribution.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    When We decreed death for him (Solomon), nothing showed his death to the Wild Tribes until a creature of the earth ate away the strength he had mustered. When the power base fell, the Wild Tribes rebelled regretting that they should have done it sooner only if they knew the new unjust King. (The 'creature of the earth' was the highly incompetent son Rehoboam, and successor of Solomon 38:34. Historically, ten of the Israelite Tribes also broke away from the Kingdom at that point).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And when We decreed death for him, there indicated his death to them only a creature of the earth eating at his staff. But when he fell down, it became clear to the domini that had they but known the Unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating punishment.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Then, when We decreed death for him, nothing informed them of his death until a worm kept eating from his staff, so when he fell down, the Jinn realized that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating retribution.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Then, when We decreed death for him, nothing informed them of his death until a worm kept eating from his staff, so when he fell down, the Jinn realized that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating retribution.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    When the appointed time for his death came, they had no clue that he had died. Not until one of the animals tried to eat his staff, and he fell down, did the jinns realized that he was dead. They thus realized that if they really knew the unseen, they would have stopped working so hard as soon as he died.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    When We ordained (Solomon's) death, none but the weevil, that was eating away his staff (on which he rested), pointed out to them that he was dead. When he fell down (dead) the jinns realised that if they had knowledge of the Unknown they would never have suffered demeaning labour.

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

    And when We decreed for Solomon death, nothing indicated to the jinn his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Yet when We decreed that he should die, nothing showed them that he was dead except an earthworm that gnawed away his staff. And when he fell to the ground, those invisible beings saw clearly that, had they but understood the reality which was be­yond the reach of their perception, they would not have continued in the shameful suffering

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save a creeping creature of the earth which gnawed away his staff. And when he fell the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the Unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    When We executed Our decree of death on Solomon, nothing indicated to the jinn that he was dead except a worm eating away his staff. So when Solomon fell down, the jinn realised* that had they known what lies in the realm beyond perception, they would not have continued to be in this humiliating chastisement.*

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    And when We decreed Solayman's death, nothing drew the Jinn's attention to his death but a little earthly creature gnawing the base of his staff on which he leaned that he fell. There and then did the Jinn realize that had they known the hidden and the unknown and realized the unseen they would not have remained in the slavish disposition scourged with humility and torture.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Solomon died standing upright supported by his staff. It took a long time for a small worm to eat his staff and let him fall down. If the Jinns had any knowledge of unseen, they would not have continued to work as a slave for a dead master .

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Then when We decreed death for him , nothing informed them (jinn) of his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept (slowly) gnawing away at his stick. So when he fell down, the jinn saw clearly that if they had known the Unseen, they would not have stayed in the humiliating torment.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Then, when We decreed (Solomon's) death, nothing showed them his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept (slowly) gnawing away at his staff: so when he fell down, the Jinns saw plainly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating Penalty (of their Task).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    When We decreed Solomon’s death, nothing indicated to the ˹subjected˺ jinn that he was dead except the termites eating away his staff. So when he collapsed, the jinn realized that if they had ˹really˺ known the unseen, they would not have remained in ˹such˺ humiliating servitude.

  • Taqi Usmani

    So, when We decided (that) death (should come) upon him, nothing gave them any indication of his death, except a creature of the earth that had eaten up his sceptre. So, when he fell down, the Jinns came to know that if they had the knowledge of the Unseen, they would not have stayed (so long) in the humiliating punishment.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Then, when We decreed Solomon’s death, nothing showed the jinn he was dead, but a creature of the earth eating at his stick: when he fell down they realized- if they had known what was hidden they would not have continued their demeaning labour.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    And when We decreed that he should die, naught indicated to them that he was dead but the Beast of the Earth devouring his staff; and when he fell down, the jinn saw clearly that, had they only known the Unseen, they would not have continued in the humbling chastisement.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And when we decreed for him death, naught guided them to his death save a reptile of the earth that ate his staff; and when he fell down it was made manifest to the ginns that, had they but known the unseen, they need not have tarried in the shameful torment.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    They made for him what he pleased of temples and images, and bowls (large) as watering-troughs and cooking-pots that will not move from their place; give thanks, O family of David! Few of My servants are grateful!

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    So, as soon as We decreed death for him, in no way did anything indicate to them his death except the beast of the earth eating his rod. Then, as soon as he collapsed, the jinn evidently (saw) that; if they had known the Unseen, in no way would they have lingered in the degrading torment.

  • George Sale

    And when We had decreed that Solomon should die, nothing discovered his death unto them, except the creeping thing of the earth, which gnawed his staff. And when his body fell down, the genii plainly perceived that if they had known that which is secret, they had not continued in a vile punishment.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Then when We ordered the death (for Sulaiman) nothing showed them (the jinns') his death except a little worm from the earth, which (slowly) kept biting away at his stick (staff): So when he (Sulaiman) fell down, the jinns' clearly saw that, if they had known the unseen, they would not have been in the humiliating penalty (of their work for him).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And when We ordained death for him (- Solomon) the people only came to know of his death through a (worthless) creature of earth (- Solomon's son) that was eating away his (father's) staff (- ruling power and glory). So when it fell down the jinn realized then plainly that had they known the secret (of the hollowness of the kingdom) they would have never remained in (a state of) humiliating torment.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    And when We decreed death for him, nothing apprised them of his death except a worm which gnawed away at his staff. And when he fell down the jinn realized that had they known the Unseen, they would not have remained in a humiliating torment.