Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Said he: “O son of my mother: seize thou me not by my beard, nor by my head! I feared lest thou say: ‘Thou hast caused division among the children of Israel, and hast not observed my word.’”

قَالَ يَبْنَؤُ۬مَّ لَا تَأْخُذْ بِلِحْيَت۪ي وَلَا بِرَأْس۪يۚ اِنّ۪ي خَش۪يتُ اَنْ تَقُولَ فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ بَن۪ٓي اِسْرَٓائ۪لَ وَلَمْ تَرْقُبْ قَوْل۪ي
Qala yabnaomma la ta/khuthbilihyatee wala bira/see innee khasheetu an taqoolafarraqta bayna banee isra-eela walam tarqub qawlee
#wordmeaningroot
1qālaHe saidقول
2yabna-ummaO son of my motherبني
3(Do) not
4takhudhseize (me)اخذ
5biliḥ'yatīby my beardلحي
6walāand not
7birasīby my headراس
8innīIndeed, I
9khashītu[I] fearedخشي
10anthat
11taqūlayou would sayقول
12farraqtaYou caused divisionفرق
13baynabetweenبين
14banī(the) Children of Israelبني
15is'rāīla(the) Children of Israel
16walamand not
17tarqubyou respectرقب
18qawlīmy wordقول
  • Aisha Bewley

    He said, ‘Son of my mother! Do not seize me by the beard or by the hair. I was afraid that you would say, "You have caused division in the tribe of Israel and taken no notice to anything I said."’

  • Progressive Muslims

    He said: "O son of my mother, do not grab me by my beard nor by my head. I feared that you would say that I separated between the Children of Israel, and that I did not follow your orders."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Aaron said, "O Son of my mother! Don't get mad at me, nor treat me harshly. I feared that you would say, "You have let the Children of Israel divide into parties and sects." (Moses accepted this explanation since sectarianism is no less a crime than idol worship in any form. Seizing the beard and head pertains to harsh interrogation (7:150)).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Said he: “O son of my mother: seize thou me not by my beard, nor by my head! I feared lest thou say: ‘Thou hast caused division among the children of Israel, and hast not observed my word.’”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He said: "O son of my mother, do not grab me by my beard nor by my head. I was concerned that you would say that I separated between the Children of Israel, and that I did not follow your orders."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He said, "O son of my mother, do not grab me by my beard nor by my head. I feared that you would say that I separated between the Children of Israel, and that I did not follow your orders."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    He said, "O son of my mother; do not pull me by my beard and my head. I was afraid that you might say, 'You have divided the Children of Israel, and disobeyed my orders.' "

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    "O son of my mother, " (Aaron cried), do not pull me by my beard or my hair! I was really afraid you may say that I had created a rift among the children of Israel, and did not pay heed to your command. "

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

    said, "O son of my mother, do not seize by my beard or by my head. Indeed, I feared that you would say, 'You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe my word.' "

  • Muhammad Asad

    Answered : "O my mother's son! Seize me not by my beard, nor by my head! Behold, I was afraid lest thou say, 'Thou hast caused a split among the children of Israel, and hast paid no heed to my bidding!"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He said: O son of my mother! Clutch not my beard nor my head! I feared lest thou shouldst say: Thou hast caused division among the Children of Israel, and hast not waited for my word.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Aaron answered: "Son of my mother! Do not seize me with my beard, nor by (the hair of) my head. I feared that on returning you might say: 'You sowed discord among the Children of Israel, and did not pay heed to my words.'"

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "O son of my mother", Harun said, "do not drag me by the beard nor by the head. I was afraid you would say I have set the children of Israel at variance and did not listen to your instructions".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Aaron replied: "Brother, please do not pull my beard and my hair. I was simply afraid that you accuse me of causing a division among the children of Israel as you had strictly ordered me against."

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    He said: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: ‘You have caused a division among the Children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!’ "

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    (Aaron) replied: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard nor by (the hair of) my head! Truly I feared lest thou shouldst say, 'Thou has caused a division among the children of Israel, and thou didst not respect my word!'"

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Aaron pleaded, "O son of my mother! Do not seize me by my beard or ˹the hair of˺ my head. I really feared that you would say, ‘You have caused division among the Children of Israel, and did not observe my word.’"

  • Taqi Usmani

    He said, "O son of my mother, do not hold me by my beard, nor by my head. I feared that you would say, ‘You have caused discord among the children of Isrā’īl and did not observe my advice.’"

  • Abdul Haleem

    He said, ‘Son of my mother- let go of my beard and my hair!- I was afraid you would say, "You have caused division among the children of Israel and have not heeded what I said."’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    'Son of my mother, ' Aaron said, 'take me not by the beard, or the head! I was fearful that thou wouldst say, "Thou hast divided the Children of Israel, and thou hast not observed my word. "

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Said he, 'O son of my mother! seize me not by my beard, or my head! Verily, I feared lest thou shouldst say, "Thou hast made a division amongst the children of Israel, and hast not observed my word. "'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    From following me? Have you then rebelled against my bidding?

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    He (Harûn) said, "O son of my mother, do not take hold of my beard or of my head! I was apprehensive that you would say, ‘You have caused disunity among the Seeds (Or: sons) of Israel) and you have not respected my saying. "

  • George Sale

    Aaron answered, O son of my mother, drag me not by my beard, nor by the hair of my head. Verily I feared lest thou shouldest say, thou hast made a division among the children of Israel, and thou hast not observed my saying.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    replied: "O son of my mother! Do not grab (me) by my beard, nor by (the hair of) my head! Truly, I feared that you may say; ‘You have caused a split in the Children of Israel, and you did not respect my word!’ "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Aaron) said, `O son of my mother! do not hold me by my beard nor (pull me) by my head. (If I was not strict to them it was because) I was afraid lest you should say, "You have caused a disruption among the Children of Israel and did not preserve my word".'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He said, ‘O son of my mother! Do not hold my beard or my head! I feared lest you should say, ‘‘You have caused a rift among the Children of Israel, and did not heed my word . ’’ ’