Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Said he: “I saw what they saw not; so I took a handful from the track of the Messenger, and did throw it; and thus my soul enticed me.”

قَالَ بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ يَبْصُرُوا بِه۪ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةً مِنْ اَثَرِ الرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا وَكَذٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتْ ل۪ي نَفْس۪ي
Qala basurtu bima lamyabsuroo bihi faqabadtu qabdatan min athariarrasooli fanabathtuha wakathalikasawwalat lee nafsee
#wordmeaningroot
1qālaHe saidقول
2baṣur'tuI perceivedبصر
3bimāwhat
4lamnot
5yabṣurūthey perceiveبصر
6bihiin it
7faqabaḍtuso I tookقبض
8qabḍatana handfulقبض
9minfrom
10athari(the) trackاثر
11l-rasūli(of) the Messengerرسل
12fanabadhtuhāthen threw itنبذ
13wakadhālikaand thus
14sawwalatsuggestedسول
15to me
16nafsīmy soulنفس
  • Aisha Bewley

    He said, ‘I saw what they did not see. So I gathered up a handful from the Messenger’s footprints and threw it in. That is what my inner self urged me to do.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    He said: "I noticed what they did not notice, so I took a handful from where the messenger was standing, and I cast it in. This is what my soul inspired me to do."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    He answered, "I have gained insight into something which they have not. So I took hold of a handful of the Messenger's teachings and cast it away. This is what my mind prompted me to do."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Said he: “I saw what they saw not; so I took a handful from the track of the Messenger, and did throw it; and thus my soul enticed me.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He said: "I noticed what they did not notice, so I took a handful from where the messenger was standing, and I cast it in. This is what my soul inspired me to do."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He said, "I noticed what they did not notice, so I took a portion from the teaching of the messenger, and I cast it away. This is what my person inspired me to do."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    He said, "I saw what they could not see. I grabbed a fistful (of dust) from the place where the messenger stood, and used it (to mix into the golden calf). This is what my mind inspired me to do."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    He said: "I saw what they did not see. I picked up a handful of dust from the messenger's tracks and threw it in, for the idea seemed attractive to me."

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

    He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful from the track of the messenger and threw it, and thus did my soul entice me. "

  • Muhammad Asad

    He answered: "I have gained insight into something which they were unable to see: and so I took hold of a handful of the Apostle's teachings and cast it away: for thus has my mind prompted me . "

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He said: I perceived what they perceive not, so I seized a handful from the footsteps of the messenger, and then threw it in. Thus my soul commended to me.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    He answered: "I saw what the people did not see. So I took a handful of dust from the trail of the Messenger, and I flung it (into the fire). Thus did my mind prompt me."

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "I have seen", said Samiri, "what they failed to see -meaning the Spirit Jabril (Gabriel)- and so I took a handful of dust from the track of the Messenger of Allah and I tossed it toward the calf, for so did my soul prompt me -a made- up excuse for his unforgivable sinful act-.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    He replied: "Well, I saw angel Gabriel (that the others did not see) and I was inspired to take a handful of his foot print’s dust and throw upon the statue "

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    (Sâmirî) said: "I saw what they saw not, so I took a handful (of dust) from the (hoof) print of the messenger and threw it . Thus my inner-self suggested to me."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    He replied: "I saw what they saw not: so I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Messenger, and threw it (into the calf): thus did my soul suggest to me."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful ˹of dust˺ from the hoof-prints of ˹the horse of˺ the messenger-angel ˹Gabriel˺ then cast it ˹on the moulded calf˺. This is what my lower-self tempted me into."

  • Taqi Usmani

    He said, "I perceived something they did not perceive. So I picked up a handful from under the footstep of the messenger. Then, I cast it. And thus my inner self tempted me."

  • Abdul Haleem

    He replied, ‘I saw something they did not; I took in some of the teachings of the Messenger but tossed them aside: my soul prompted me to do what I did.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    'I beheld what they beheld not, ' he said, 'and I seized a handful of dust from the messenger's track, and cast it into the thing. So my soul prompted me.'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Said he, 'I beheld what they beheld not, and I grasped a handful from the footprint of the messenger and cast it; for thus my soul induced me. '

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    (Moses) said, "What was your design, O Samiri?"

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Said he, "I beheld what they did not behold; so I grasped a handful (Literally: I grasped a grasp) (of dust) from the messenger's track; then flung it off. Thus my self instigated (that) to me."

  • George Sale

    He answered, I saw that which they saw not; wherefore I took a handful of dust from the footsteps of the messenger of God, and I cast it into the molten calf; for so did my mind direct me.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    He replied: "I saw what they did not see: So I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the messenger, and threw it (into the calf): Thus did my soul tell me. "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    He said, `I perceived that which they did not perceive. (My perception and insight being stronger than theirs.) I had adopted only some of the traditions (and the teachings) of the Messenger (- Moses), but that (too) I cast away. That is what my mind made fair-seeming to me.'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He said, ‘I saw what they did not see. I took a handful from the messenger’s trail and threw it. That is how my soul prompted me.’