Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Say thou: “Had God willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you; for I had tarried among you a lifetime before it.” Will you then not use reason!

قُلْ لَوْ شَٓاءَ اللّٰهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَٓا اَدْرٰيكُمْ بِه۪ۘ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ ف۪يكُمْ عُمُراً مِنْ قَبْلِه۪ۜ اَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Qul law shaa Allahu matalawtuhu AAalaykum wala adrakum bihi faqadlabithtu feekum AAumuran min qablihi afala taAAqiloon
#wordmeaningroot
1qulSayقول
2lawIf
3shāa(had) willedشيا
4l-lahuAllah
5not
6talawtuhuI (would) have recited itتلو
7ʿalaykumto you
8walāand not
9adrākumHe (would) have made it known to youدري
10bihiHe (would) have made it known to you
11faqadVerily
12labith'tuI have stayedلبث
13fīkumamong you
14ʿumurana lifetimeعمر
15minbefore it
16qablihibefore itقبل
17afalāThen will not
18taʿqilūnayou use reasonعقل
  • Aisha Bewley

    Say: ‘Had Allah so wished, I would not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I lived among you for many years before it came. Will you not use your intellect?’

  • Progressive Muslims

    Say: "Had God wished, I would not have recited it to you, nor would you have known about it. I have been residing amongst you for nearly a lifetime before this; do you not understand"

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Say, "If Allah wanted otherwise, I would have not recited and conveyed this to you, nor would have made you aware of it. Indeed, a whole lifetime have I dwelt among you before this. (You have always called me

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Say thou: “Had God willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you; for I had tarried among you a lifetime before it.” Will you then not use reason!

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Say: "If God had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would you have known about it. I have been residing among you for nearly a lifetime before this; do you not comprehend?"

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Say, "Had God wished, I would not have recited it to you, nor would you have known about it. I have been residing amongst you a lifetime before this; do you not reason?"

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Say, "Had GOD willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would you have known anything about it. I have lived among you a whole life before this (and you have known me as a sane, truthful person). Do you not understand?"

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Say: "Had God pleased I would never have recited it to you, nor would He have given you comprehension of it. (Remember that I am one of you) and have lived a whole life with you before (its revelation). Even then you do not understand."

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

    Say, "If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a lifetime before it. Then will you not reason?"

  • Muhammad Asad

    Say: "Had God willed it , I would not have conveyed this unto you, nor would He have brought it to your knowledge. Indeed. a whole lifetime have I dwelt among you ere this : will you not, then, use your reason?"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Say: If Allah had so willed I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I dwelt among you a whole lifetime before it (came to me). Have ye then no sense?

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Tell them: 'Had Allah so willed, I would not have recited the Qur'an to you, nor would Allah have informed you of it. I have spent a lifetime among you before this. Do you, then, not use your reason?

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Say to them "Had- Allah willed He would not have sent down a Book and I would not have had to recite it to you nor instruct you in practical divinity nor furnish you with authoritative directions as to action. I have lived in your midst for years before it was revealed to me; can you not Reflect! "

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Say: "If it was not the will of God, I would not have recited any part of this Book to you. You would not even have known about the existence of such a Book. I have lived among you for the longest time Why do you not use your common-sense?"

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "If Allâh had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. Verily, I have stayed amongst you a life time before this. Have you then no sense?"

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Say: "If Allah had so willed, I should not have rehearsed it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. A whole life-time before this have I tarried amongst you: will ye not then understand?"

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Say, "Had Allah willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I had lived my whole life among you before this ˹revelation˺. Do you not understand?"

  • Taqi Usmani

    Say, "Had Allah so willed, I would have not recited it to you, nor would He have let you know it. Then, I have lived among you for years before it. Have you, then, no sense?"

  • Abdul Haleem

    Say, ‘If God had so willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I lived a whole lifetime among you before it came to me. How can you not use your reason?’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Say: 'Had God willed I would not have recited it to you, neither would He have taught you it; I abode among you a lifetime before it -- will you not understand?'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Say, 'Had God pleased, I should not have recited it to you, nor taught you therewith. I have tarried a lifetime amongst you before it;- have ye not then any sense?'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    But when Our evident Signs (revelations) are recited to them, those who expect not the meeting with Us say, "Bring a Lecture (Quran) other than this; or change it. " Say, "It is not for me to, change it of my own accord; I do not follow aught but what I am inspired with. Verily, I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the retribution of an awful Day!"

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Say, "If Allah had (so) decided, in no way would I have recited it (i. e. the Qur'an) to you, neither would He have made you realize (what) it is. So I have already lingered among you an age even before it. Do you not consider?".

  • George Sale

    Say, if God had so pleased, I had not read it unto you, neither had I taught you the same. I have already dwelt among you to the age of forty years, before I received it. Do ye not therefore understand?

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Say: "If Allah had so willed, I should not have delivered it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. Surely, a whole life-time before now, I have been with you: Then will you not understand?

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Say, `Had Allâh (so) willed (that He should replace the teachings of the Qur'ân with some other teachings), I should not have recited this (Qur'ân) to you, nor would He have made it known to you. I had indeed lived among you a (whole) lifetime before this (claim to Prophethood. Was not my truthfulness undisputed?). Will you not then refrain (from opposing me)?'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Say, ‘Had Allah wished, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I have dwelled among you for a lifetime before it. Do you not apply reason?’