Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And there came a caravan; and they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his pail. He said: “O glad tidings: here is a lad!” And they hid him as merchandise; and God knows what they did.

وَجَٓاءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌ فَاَرْسَلُوا وَارِدَهُمْ فَاَدْلٰى دَلْوَهُۜ قَالَ يَا بُشْرٰى هٰذَا غُلَامٌۜ وَاَسَرُّوهُ بِضَاعَةًۜ وَاللّٰهُ عَل۪يمٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
Wajaat sayyaratun faarsaloo waridahumfaadla dalwahu qala ya bushra hathaghulamun waasarroohu bidaAAatan wallahuAAaleemun bima yaAAmaloon
#wordmeaningroot
1wajāatAnd there cameجيا
2sayyāratuna caravanسير
3fa-arsalūand they sentرسل
4wāridahumtheir water drawerورد
5fa-adlāthen he let downدلو
6dalwahuhis bucketدلو
7qālaHe saidقول
8yābush'rāO good newsبشر
9hādhāThis
10ghulāmun(is) a boyغلم
11wa-asarrūhuAnd they hid himسرر
12biḍāʿatan(as) a merchandiseبضع
13wal-lahuAnd Allah
14ʿalīmun(is) All-Knowerعلم
15bimāof what
16yaʿmalūnathey doعمل
  • Aisha Bewley

    Some travellers came that way and then dispatched their water-drawer who let his bucket down. He said, ‘Good news for me, I’ve found a boy!’ They then hid him away among their goods. Allah knew very well what they were doing.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And a traveling caravan came and they sent their man to draw water, but when he drew he said: "Good news, there is a boy!" So they hid him as merchandise. And God is aware of what they do.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    And, there came a caravan, and they sent their water drawer. He let down his rope and pail into the well. He called in excitement, "Oh, what a lucky find! It is a teenage boy!" People of the caravan took him along as treasure. And Allah was Aware of what they did.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And there came a caravan; and they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his pail. He said: “O glad tidings: here is a lad!” And they hid him as merchandise; and God knows what they did.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Anda traveling caravan came and they sent their man to draw water, but when he drew he said: "Good news, there is a boy!" So they hid him as merchandise. And God is aware of what they did.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    A traveling caravan came and they sent their water-drawer. When he let down his bucket he said, "Good news, there is a boy!" So they hid him as merchandise. God knows what they do.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    A caravan passed by, and soon sent their waterer. He let down his bucket, then said, "How lucky! There is a boy here!" They took him along as merchandise, and GOD was fully aware of what they did.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    A caravan happened to pass, and sent the water-carrier to bring water from the well. He let down his bucket (and pulled Joseph up with it). "What luck," said the man; "here is a boy;" and they hid him as an item of merchandise; but what they did was known to God.

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

    And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy." And they concealed him, as merchandise; and Allah was knowing of what they did.

  • Muhammad Asad

    AND THERE CAME a caravan; and they sent forth their drawer of water, and he let down his bucket into the well - he exclaimed: "Oh, what a lucky find, this boy!" And they hid him with a view to selling him: but God had full knowledge of all that they were doing.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And there came a caravan, and they sent their waterdrawer. He let down his pail (into the pit). He said: Good luck! Here is a youth. And they hid him as a treasure, and Allah was Aware of what they did.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And a caravan came, and they sent their water drawer to draw water. As he let down his bucket in the well he (observed Joseph) and cried out: "This is good news. There is a boy." They concealed him, considering him as part of their merchandise, while Allah was well aware of what they did.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    There came a caravan of merchants traveling to Egypt with merchandise. They sent on their water purveyor, the harbinger, who found a well; he let his bucket to draw water. But as he hauled up the bucket, he did not find water but a youth clinging to the rope and the bucket instead. There he announced with joy the good news of hauling up a youth, and they hid him in their merchandise, and Allah was fully aware of what they were doing.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Then a caravan passed by the well. When the person in charge of water supply threw his bucket in the well, he screamed joyfully and said: "How lucky! There is a boy here!" Then they took him along as a slave according to the pre-destined will of God.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And there came a caravan of travellers and they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his bucket (into the well). He said: "What good news! Here is a boy." So they hid him as merchandise (a slave). And Allâh was the All-Knower of what they did.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his bucket (into the well)... He said: "Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!" So they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah knoweth well all that they do!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    And there came some travellers, and they sent their water-boy who let down his bucket into the well. He cried out, "Oh, what a great find! Here is a boy!" And they took him secretly ˹to be sold˺ as merchandise, but Allah is All-Knowing of what they did.

  • Taqi Usmani

    And some wayfarers came (near the pit in which Yūsuf was thrown), and sent their water-drawer (to bring water for them). So, he let down his bucket. He said, "What a good news! Here is a boy." And they kept him hidden as merchandise, while Allah was aware of what they were doing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Some travellers came by. They sent someone to draw water and he let down his bucket. ‘Good news!’ he exclaimed. ‘Here is a boy!’ They hid him like a piece of merchandise- God was well aware of what they did-

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Then came travellers, and they sent one of them, a water-drawer, who let down his bucket. 'Good news!' he said. 'Here is a young man.' So they hid him as merchandise; but God knew what they were doing.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And travellers came and sent their water-drawer; and he let down his bucket. Said he, 'O glad tidings! this is a youth.' And they kept him secret, as a chattel; but God knew what they were doing.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it. Said he, "Nay, but your souls have beguiled you into some deed; but patience is more fitting for me. And Allah alone is He whose aid is to be sought against that which you describe."

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And (there) came travelers; so they sent their water-drawer; then he let down his bucket. He said, "What good tidings! Here is this youth." And they secretly kept him (i.e., the travelers hid him) as merchandise; and Allah is Ever-Knowing of whatever they do.

  • George Sale

    And certain travellers came, and sent one to draw water for them: And he let down his bucket, and said, good news! This is a youth. And they concealed him, that they might sell him as a piece of merchandize: but God knew that which they did.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And there came a group of travelers: They sent their water-bearer (for water), and he let down his bucket (in the well)... He (the bearer) said: "Oh there! Good news! Here is a (handsome) boy!" So they kept him hidden like a treasure! But Allah knew well all that they did!

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Now) there came a caravan of travellers and they sent their water-drawer (to fetch water) and he let down his bucket (into the well). And behold! he cried, `Oh, glad tidings, here is a young boy.' So they (- Joseph's brothers) presented him (in this way) as (if) a piece of merchandise, and Allâh was Well-Aware of their doings.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    And there came a caravan, and they sent their water-drawer, who let down his bucket. ‘Good news!’ he said. ‘This is a young boy!’ So they hid him as merchandise, and Allah knew best what they were doing.