Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“And I absolve not myself; the soul commands to evil, save that my Lord has mercy; my Lord is forgiving and merciful.”

وَمَٓا اُبَرِّئُ نَفْس۪يۚ اِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَاَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّٓوءِ اِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبّ۪يۜ اِنَّ رَبّ۪ي غَفُورٌ رَح۪يمٌ
Wama obarri-o nafsee inna annafsalaammaratun bissoo-i illa ma rahimarabbee inna rabbee ghafoorun raheem
#wordmeaningroot
1wamāAnd not
2ubarri-uI absolveبرا
3nafsīmyselfنفس
4innaIndeed
5l-nafsathe soulنفس
6la-ammāratun(is) a certain enjoinerامر
7bil-sūiof evilسوا
8illāunless
9[that]
10raḥimabestows Mercyرحم
11rabbīmy Lordربب
12innaIndeed
13rabbīmy Lordربب
14ghafūrun(is) Oft-Forgivingغفر
15raḥīmunMost Mercifulرحم
  • Aisha Bewley

    I do not say my self was free from blame. The self indeed commands to evil acts – except for those my Lord has mercy on. My Lord, He is Forgiving, Merciful.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    "And I do not make myself free of blame, for the soul is inclined to sin, except what my Lord has mercy on. My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    "I do not claim that I am angelic, with no ego or desire. The human "Self" is not invincible against temptation (unless we make it surrender to the Divine Commands). It is my Lord's Mercy that mankind are in control of their behavior. Verily, my Lord is Absolver of imperfections, Merciful."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “And I absolve not myself; the soul commands to evil, save that my Lord has mercy; my Lord is forgiving and merciful.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "And I do not make myself free of blame, for the soul is inclined to sin, except that which my Lord has mercy upon. My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "I do not make myself free of blame, for the person is inclined to sin, except what my Lord has mercy on. My Lord is Forgiving, Compassionate."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "I do not claim innocence for myself. The self is an advocate of vice, except for those who have attained mercy from my Lord. My Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful."

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    But I do not wish to absolve myself, for the soul is prone to evil, unless my Lord have mercy. Indeed my Lord is forgiving and kind." --

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

    And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

  • Muhammad Asad

    And yet, I am not trying to absolve myself: for, verily, man's inner self does incite to evil, and saved are only they upon whom my Sustainer bestows His grace. Behold, my Sustainer is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace!"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    I do not seek to acquit myself; for surely one's self prompts one to evil except him to whom my Lord may show mercy. Verily my Lord is Ever Forgiving, Most Merciful."

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "I'm not trying", she said, "to vindicate my wrong nor do I absolve myself of the guilt which resided in my intention. One's ego inclines one to propound evil except those who are graced with Allah's mercy, and Providence their guide; Allah, my Creator, is indeed Ghafurun (Forgiving) and Rahimun (Merciful)."

  • Bijan Moeinian

    "I do not claim to be a saint. The human being always leans towards indecencies; except those who (deserve the Lord’s Mercy and) God takes them under His umbrella of protection. Indeed my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    "And I free not myself (from the blame). Verily, the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    And I do not seek to free myself from blame, for indeed the soul is ever inclined to evil, except those shown mercy by my Lord. Surely my Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

  • Taqi Usmani

    And I do not absolve my inner self of blame. Surely, man’s inner self often incites to evil, unless my Lord shows mercy. Certainly, my Lord is the Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful."

  • Abdul Haleem

    I do not pretend to be blameless, for man’s very soul incites him to evil unless my Lord shows mercy: He is most forgiving, most merciful.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Yet I claim not that my soul was innocent -- surely the soul of man incites to evil -- except inasmuch as my Lord had mercy; truly my Lord is All-forgiving, All-compassionate. '

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Yet I do not clear myself, for the soul is very urgent to evil, save what my Lord has had mercy on; verily, my Lord is forgiving and merciful!'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    (The wife said) "This, I asked that he (my lord) might know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah guides not the guile of the betrayers.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And in no way do I acquit my self. Surely the self indeed constantly commands to odious (deeds), except that on which my Lord had mercy. Surely my Lord is Ever-forgiving, Ever-Merciful."

  • George Sale

    Neither do I absolutely justify my self: Since every soul is prone unto evil, except those on whom my Lord shall shew mercy; for my Lord is gracious and merciful.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "And I will not forgive my own self (of the sin): True, the soul is likely to fall into evil, unless my Lord grants His Mercy: But surely my Lord is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem). "

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    `Yet I do not hold myself to be free from weakness, for human nature is surely prone to enjoin evil, except on whom my Lord has mercy. My Lord is of course Protector (against sins), Ever Merciful.'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Yet I do not absolve my soul, for the soul indeed prompts to evil, except inasmuch as my Lord has mercy. Indeed my Lord is all-forgiving, all-merciful.’