Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

“You serve, besides Him, only names which you have named, you and your fathers; God sent not down for them any authority. Judgment is but for God. He commanded that you serve not save Him. That is the right doctrine; but most men know not.

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِه۪ٓ اِلَّٓا اَسْمَٓاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَٓا اَنْتُمْ وَاٰبَٓاؤُ۬كُمْ مَٓا اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍۜ اِنِ الْحُكْمُ اِلَّا لِلّٰهِۜ اَمَرَ اَلَّا تَعْبُدُٓوا اِلَّٓا اِيَّاهُۜ ذٰلِكَ الدّ۪ينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Ma taAAbudoona min doonihi illaasmaan sammaytumooha antum waabaokumma anzala Allahu biha min sultaninini alhukmu illa lillahi amara allataAAbudoo illa iyyahu thalika addeenualqayyimu walakinna akthara annasi layaAAlamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1Not
2taʿbudūnayou worshipعبد
3minbesides Him
4dūnihibesides Himدون
5illābut
6asmāannamesسمو
7sammaytumūhāwhich you have named themسمو
8antumyou
9waābāukumand your forefathersابو
10not
11anzala(has) sent downنزل
12l-lahuAllah
13bihāfor it
14minany
15sul'ṭāninauthorityسلط
16iniNot
17l-ḥuk'mu(is) the commandحكم
18illābut
19lillahifor Allah
20amaraHe has commandedامر
21allāthat not
22taʿbudūyou worshipعبد
23illābut
24iyyāhuHim Alone
25dhālikaThat
26l-dīnu(is) the religionدين
27l-qayimuthe rightقوم
28walākinnabut
29aktharamostكثر
30l-nāsi[the] menنوس
31(do) not
32yaʿlamūnaknowعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    What you serve apart from Him are only names which you and your forefathers have made up There is no mandate for them from Allah. Allah alone is qualified to judge. His order is to worship none but Him. That is in truth the straight and upright deen, but most of mankind simply do not know.

  • Progressive Muslims

    "What you serve besides God is nothing but names which you have created you and your fathers, God did not send down any authority for such. The judgment is for none but God. He ordered that none be served but He. That is the true system, but most of mankind do not know."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    "Those whom you worship and obey besides Him, are but names that you have named, you and your forefathers. Allah has revealed no authority for them. All ruling belongs to Allah alone. And there is no Judge but He. He has commanded that you serve none but Him. That is the Right Religion. But most people are not aware of this fact or disregard it in practice."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    “You serve, besides Him, only names which you have named, you and your fathers; God sent not down for them any authority. Judgment is but for God. He commanded that you serve not save Him. That is the right doctrine; but most men know not.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    "What you serve besides Him are nothing except names which you have created, both you and your fathers, God has not sent down any authority for such. The judgment is for none except God. He has ordered that none be served except He. That is the true system, but most of the people do not know."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    "What you serve besides Him are nothing but names which you have fabricated you and your fathers. God did not send down any authority for such. The judgment is for none but God. He ordered that none be served but He. That is the true system, but most of the people do not know."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    "You do not worship beside Him except innovations that you have made up, you and your parents. GOD has never authorized such idols. All ruling belongs to GOD, and He has ruled that you shall not worship except Him. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    (What) you worship besides Him are nothing but names that you and your fathers have assigned, for which no sanction has been sent down by God. Authority belongs to God alone. He commands that you worship none but Him. This is the right way; but most men are ignorant.

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

    You worship not besides Him except names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

  • Muhammad Asad

    "All that you worship instead of God is nothing but names which you have invented - you and your forefathers- for which God has bestowed no warrant from on high. Judgment rests with God alone- He has ordained that you should worship nought but Him: this is the ever-true faith; but most people know it not

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Those whom ye worship beside Him are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers. Allah hath revealed no sanction for them. The decision rests with Allah only, Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is the right religion, but most men know not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Those whom you serve beside Him are merely idle names that you and your fathers have fabricated, without Allah sending down any sanction for them. All authority to govern rests only with Allah. He has commanded that you serve none but Him. This is the Right Way of life, though most people are altogether unaware.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "In fact, " he added, "those whom you worship besides Him are but names of objects you and your fathers have designated as gods; a system of faith and worship Allah has never authorized. Indeed, decision, command and judgement are asserted as Allah's own, He ordained that you worship no one but Him. This is the right system of faith and worship but most people do not perceive this fact."

  • Bijan Moeinian

    "The gods that you are worshipping simply do not exist. These are only the names that you and your forefathers have invented. God has not given any power to those invented names of yours. There is only One Ruler in the universe, and He has ruled that you shall not worship none but Him. This is the only true religion. What a shame that most people do not realize it."

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    "You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged) - you and your fathers - for which Allâh has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allâh. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism); that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    "If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not...

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Whatever ˹idols˺ you worship instead of Him are mere names which you and your forefathers have made up—a practice Allah has never authorized. It is only Allah Who decides. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright faith, but most people do not know.

  • Taqi Usmani

    Whatever you worship, other than Him, are nothing but names you have coined, you and your fathers. Allah has sent down no authority for them. Sovereignty belongs to none but Allah. He has ordained that you shall not worship anyone but Him. This is the only right path. But most of the people do not know."

  • Abdul Haleem

    All those you worship instead of Him are mere names you and your forefathers have invented, names for which God has sent down no sanction. Authority belongs to God alone, and He orders you to worship none but Him: this is the true faith, though most people do not realize it.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    That which you serve, apart from Him, is nothing but names yourselves have named, you and your fathers; God has sent down no authority touching them. Judgment belongs only to God; He has commanded that you shall not serve any but Him. That is the right religion; but most men know not.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    What ye worship beside Him are naught but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which God has sent down no authority. Judgment is only God's; He bids you worship only Him. That is the standard of religion,- but most men do not know.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    O you two fellow-prisoners! Are manifold lords better, or Allah, the One, the Almighty?

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    In no way do you worship, apart from Him, except names you have named, you and your fathers; in no way has Allah sent down any all-binding authority concerning them. Decidedy judgment (belongs to none) except to Allah; He has commanded that you should not worship any except Him (only). That is the most upright religion, but most (of) mankind do not know.

  • George Sale

    Ye worship not, besides Him, other than the names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, concerning which God hath sent down no authoritative proof: Yet judgment belongeth unto God alone; who hath commanded that ye worship none besides Him. This is the right religion; but the greater part of men know it not.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    "You do not worship besides Him, except (those false) names that you have named— You and your fathers— For which Allah has not sent down any authority: The Command is for none but Allah: He has commanded that you worship none but Him: That is the right religion, but most men do not understand.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    `You worship nothing, apart from Him but some mere (imaginary) names coined by you and by your fathers. Allâh has sent down no authority for (worshipping) that. The judgment rests with Allâh alone. He has commanded that you shall worship none but Him alone. That is the right (and lasting) faith, yet most people know (it) not.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    You do not worship besides Him but names that you and your fathers have coined, for which Allah has not sent down any authority. Sovereignty belongs only to Allah. He has commanded you to worship none except Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.