Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

He said: “That is what we were seeking,” and they turned back, in their footsteps, retracing.

قَالَ ذٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِۗ فَارْتَدَّا عَلٰٓى اٰثَارِهِمَا قَصَصاًۙ
Qala thalika ma kunnanabghi fartadda AAala atharihimaqasasa
#wordmeaningroot
1qālaHe saidقول
2dhālikaThat
3(is) what
4kunnāwe wereكون
5nabghiseekingبغي
6fa-ir'taddāSo they returnedردد
7ʿalāon
8āthārihimātheir footprintsاثر
9qaṣaṣanretracingقصص
  • Aisha Bewley

    He said, ‘That is the very thing that we were looking for!’ So, following their footsteps, they retraced their route.

  • Progressive Muslims

    He said: "That is what we have been seeking!" So they went back retracing their steps.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Moses said, "That is what we were seeking!" And the two turned back retracing their footsteps. (Moses retired to rest in deep thought).

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    He said: “That is what we were seeking,” and they turned back, in their footsteps, retracing.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    He said: "That is what we have been seeking!" So they went back retracing their steps.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    He said, "That is what we have been seeking!" So they went back retracing their steps.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    (Moses) said, "That was the place we were looking for." They traced their steps back.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Moses said: "But that is exactly what we were seeking. " So they retraced their steps.

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

    said, "That is what we were seeking. " So they returned, following their footprints.

  • Muhammad Asad

    exclaimed: "That which we were seeking!, And the two turned back, retracing their footsetps,

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    He said: This is that which we have been seeking. So they retraced their steps again.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Moses said: "That is what we were looking for."* So the two turned back, retracing their footsteps,

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    "This is exactly the place" said Mussa, "We were questing", they went back retracing their footsteps.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Moses said: "That was the place we were looking for. Therefore, they retraced their footsteps back.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    said: "That is what we have been seeking." So they went back retracing their footsteps.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after:" So they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come).

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Moses responded, "That is ˹exactly˺ what we were looking for." So they returned, retracing their footsteps.

  • Taqi Usmani

    He said, "That was what we were looking for." So they returned, retracing their footsteps.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Moses said, ‘Then that was the place we were looking for.’ So the two turned back, retraced their footsteps,

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Said he, 'This is what we were seeking!' And so they returned upon their tracks, retracing them.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Said he, 'This is what we were searching for. ' So they turned back upon their footsteps, following them up.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Said he, "What think you? When we resorted to the rock, then, verily, I forgot the fish, but it was only Satan, who made me forget it, and I forgot to tell you; and it took its way in the sea in a marvellous way. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    He said, "That is what we were seeking!" So they (both) turned back upon their tracks retracing them.

  • George Sale

    Moses said, this is what we sought after. And they both went back, returning by the way they came.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    said: "That was what we were searching for:" So they went back on their (own) footsteps, following (the way that they had come).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Moses) said, `That is (the place) which we have been seeking. ' So both of them returned retracing their steps.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    He said, ‘That is what we were after!’ So they returned, retracing their footsteps.