Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear, they spread it about; and had they referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, there would have known it those who draw correct conclusions among them; and were it not for the bounty of God to you, and His mercy, you would have followed the satan, save a few.

وَاِذَا جَٓاءَهُمْ اَمْرٌ مِنَ الْاَمْنِ اَوِ الْخَوْفِ اَذَاعُوا بِه۪ۜ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ اِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَاِلٰٓى اُو۬لِي الْاَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذ۪ينَ يَسْتَنْبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْۜ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَاتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ اِلَّا قَل۪يلاً
Wa-itha jaahum amrun minaal-amni awi alkhawfi athaAAoo bihi walaw raddoohu ilaarrasooli wa-ila olee al-amri minhum laAAalimahuallatheena yastanbitoonahu minhum walawla fadluAllahi AAalaykum warahmatuhu lattabaAAtumuashshaytana illa qaleela
#wordmeaningroot
1wa-idhāAnd when
2jāahumcomes to themجيا
3amruna matterامر
4minaof
5l-amnithe securityامن
6awior
7l-khawfi[the] fearخوف
8adhāʿūthey spreadذيع
9bihi[with] it
10walawBut if
11raddūhuthey (had) referred itردد
12ilāto
13l-rasūlithe Messengerرسل
14wa-ilāand to
15ulīthoseاول
16l-amri(having) authorityامر
17min'humamong them
18laʿalimahusurely would have known itعلم
19alladhīnathose who
20yastanbiṭūnahudraw correct conclusion (from) itنبط
21min'humamong them
22walawlāAnd if not
23faḍlu(had been the) bountyفضل
24l-lahi(of) Allah
25ʿalaykumon you
26waraḥmatuhuand His Mercyرحم
27la-ittabaʿtumusurely you (would have) followedتبع
28l-shayṭānathe Shaitaanشطن
29illāexcept
30qalīlana fewقلل
  • Aisha Bewley

    When news of any matter reaches them they spread it about, whether it is of a reassuring or disquieting nature. If they had only referred it to the Messenger and those in command among them, those among them able to discern the truth about it would have had proper knowledge of it. If it were not for Allah’s favour to you and His mercy, all but a very few of you would have followed Shaytan.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And if any matter regarding security, or fear, comes to them they make it publicly known, but if they had referred it to the messenger and to those entrusted from them then it would have been known by those who studied it from them. And had it not been for God's grace upon you and His mercy, you would have followed the devil, except for a few.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    The Book of Allah provides easy and practical social guidance. There are people who spread rumors pertaining to safety or fear. Those who hear rumors shall refer the matter concerning public safety and threat, to the Messenger and the government officials. Those who are engaged in obtaining intelligence will indeed know what to do with it. Had it not been for the Bounty of Allah and His Mercy, most of you would still be following the Satanic elements.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear, they spread it about; and had they referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, there would have known it those who draw correct conclusions among them; and were it not for the bounty of God to you, and His mercy, you would have followed the satan, save a few.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And if any matter regarding security, or fear, comes to them they make it publicly known, but if they had referred it to the messenger and to those entrusted from them then it would have been known by those who studied it from them. And had it not been for the grace of God upon you and His mercy, you would have followed the devil, except for a few.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    If any matter regarding security, or fear, comes to them they make it publicly known, but if they had referred it to the messenger and to those entrusted from them then it would have been known by those who studied it from them. Had it not been for God's grace upon you and His mercy, you would have followed the devil, except for a few.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    When a rumor that affects security comes their way, they spread it. Had they referred it to the messenger, and those in charge among them, those who understand these matters would have informed them. If it were not for GOD's grace towards you, and His mercy, you would have followed the devil, except a few.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    And when any tidings of peace or war come to them they spread the news around. Had they gone to the Prophet or those in authority among them, then those who check and scrutinize would have known it, And but for the favour of God and His mercy you would certainly have followed Satan, except a few.

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

    And when there comes to them information about security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.

  • Muhammad Asad

    AND IF any matter pertaining to peace or war comes within their ken, they spread it abroad - whereas, if they would but refer it unto the Apostle and unto those from among the believers who have been entrusted with authority, such of them as are engaged in obtaining intelligence would indeed know it And but for God's bounty towards you, and His grace, all but a few of you would certainly have followed Satan.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And if any tidings, whether of safety or fear, come unto them, they noise it abroad, whereas if they had referred it to the messenger and to such of them as are in authority, those among them who are able to think out the matter would have known it. If it had not been for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy ye would have followed Satan, save a few (of you).

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Whenever they come upon any news bearing upon either security or causing consternation they go about spreading it, whereas if they were to convey it to either the Messenger or to those from among them who are entrusted with authority, it would come to the knowledge of those who are competent to investigate it.* But for Allah's bounty and mercy upon you, (weak as you were) all but a few of you would surely have followed Satan.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    When -these people- learn by credible or incredible information a subject or report or talk to the credit of the Muslims or against them, they spread it as news and circulate it by way of rumour. Had they referred it to the Messenger and, in his absence, to those in authority among them, it would have been in accordance with divine standard. The Messenger and/or those in authority would have intelligently examined the news and rationalized the matter and would have known the facts and placed them in their true bearings. Had it not been for Allah's efficacious grace and mercy abounding in you, you people would have been attracted to AL-Shaytan and espoused the opinions of those with characteristics befitting him, except a few.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When a matter of security arises, they look for a solution elsewhere out of fear . If they had come to you or their leaders, they would have found the best solution. If it was not for the Grace of your Lord, most of you have been misled by the Satan.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people); if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly). Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allâh upon you, you would have followed Shaitân (Satan), save a few of you.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    When there comes to them some matter touching (Public) safety or fear, they divulge it. If they had only referred it to the Messenger, or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have Tested it from them (direct). Were it not for the Grace and Mercy of Allah unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    And when they hear news of security or fear, they publicize it. Had they referred it to the Messenger or their authorities, those with sound judgment among them would have validated it. Had it not been for Allah’s grace and mercy, you would have followed Satan—except for a few.

  • Taqi Usmani

    When news concerning peace or fear comes to them, they go about spreading it. Had they referred it to the Messenger and to those having authority among them, the truth of the matter would have come to the knowledge of those of them who are able to investigate. But for Allah’s grace upon you, and mercy, you would have followed the Satan, save a few.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Whenever news of any matter comes to them, whether concerning peace or war, they spread it about; if they referred it to the Messenger and those in authority among them, those seeking its meaning would have found it out from them. If it were not for God’s bounty and mercy towards you, you would almost all have followed Satan.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    When there comes to them a matter, be it of security or fear, they broadcast it; if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those of them whose task it is to investigate would have known the matter. And but for the bounty of God to you, and His mercy, you would surely have followed Satan, except a few.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear they publish it; but if they were to report it to the Apostle and to those in authority amongst them, then those of them who would elicit it from them would know it; but were it not for God's grace upon you and His mercy ye had followed Satan, save a few.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear they broadcast it; but if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority amongst them, then those of them who can think would know it; but were it not for Allah's grace upon you and His mercy you would have followed Satan, save a few.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And when there comes to them a command (i. e., the matter, the affair) of security or fear, they divulge it; and if they had referred it to the Messenger and to the ones endowed with the command (i.e., those in authority) among them, the ones among them who investigate would indeed know it. And had it not been for the Grace of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would indeed have closely followed Ash-Shytan, (the all-vicious, i.e., the Devil) except a few.

  • George Sale

    When any news cometh unto them, either of security or fear, they immediately divulge it; but if they told it to the apostle and to those who are in authority among them, such of them would understand the truth of the matter, as inform themselves thereof from the apostle and his chiefs. And if the favour of God and his mercy had not been upon you, ye had followed the devil, except a few of you.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    When there comes to them some matter about (public) safety or fear, they make it be known. If they had only referred it to the Messenger (Muhammad), or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have verified it (directly) from them. If it were not for the grace and mercy of Allah to you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the (evil) hands of Satan.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And when there comes to them news (a mere rumour), be it a matter of peace or of fear, they spread it around. But had they referred it to the perfect Messenger and to those in authority among them, surely those of them who can elicit (the truth) from it would have understood it (and could make correct deductions). And had it not been for the grace of Allâh upon you and His mercy you would all have followed satan, excepting a few.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    When a report of safety or alarm comes to them, they immediately broadcast it; but had they referred it to the Apostle or to those vested with authority among them, those of them who investigate would have ascertained it. And were it not for Allah’s grace upon you and His mercy, you would have surely followed Satan, except a few.