This page presents 7 parallel translations of the Qur’an. You can view the verses side by side, compare their meanings, and explore the nuances in each translation. This allows a deeper understanding of the Qur’an’s message and insight into different interpretive approaches.
Chapter (103) sūrat l-ʿaṣr (Time)
Time – Verse (103:1) – English Translation
Sahih International: By time,
Pickthall: By the declining day,
Yusuf Ali: By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Shakir: I swear by the time,
Muhammad Sarwar: By the time (of the advent of Islam),
Mohsin Khan: By Al-‘Asr (the time).
Arberry: By the afternoon!
Time – Verse (103:2) – English Translation
Sahih International: Indeed, mankind is in loss,
Pickthall: Lo! man is a state of loss,
Yusuf Ali: Verily Man is in loss,
Shakir: Most surely man is in loss,
Muhammad Sarwar: the human being is doomed to suffer loss,
Mohsin Khan: Verily! Man is in loss,
Arberry: Surely Man is in the way of loss,
Time – Verse (103:3) – English Translation
Sahih International: Then you will surely be asked that Day about pleasure.
Pickthall: Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.
Yusuf Ali: Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
Shakir: Except those who believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience.
Muhammad Sarwar: except the righteously striving believers who exhort each other to truthful purposes and to patience.
Mohsin Khan: Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma’which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.).
Arberry: save those who believe, and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other unto the truth, and counsel each other to be steadfast.
1. Sahih International
- Translators: A group translation (edited by Umm Muhammad).
- Focus: Aims for literal accuracy (word-for-word meaning) using clear, modern English.
- Key Feature: Very popular in modern digital and print media due to its straightforward language and adherence to a generally accepted literal interpretation.
2. Pickthall
- Translator: Marmaduke Pickthall (An English convert to Islam).
- Focus: Uses a classical, formal English style. It aimed to provide an “English equivalent” while retaining original Islamic terminology (e.g., Allah, Salat).
- Key Feature: Considered the first authoritative English translation by a Muslim. Highly respected for its dignified and formal tone.
3. Yusuf Ali
- Translator: Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
- Focus: Most famous for its extensive footnotes and commentary (tafsir) which offer detailed background and theological context.
- Key Feature: Extremely popular, though the English is sometimes archaic, resembling the King James Bible style. The value lies primarily in its rich commentary.
4. Shakir
- Translator: M.H. Shakir.
- Focus: Known for being more concise and simple than Yusuf Ali, with fewer footnotes.
- Key Feature: The language is generally direct and less stylized, making it an easier read for some.
5. Muhammad Sarwar
- Translator: Muhammad Sarwar.
- Focus: Focuses on using simple, clear, and fluent modern English for easy comprehension.
- Key Feature: A contemporary translation designed to communicate the central message of the Qur’an without heavy theological phrasing or deep commentary.
6. Mohsin Khan (Hilali & Khan)
- Translators: Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali.
- Focus: Strictly adheres to the Salafi/Wahhabi school of interpretation. It frequently uses parenthetical insertions to clarify the meaning based on Hadith and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition).
- Key Feature: Known for its literal approach and inclusion of bracketed explanations to ensure the interpretation aligns with established scholarly views.
7. Arberry
- Translator: Arthur John Arberry (Academic).
- Focus: An academic and literary translation. Arberry’s primary goal was to capture the rhythm, music, and rhetorical quality (eloquence) of the original Arabic text.
- Key Feature: Highly praised for its attempt to convey the poetic beauty and flow of the Qur’an, often prioritizing literary quality over detailed commentary.