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 (104) sūrat l-humazah (The Slanderer)
The Slanderer – Verse (104:1) – English Translation
Sahih International: Woe to every scorner and mocker
Pickthall: Woe unto every slandering traducer,
Yusuf Ali: Woe to every (kind of) scandal-monger and-backbiter,
Shakir: Woe to every slanderer, defamer,
Muhammad Sarwar: Woe to every slanderer and backbiter
Mohsin Khan: Woe to every slanderer and backbiter.
Arberry: Woe unto every backbiter, slanderer,
The Slanderer – Verse (104:2) – English Translation
Sahih International: Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it.
Pickthall: Who hath gathered wealth (of this world) and arranged it.
Yusuf Ali: Who pileth up wealth and layeth it by,
Shakir: Who amasses wealth and considers it a provision (against mishap);
Muhammad Sarwar: who collects and hordes wealth,
Mohsin Khan: Who has gathered wealth and counted it,
Arberry: who has gathered riches and counted them over
The Slanderer – Verse (104:3) – English Translation
Sahih International: He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.
Pickthall: He thinketh that his wealth will render him immortal.
Yusuf Ali: Thinking that his wealth would make him last for ever!
Shakir: He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.
Muhammad Sarwar: thinking that his property will make him live forever.
Mohsin Khan: He thinks that his wealth will make him last forever!
Arberry: thinking his riches have made him immortal!
The Slanderer – Verse (104:4) – English Translation
Sahih International: No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.
Pickthall: Nay, but verily he will be flung to the Consuming One.
Yusuf Ali: By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into That which Breaks to Pieces,
Shakir: Nay! he shall most certainly be hurled into the crushing disaster,
Muhammad Sarwar: By no means! They will be thrown into hutamah.
Mohsin Khan: Nay! Verily, he will be thrown into the crushing Fire.
Arberry: No indeed; he shall be thrust into the Crusher;
The Slanderer – Verse (104:5) – English Translation
Sahih International: And what can make you know what is the Crusher?
Pickthall: Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Consuming One is!
Yusuf Ali: And what will explain to thee That which Breaks to Pieces?
Shakir: And what will make you realize what the crushing disaster is?
Muhammad Sarwar: Would that you knew what hutamah is!
Mohsin Khan: And what will make you know what the crushing Fire is?
Arberry: and what shall teach thee what is the Crusher;
The Slanderer – Verse (104:6) – English Translation
Sahih International: It is the fire of Allah , [eternally] fueled,
Pickthall: (It is) the fire of Allah, kindled,
Yusuf Ali: (It is) the Fire of (the Wrath of) Allah kindled (to a blaze),
Shakir: It is the fire kindled by Allah,
Muhammad Sarwar: It is a fierce fire created by God
Mohsin Khan: The fire of Allah, kindled,
Arberry: The Fire of God kindled
The Slanderer – Verse (104:7) – English Translation
Sahih International: Which mounts directed at the hearts.
Pickthall: Which leapeth up over the hearts (of men).
Yusuf Ali: The which doth mount (Right) to the Hearts:
Shakir: Which rises above the hearts.
Muhammad Sarwar: to penetrate into the hearts.
Mohsin Khan: Which leaps up over the hearts,
Arberry: roaring over the hearts
The Slanderer – Verse (104:8) – English Translation
Sahih International: Indeed, Hellfire will be closed down upon them
Pickthall: Lo! it is closed in on them
Yusuf Ali: It shall be made into a vault over them,
Shakir: Surely it shall be closed over upon them,
Muhammad Sarwar: It will engulf them.
Mohsin Khan: Verily, it shall be closed in on them,
Arberry: covered down upon them,
The Slanderer – Verse (104:9) – English Translation
Sahih International: In extended columns.
Pickthall: In outstretched columns.
Yusuf Ali: In columns outstretched.
Shakir: In extended columns.
Muhammad Sarwar: in its long columns of flames.
Mohsin Khan: In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars, etc.).
Arberry: in columns outstretched.
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.