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 (94) sūrat l-sharḥ (The Opening Forth)
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:1) – English Translation
Sahih International: Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast?
Pickthall: Have We not caused thy bosom to dilate,
Yusuf Ali: Have We not expanded thee thy breast?-
Shakir: Have We not expanded for you your breast,
Muhammad Sarwar: (Muhammad), have We not comforted your heart,
Mohsin Khan: Have We not opened your breast for you (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him))?
Arberry: Did We not expand thy breast for thee
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:2) – English Translation
Sahih International: And We removed from you your burden
Pickthall: And eased thee of the burden
Yusuf Ali: And removed from thee thy burden
Shakir: And taken off from you your burden,
Muhammad Sarwar: relieved you of the burden
Mohsin Khan: And removed from you your burden,
Arberry: and lift from thee thy burden,
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:3) – English Translation
Sahih International: Which had weighed upon your back
Pickthall: Which weighed down thy back;
Yusuf Ali: The which did gall thy back?-
Shakir: Which pressed heavily upon your back,
Muhammad Sarwar: which had been a heavy weight upon your back
Mohsin Khan: Which weighed down your back?
Arberry: the burden that weighed down thy back?
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:4) – English Translation
Sahih International: And raised high for you your repute.
Pickthall: And exalted thy fame?
Yusuf Ali: And raised high the esteem (in which) thou (art held)?
Shakir: And exalted for you your esteem?
Muhammad Sarwar: and granted you an exalted reputation?
Mohsin Khan: And raised high your fame?
Arberry: Did We not exalt thy fame?
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:5) – English Translation
Sahih International: For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Pickthall: But lo! with hardship goeth ease,
Yusuf Ali: So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief:
Shakir: Surely with difficulty is ease.
Muhammad Sarwar: After every difficulty there is relief.
Mohsin Khan: So verily, with the hardship, there is relief,
Arberry: So truly with hardship comes ease,
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:6) – English Translation
Sahih International: Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Pickthall: Lo! with hardship goeth ease;
Yusuf Ali: Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Shakir: With difficulty is surely ease.
Muhammad Sarwar: Certainly, after every difficulty there comes relief.
Mohsin Khan: Verily, with the hardship, there is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs).
Arberry: truly with hardship comes ease.’
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:7) – English Translation
Sahih International: So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].
Pickthall: So when thou art relieved, still toil
Yusuf Ali: Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labour hard,
Shakir: So when you are free, nominate.
Muhammad Sarwar: When you are free from (your obligations), strive hard (to worship God)
Mohsin Khan: So when you have finished (from your occupation), then stand up for Allah’s worship (i.e. stand up for prayer).
Arberry: So when thou art empty, labour,
The Opening Forth – Verse (94:8) – English Translation
Sahih International: And to your Lord direct [your] longing.
Pickthall: And strive to please thy Lord.
Yusuf Ali: And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention.
Shakir: And make your Lord your exclusive object.
Muhammad Sarwar: and be devoted to your Lord’s service.
Mohsin Khan: And to your Lord (Alone) turn (all your intentions and hopes and) your invocations.
Arberry: and let thy Lord be thy Quest.
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.