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 (99) sūrat l-zalzalah (The Earthquake)
The Earthquake – Verse (99:1) – English Translation
Sahih International: When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake
Pickthall: When Earth is shaken with her (final) earthquake
Yusuf Ali: When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion,
Shakir: When the earth is shaken with her (violent) shaking,
Muhammad Sarwar: When the earth is shaken by a terrible quake
Mohsin Khan: When the earth is shaken with its (final) earthquake.
Arberry: When earth is shaken with a mighty shaking
The Earthquake – Verse (99:2) – English Translation
Sahih International: And the earth discharges its burdens
Pickthall: And Earth yieldeth up her burdens,
Yusuf Ali: And the earth throws up her burdens (from within),
Shakir: And the earth brings forth her burdens,
Muhammad Sarwar: and it throws out its burden,
Mohsin Khan: And when the earth throws out its burdens,
Arberry: and earth brings forth her burdens,
The Earthquake – Verse (99:3) – English Translation
Sahih International: And man says, “What is with it?” –
Pickthall: And man saith: What aileth her?
Yusuf Ali: And man cries (distressed): ‘What is the matter with her?’-
Shakir: And man says: What has befallen her?
Muhammad Sarwar: the human being will say (in horror), “What is happening to it?”
Mohsin Khan: And man will say: “What is the matter with it?”
Arberry: and Man says., ‘What ails her?’
The Earthquake – Verse (99:4) – English Translation
Sahih International: That Day, it will report its news
Pickthall: That day she will relate her chronicles,
Yusuf Ali: On that Day will she declare her tidings:
Shakir: On that day she shall tell her news,
Muhammad Sarwar: On that day the earth will declare all (the activities of the human being) which have taken place on it,
Mohsin Khan: That Day it will declare its information (about all what happened over it of good or evil).
Arberry: upon that day she shall tell her tidings
The Earthquake – Verse (99:5) – English Translation
Sahih International: Because your Lord has commanded it.
Pickthall: Because thy Lord inspireth her.
Yusuf Ali: For that thy Lord will have given her inspiration.
Shakir: Because your Lord had inspired her.
Muhammad Sarwar: having been inspired by your Lord.
Mohsin Khan: Because your Lord has inspired it.
Arberry: for that her Lord has inspired her.
The Earthquake – Verse (99:6) – English Translation
Sahih International: That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds.
Pickthall: That day mankind will issue forth in scattered groups to be shown their deeds.
Yusuf Ali: On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the deeds that they (had done).
Shakir: On that day men shall come forth in sundry bodies that they may be shown their works.
Muhammad Sarwar: On that day, people will come out of their graves in different groups to see (the results of) their own deeds.
Mohsin Khan: That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds.
Arberry: Upon that day men shall issue in scatterings to see their works,
The Earthquake – Verse (99:7) – English Translation
Sahih International: So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it,
Pickthall: And whoso doeth good an atom’s weight will see it then,
Yusuf Ali: Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it!
Shakir: So. he who has done an atom’s weight of good shall see it
Muhammad Sarwar: Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good,
Mohsin Khan: So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.
Arberry: and whoso has done an atom’s weight of good shall see it,
The Earthquake – Verse (99:8) – English Translation
Sahih International: And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.
Pickthall: And whoso doeth ill an atom’s weight will see it then.
Yusuf Ali: And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.
Shakir: And he who has done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.
Muhammad Sarwar: will see it and whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil, will also see it.
Mohsin Khan: And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.
Arberry: and whoso has done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.
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.