←Prev   Ayah al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces, The Allies) 33:59   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters, as well as all [other] believing women, that they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments [when in public]: this will be more conducive to their being recognized [as decent women] and not annoyed. But [withal,] God is indeed much- forgiving, a dispenser of grace
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Safi Kaskas   
Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters and the believers' women to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. This will make it more likely that they will be recognized and not abused. God is the All-Forgiving, the Mercy-giver.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمً
Transliteration (2021)   
yāayyuhā l-nabiyu qul li-azwājika wabanātika wanisāi l-mu'minīna yud'nīna ʿalayhinna min jalābībihinna dhālika adnā an yuʿ'rafna falā yu'dhayna wakāna l-lahu ghafūran raḥīma
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and (the) women (of) the believers to draw over themselves [of] their outer garments. That (is) more suitable that they should be known and not harmed. And is Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters, as well as all [other] believing women, that they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments [when in public]: this will be more conducive to their being recognized [as decent women] and not annoyed. But [withal,] God is indeed much- forgiving, a dispenser of grace
M. M. Pickthall   
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Safi Kaskas   
Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters and the believers' women to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. This will make it more likely that they will be recognized and not abused. God is the All-Forgiving, the Mercy-giver.
Wahiduddin Khan   
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and wives of the believers that they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments [when in public], so as to be recognized and not harmed. God is most forgiving and most merciful
Shakir   
O Prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
O Prophet! Say to thy spouses (f) and thy daughters and the females, ones who believe to draw closer their (f) outer garments over themselves (f). That is more fitting so that they (f) be recognized and not be maligned. And God had been Forgiving, Compassionate.
T.B.Irving   
0 Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and believers´ wives as well, to draw their cloaks close around themselves. That is more appropriate so they may be recognized and not molested. God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Abdul Hye   
O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the believing women to draw their veils over them. That is better so that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
The Study Quran   
As for those who affront believing men and believing women for other than what they may have committed, they bear the burden of calumny and manifest sin
Dr. Kamal Omar   
O you An-Nabi! Tell your consorts and your daughters and the women of the Believers (that) they should draw close to them their Jalabib (this is a plural of Jilbab. It could be any additional outer-garment like a shawl, a cloak, a gown or an apron). That will be an (extra-precaution) nearer (to this) that they may be recognised (as their full face shall remain uncovered), but they may not be teased or harmed (as they are modestly dressed). [A practical application of this ordainment is always visible in those who are at Umra or are attending the Hajj-Congregation]. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, continuously Merciful
Farook Malik   
O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, daughters and the believing women that they should draw their outer garments over their persons. That is more proper, so that they may be recognized and not bothered. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
O Prophet! Tell your wives, and your daughters, and the women of the believers, to lengthen their garments. That is more proper, so they will be recognized and not harassed. God is Forgiving and Merciful
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
O you Prophet, say to your spouses and your daughters and the women of believers, that they draw their outer garments closer to them; that will (make) it likelier that they will be recognized and so will not be hurt. And Allah has been Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful
Muhammad Sarwar   
Prophet, tell your wives, daughters, and the wives of the believers to cover their bosoms and breasts. This will make them distinguishable from others and protect them from being annoyed. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
O prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they should draw down their shawls over them. That will make it more likely that they are recognized, hence not teased. And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful
Shabbir Ahmed   
O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and women of the believers that they should draw their outer garments over their person (when in public (24:31)). This is easy and proper, so that they may be recognized and not bothered. Allah is Absolver of imperfections, Merciful
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Oh prophet! Ask your wives and daughters and the women of the believers to wrap a loose outer garment completely around their bodies (leaving the face and the figure unobservable). That way they are more likely to be recognised and won´t be harassed. Allah is the most Forgiving and the most Merciful
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters, and the believing women, that they should wear their outer clothes over their bodies (when outside): That is most suitable (and appropriate), so that they should be known (as believing women) and not be annoyed (or attacked). And Allah is Often Forgiving (Ghafoor), Most Merciful (Raheem)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they should lengthen upon themselves their outer garments. That is better so that they would be recognized and not harmed. God is Forgiver, Merciful
Abdel Haleem   
Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and women believers to make their outer garments hang low over them so as to be recog-nized and not insulted: God is most forgiving, most merciful
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
O Prophet! say unto thy wives and thy daughters and women of the believers that they should let down upon them their wrapping- garments. That would be more likely to distinguish them so that they will not be affronted. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful
Ahmed Ali   
O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the women of the faithful, to draw their wraps a little over them. They will thus be recognised and no harm will come to them. God is forgiving and kind
Aisha Bewley   
O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the women of the muminun to draw their outer garments closely round themselves. This makes it more likely that they will be recognised and not be harmed. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Ali Ünal   
O (most illustrious) Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters, as well as the women (wives and daughters) of the believers, to draw over themselves some part of their outer garments (when outside their homes and when before men whom they are not forbidden to marry because of blood relation). This is better and more convenient for them to be recognized (and respected for their decency and decorum) and not harrassed. God is indeed All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate
Ali Quli Qara'i   
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw closely over themselves their chadors [when going out]. That makes it likely for them to be recognized and not be troubled, and Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful
Hamid S. Aziz   
O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments (cloaks); this will be more proper, that they may be known, and not be molested; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and women of the believers to draw their outer garment near over themselves. That is more likely that they are recognized and are not harassed. And God is forgiving and merciful
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
"O prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should draw their outer wear over themselves. That is more modest, that they may be acknowledged but not harassed, and God is Oft-Forgiving, Mercifully Redeeming.
Musharraf Hussain   
Prophet, tell your wives, daughters, and the believers’ wives to draw their overcoats close around; that will ensure they are recognised and will not be harmed. Allah is Forgiving, Caring.
Maududi   
O Prophet, enjoin your wives and your daughters and the believing women, to draw a part of their outer coverings around them. It is likelier that they will be recognised and not molested. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers that they should lengthen upon themselves their outer garments. That is better so that they will not be recognized and harmed. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
Mohammad Shafi   
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of believers to put on their outer-garments over their bodies in such a way that they are recognised and not molested.h And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
'O Prophet! Tell to your wives, and daughters and Muslim women, that they should keep putting a part of their wrapping covers over their faces. This is nearer than this that if they are recognized, they should not be annoyed. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Rashad Khalifa   
O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus, they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters and the believing women to draw their veils close to them, so it is likelier they will be known, and not hurt. Allah is the Forgiver, the Most Merciful
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
O Prophet, tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of believers to let down upon them their over-garments. This is more proper, so that they may be known, and not be given trouble. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
You, you the prophet, say to your wives and your daughters and the believers' women they (F) near (lengthen) on them from their shirts/gowns/wide dresses, that (is) nearer that (E) they (F) be known (better than being identified), so they (F) do not be harmed mildly/harmed, and God was/is forgiving, merciful
Bijan Moeinian   
O’ Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, as well as other believing women, that they should cover their face with their outer garment [say a scarf] until their front [a Muslim woman’s “uniform” completely covers her body, without showing the curvatures of the body. Only the palm of her hands and feet and the face from the front to chin may be visible.] It is expected that they will thus be recognized and respected. God is Forgiving [when it comes to the past practices] and merciful [to those who follow the Islamic laws from now on.]
Faridul Haque   
O Prophet! Command your wives and your daughters and the women of the Muslims to cover their faces with a part of their cloaks; this is closer to their being recognised and not being harassed; and Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful. (It is incumbent upon women to cover themselves properly.
Sher Ali   
O Prophet ! tell thy wives and thy daughters, and the women of the believers, that they should pull down upon them of their outer cloaks from their heads over their faces. That is more likely that they may thus be recognized and not molested. And ALLAH is Most Forgiving, Merciful
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
O Prophet! Say to your wives, your daughters and the women of believers that, (whilst going out,) they should draw their veils as coverings over them. It is more likely that this way they may be recognized (as pious, free women), and may not be hurt (considered by mistake as roving slave girls). And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Prophet! tell your wives, your daughters and women of the believers that (while going out of their houses) they should draw lower upon them the portions of their (loose) outer coverings from over their heads on to their bosoms (so as to veil therewith the arms, the neck, the hair and ornaments worn over them). This practice is more likely to help them to be distinguished (from other women who make a display of their beauty and ornamentation) and so saves them from trouble. Allah is Great Protector, Ever Merciful
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e.screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever OftForgiving, Most Merciful

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
O Prophet, say to thy wives and daughters and the believing women, that they draw their veils close to them; so it is likelier they will be known, and not hurt. God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate
George Sale   
O prophet, speak unto thy wives, and thy daughters, and the wives of the true believers, that they cast their outer garments over them when they walk abroad; this will be more proper, that they may be known to be matrons of reputation, and may not be affronted by unseemly words or actions. God is gracious and merciful
Edward Henry Palmer   
O thou prophet! tell thy wives and thy daughters, and the women of the believers, to let down over them their outer wrappers; that is nearer for them to be known and that they should not be annoyed; but God is forgiving, merciful
John Medows Rodwell   
O Prophet! speak to thy wives and to thy daughters, and to the wives of the Faithful, that they let their veils fall low. Thus will they more easily be known, and they will not be affronted. God is Indulgent, Merciful
N J Dawood (2014)   
Prophet, enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers to draw their veils close round them. That is more proper, so that they may be recognized and not be molested. God is ever forgiving and compassionate

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the other believing women to put their outer garment over their bodies. That is most proper so they would be recognized [as devout] and not molested. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and believers' wives as well, to draw their cloaks close around themselves. That is more appropriate so they may be recognized and not molested. Allah (God) is Forgiving, Merciful.
Sayyid Qutb   
Prophet! Say to your wives, daughters and all believing women that they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments. This will be more conducive to their being recognized and not affronted. God is Much-Forgiving, Merciful.
Ahmed Hulusi   
O Nabi! Tell your wives, daughters and the wives of the believers to wear their outer garments... This will enable them to be recognized and thus not abused... Allah is the Ghafur, the Rahim.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
O' Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they draw their veils close to them, that is most convenient that they should be known (as such) and not be annoyed, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
O you the Prophet: Tell your wives and your daughters and all Muslim women to dress in flowing outer garments which cover them over. This makes it less likely to be identified and be assaulted. And Allah has always been Ghafurun and Rahimun
Mir Aneesuddin   
O prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the women among the believers to draw close over themselves (something in the form) of their over garments, that will be better for their being recognized so that they may not be annoyed, and Allah is Protectively, Forgiving, Merciful.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is Oft- Forgi ving, Most Merciful
OLD Literal Word for Word   
O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and (the) women (of) the believers to draw over themselves [of] their outer garments. That (is) more suitable that they should be known and not harmed. And is Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful