←Prev   Ayah Ghafir (The Forgiver, The Forgiving One) 40:12   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
[And they will be told:] “This [has befallen you] because, whenever the One God was invoked, you denied this truth; whereas, when divinity was ascribed to aught beside Him, you believed [in it]! But all judgment rests with God, the Exalted, the Great!”
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹They will be told,˺ “˹No!˺ This is because when Allah alone was invoked, you ˹staunchly˺ disbelieved. But when others were associated with Him ˹in worship˺, you ˹readily˺ believed. So ˹Today˺ judgment belongs to Allah ˹alone˺—the Most High, All-Great.”
Safi Kaskas   
[They will be told] "That is because, when God alone was called upon, you denied Him, but when others were associated with Him, you believed. Judgment belongs to God, the Most High, the Most Great."

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُ إِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ كَفَرْتُمْ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِ تُؤْمِنُوا فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِير
Transliteration (2021)   
dhālikum bi-annahu idhā duʿiya l-lahu waḥdahu kafartum wa-in yush'rak bihi tu'minū fal-ḥuk'mu lillahi l-ʿaliyi l-kabīr
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
"That (is) because, when was invoked Allah Alone you disbelieved; but if (others) were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgment (is) with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great."

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
[And they will be told:] “This [has befallen you] because, whenever the One God was invoked, you denied this truth; whereas, when divinity was ascribed to aught beside Him, you believed [in it]! But all judgment rests with God, the Exalted, the Great!”
M. M. Pickthall   
(It is said unto them): This is (your plight) because, when Allah only was invoked, ye disbelieved, but when some partner was ascribed to Him ye were believing. But the command belongeth only to Allah, the Sublime, the Majestic
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
(The answer will be:) "This is because, when Allah was invoked as the Only (object of worship), ye did reject Faith, but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed! the Command is with Allah, Most High, Most Great!"
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
˹They will be told,˺ “˹No!˺ This is because when Allah alone was invoked, you ˹staunchly˺ disbelieved. But when others were associated with Him ˹in worship˺, you ˹readily˺ believed. So ˹Today˺ judgment belongs to Allah ˹alone˺—the Most High, All-Great.”
Safi Kaskas   
[They will be told] "That is because, when God alone was called upon, you denied Him, but when others were associated with Him, you believed. Judgment belongs to God, the Most High, the Most Great."
Wahiduddin Khan   
[They will be told], This is because when God alone was invoked you denied the truth, yet when others were associated with Him you believed in them. Judgement rests with God, the Most High, the Most Great
Shakir   
That is because when Allah alone was called upon, you disbelieved, and when associates were given to Him, you believed; so judgment belongs to Allah, the High, the Great
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
It will be said: That is because when God alone was called to, you disbelieved. But when partners are ascribed with Him, you believe. And the determination is with God alone, The Lofty, The Great.
T.B.Irving   
This has happened because you disbelieved when God was invoked in His Oneness, while if others were associated with him, you would believe. Discretion belongs to God, the Sublime, the Great.
Abdul Hye   
(It will be replied): “This is because, when Allah alone was invoked (in worship) you disbelieved, but when partners were joined to Him, you believed! So the judgment is only with Allah, the High, the Great!”
The Study Quran   
That is because when God was invoked as One, you disbelieved, and when partners were ascribed unto Him, you believed. Judgment lies with God, the Exalted, the Great
Dr. Kamal Omar   
(It will be said): “This is for you because it (is so, that) when Allah was invoked, He — Alone, you disbelieved (the concept of Monotheism); and if partners were joined to Him, you will accept. So the Verdict (is only) with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great!”
Farook Malik   
They shall be answered: "You are facing this fate because when you were asked to believe in Allah, the One and Only, you disbelieved; but when you were asked to commit polytheism (associate other partners with Him), you believed. Today judgement rests with Allah, the Supreme, the Great."
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
That is because when God alone was called upon, you disbelieved; but when others were associated with Him, you believed. Judgment rests with God the Sublime, the Majestic
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
That is (due to the fact) that when Allah was invoked alone, you disbelieved, and in case (others) are associated with Him, you believe. So judgment belongs to Allah, The Ever-Exalted, The Ever-Great
Muhammad Sarwar   
They will be answered, "Your suffering is only because you disbelieved when One God was mentioned. When other things were considered equal to Him, you believed in them. Judgment belongs to God, the Most High, the Most Great
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
(The reply will be, .No.) This is because whenever Allah alone was invoked, you used to disbelieve, and if partners were associated with Him, you used to believe. Now the decision lies with Allah, the High, the Great
Shabbir Ahmed   
It will be said to them, "This is your plight because when Allah alone was invoked you denied the Message, and when others (such as your 'holy' men) were included besides Him, you believed. But the Command belongs only to Allah, the Sublime, the Majestic." (39:45)
Dr. Munir Munshey   
(They will be told) "You deserve this plight because when Allah, the One and the Only, was being worshipped, you turned away in disbelief. But you (readily) accepted when partners were set up with Him. Now the decision rests solely with Allah, the Exalted and the Greatest!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
(The answer will be:) "This is because, when (you were told that) Allah was to be the Only (One for worship), you did reject Faith, and when partners were joined with Him, you believed (it)! The Command is with Allah, the Most High (Al-Ali’i), the Most Great (Al-Kabir)!"
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
[They will be told], "That is because, when Allah was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allah , the Most High, the Grand."
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
This is because when God Alone was mentioned, you rejected, but when partners were associated with Him, you believed. Therefore, the judgment is for God, the Most High, the Most Great
Abdel Haleem   
[They will be told], ‘This is all because when God alone was invoked you rejected this, yet when others were associated with Him you believed [in them].’ Judgement belongs to God the Most High, the Most Great
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
That is because when Allah alone was called upon ye disbelieved, and when some one was associated with Him ye believed. So the judgment is of Allah, the Exalted, the Great
Ahmed Ali   
This has come upon you because when God alone was invoked you disbelieved; but when partners were associated with Him, you believed. But judgement belongs to God, the all-high and supreme
Aisha Bewley   
That is because when Allah alone is called upon you are kafir, but if others are associated with Him, you have iman. Judgement belongs to Allah, the All-High, the All-Great.
Ali Ünal   
"That (your being in Hell) is so because when the One God alone is invoked, you obstinately refuse to believe, but when partners are associated with Him, you believe. Then (whatever you do), the judgment rests with God, the All-Exalted, the All-Great."
Ali Quli Qara'i   
This [plight of yours] is because, when Allah was invoked alone, you would disbelieve, but if partners were ascribed to Him you would believe. So the judgment belongs to Allah, the All-exalted, the All-great.’
Hamid S. Aziz   
(The reply is,) "This is because when Allah alone was called upon, you disbelieved, and when associates were given to Him, you believed; but the Command belongs only to Allah, the Sublime, the Majestic
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
(They are told:) that is because you disbelieved when God alone was called, and you believed when partners was associated with Him, and the judgment (and the rule) belongs to God, the superior, the great
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
This is because when God was invoked as One, you rejected faith, but when partners were joined to Him, you believed. The command is with God, Most High, Most Great
Musharraf Hussain   
That is because when you were called to Allah you disbelieved but accepted idolatry, so today the decision is Allah’s, the Exalted, the Great.
Maududi   
(They will be told): "(The cause of your present state is that) when Allah alone was invoked, you disbelieved; and when others instead of Him were invoked, you believed. Today all judgement lies with Allah, the Most High, the All-Great."
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
This is because when God alone was mentioned, you rejected, but when partners were set up with Him, you believed. Therefore, the judgment is for God, the Most High, the Great
Mohammad Shafi   
"You are in this plight because, when only Allah was invoked, you would suppress your belief, but when someone besides Him was invoked, you would demonstrate your belief. The command then is only with Allah, Who is the One, and only, High and Great."

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
This happened because, when only one Allah was proclaimed, you disbelieved, but when partners were associated to Him, you believed. Therefore, the command is for Allah Who is the Highest, the Greatest.
Rashad Khalifa   
This is because when GOD ALONE was advocated, you disbelieved, but when others were mentioned beside Him, you believed. Therefore, GOD's judgment has been issued; He is the Most High, the Great.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
(They shall be answered): 'That is because you disbelieved when Allah alone was supplicated to, but when others were associated with Him you believed.' Judgement belongs to Allah, the Most High, the Great
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
That is because when Allah alone was called upon, you disbelieved, and when associates were given to Him, you believed. So judgment belongs to Allah, the High, the Great
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
This is with that it is if God was called alone, you disbelieved, and if He be shared with/be made a partner with Him, you believe (with that), so the judgment/rule (is) to God, the high/elevated, the great
Bijan Moeinian   
[It will be said to them:] “Your fate is due to the fact that you refused to accept the One and Only One God as your Lord; instead you challenged Him with your gods [you asked for it and you got it]. The Judgment now rests with God, the Most High, the Most Great”
Faridul Haque   
“This has occurred because when Allah the One was prayed to, you used to disbelieve; and when a partner was ascribed with Him, you used to believe; so the command is only for Allah, the Supreme, the Great.”
Sher Ali   
It will be said to them, `This is because, when ALLAH alone was called upon, you disbelieved, but when partners were associated with HIM, you believed. The decision now rests only with ALLAH, the High, the Incomparably Great.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
(It will be said to them: ‘No,) this (eternal punishment) is because, when Allah alone was called upon, you used to deny, but when (something) was associated with Him, you used to believe. So (now) the command is Allah’s alone, Who is Most High, Supreme.
Amatul Rahman Omar   
(They will be answered,) `This is because when Allah alone was called upon (as One worthy to be worshipped) you rejected, but when partners were associated with Him, you accepted. So (the fact is established beyond doubt that) this day sovereignty belongs only to Allah, the Most Sublime, the Incomparably Great
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
(It will be said): "This is because, when Allah Alone was invoked (in worship, etc.) you disbelieved, but when partners were joined to Him, you believed! So the judgement is only with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great!"

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
That is because, when God was called to alone, you disbelieved; but if others are associated with Him, then you believe. Judgment belongs to God, the All-high, the All-great
George Sale   
And it shall be answered them, this hath befallen you, for that when one God was preached unto you, ye believed not; but if a plurality of gods had been associated with Him, ye had believed: And judgment belongeth unto the high, the great God
Edward Henry Palmer   
That is because when God alone was proclaimed ye did disbelieve; but when partners were joined to Him ye did believe; but judgment belongs to God, the high, the great
John Medows Rodwell   
"This hath befallen you, for that when One God was proclaimed to you, ye believed not: but when partners had been united with him, ye believed: But judgment belongeth unto God, the High, the Great."
N J Dawood (2014)   
This is because when God was invoked alone, you disbelieved; but when bidden to serve other gods besides Him you did believe. Today judgement rests with God, the Most High, the Supreme One.‘

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
This [punishment] is because, when Allah was invoked as the only One, you rejected faith, but when associates were joined with Him, you believed. The command is with Allah, the Highest, the Almighty.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
This has happened because you disbelieved when Allah (God) was invoked in His Oneness, while if others were associated with him, you would believe. Discretion belongs to Allah (God), the Sublime, the Great.
Ahmed Hulusi   
The reason why you are in this state is: When Allah invited you to His Oneness (when you were offered to cleanse yourselves from your illusory identities), you covered (denied) it! If it were duality (to which you were invited) you would surely have believed in it... The judgment belongs to Allah, the Aliy, the Kabir (the One whose judgment of His manifest forces you cannot refuse)!
Mir Aneesuddin   
That is because, when Allah alone was prayed to ( i.e. invoked ), you did not believe, and if partners were associated with Him you believed, so judgment belongs to Allah, the High, the Great.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
They are told: "This is, in requital of the way you conducted yourselves in life; when Allah alone was invoked you rejected the idea as groundless fiction and you fixed your attention on the negative aspect of your belief, and when other objects of worship were added to Him portraying a corporate deity you accepted the idea, and the thought sweetly crept into your study of imagination. But judgment and judicial decision rest in His hands; He is the Unique Whose attributes belong to the highest regions of thought and reality; the Unique Who is eminently entitled to the designation: The Supreme

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
(The answer will be:) "This is because, when God was invoked as the Only (object of worship), ye did reject Faith, but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed! the Command is with God, Most High, Most Great!"
OLD Literal Word for Word   
"That (is) because, when Allah was invoked Alone you disbelieved; but if (others) were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgment (is) with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.