←Prev   Ayah al-Ahqaf (The Wind-curved Sandhills, The Dunes, The Sandhills) 46:24   Next→ 

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Muhammad Asad   
And so, when they beheld it in the shape of a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they exclaimed, “This is but a heavy cloud which will bring us [welcome] rain!” [But Hud said:] “Nay, but it is the very thing which you [so contemptuously] sought to hasten - a wind bearing grievous suffering
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Then when they saw the torment as a ˹dense˺ cloud approaching their valleys, they said ˹happily˺, “This is a cloud bringing us rain.” ˹But Hûd replied,˺ “No, it is what you sought to hasten: a ˹fierce˺ wind carrying a painful punishment!”
Safi Kaskas   
When they saw a cloud approaching their valleys they said, "This is a cloud that will bring us rain." No, it is rather what you wanted to speed up : a wind, in which there is a painful punishment,

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًا مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا هَٰذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمْطِرُنَا بَلْ هُوَ مَا اسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِ رِيحٌ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيم
Transliteration (2021)   
falammā ra-awhu ʿāriḍan mus'taqbila awdiyatihim qālū hādhā ʿāriḍun mum'ṭirunā bal huwa mā is'taʿjaltum bihi rīḥun fīhā ʿadhābun alīmu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Then when they saw it (as) a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This (is) a cloud bringing us rain." Nay, it (is) what you were asking to hasten it a wind in it (is) a punishment painful,

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
And so, when they beheld it in the shape of a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they exclaimed, “This is but a heavy cloud which will bring us [welcome] rain!” [But Hud said:] “Nay, but it is the very thing which you [so contemptuously] sought to hasten - a wind bearing grievous suffering
M. M. Pickthall   
Then, when they beheld it as a dense cloud coming toward their valleys, they said: Here is a cloud bringing us rain. Nay, but it is that which ye did seek to hasten, a wind wherein is painful torment
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Then, when they saw the (Penalty in the shape of) a cloud traversing the sky, coming to meet their valleys, they said, "This cloud will give us rain!" "Nay, it is the (Calamity) ye were asking to be hastened!- A wind wherein is a Grievous Penalty
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Then when they saw the torment as a ˹dense˺ cloud approaching their valleys, they said ˹happily˺, “This is a cloud bringing us rain.” ˹But Hûd replied,˺ “No, it is what you sought to hasten: a ˹fierce˺ wind carrying a painful punishment!”
Safi Kaskas   
When they saw a cloud approaching their valleys they said, "This is a cloud that will bring us rain." No, it is rather what you wanted to speed up : a wind, in which there is a painful punishment,
Wahiduddin Khan   
So, when they saw it in the shape of a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they exclaimed, This is only a heavy cloud which will bring us [welcome] rain! [But Hud said]: By no means! It is the very thing which you sought to hastena wind bearing grievous sufferin
Shakir   
So when they saw it as a cloud appearing in the sky advancing towards their valleys, they said: This is a cloud which will give us rain. Nay! it is what you sought to hasten on, a blast of wind in which is a painful punishment
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud proceeding towards their valleys, they said: This is a dense cloud, that which gives rain to us. Nay! It is what you seek to hasten, a wind in which there is a painful punishment.
T.B.Irving   
When they saw it as a disturbance advancing on their valleys, they said: "This is some storm which will bring us rain." Rather it was what you sought to hasten up for yourselves, a wind containing painful punishment,
Abdul Hye   
Then, when they saw it (punishment) as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: “This cloud will bring us rain.” Nay, but it is that (punishment) which you were asking to be hastened! It is a wind in it is a painful punishment!
The Study Quran   
And when they beheld it as a cloud bound for their valleys, they said, “This is a cloud bringing us rain.” Nay! It is what you sought to hasten—a wind carrying a painful punishment
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Then, when they saw it (as) a dense cloud, one that comes quite in front of their valleys — they said: “This is a thick cloud, about to rain on us.” Nay! (Rather) it (is) which you asked to be hastened. (It is) a wind wherein (exists) a painful torment
Farook Malik   
Then when they saw the torment in the shape of a cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This cloud will bring us rain." - "Nay! It is what you were asking for, a fierce wind bringing you a woeful torment
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
Then, when they saw a cloud approaching their valley, they said, 'This is a cloud that will bring us rain.' 'In fact, it is what you were impatient for: a wind in which is grievous suffering.'
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Then, when they saw it as a traversing (cloud) proceeding towards their valleys, they said, "This traversing cloud will be (giving) us rain!" No indeed, (but) it is what you sought to hasten, a wind wherein is a painful torment
Muhammad Sarwar   
When they saw the torment as a cloud proceeding to their valleys, they said, "This cloud will bring us rain." He said, "No, it is the torment which you wanted to suffer immediately. It is a wind bearing and painful torment
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
So, when they saw it as a cloud proceeding towards their valleys, they said, .This is a cloud that will bring us rain. No, it is the very thing you asked to hasten up __ a wind in which there is a painful punishment
Shabbir Ahmed   
And so, when they saw a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "Here is a dense cloud bringing us the needed rain." Nay, this is the very thing you challenged to hasten - a wind wherein is painful torment
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Then, as they saw the dense cloud advancing towards their valleys, they said, "This is the cloud! It will bring us (the welcome) rain." ….. "No it will not! Rather, it is that which you had asked to be hastened. Wind! In it is a painful punishment!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Then, when they saw the (penalty as) a cloud moving in the sky coming to meet their valleys, they said: "This cloud will give us rain!" No! It was (really the penalty) you were asking to be sent without delay! A wind in which is a painful penalty
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Rather, it is that for which you were impatient: a wind, within it a painful punishment
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Then when they saw the dense cloud heading towards their valley, they said: "This is a dense cloud that will bring to us much needed rain!" No, this is what you had asked to be hastened; a violent wind wherein there is painful retribution
Abdel Haleem   
When they saw a cloud approaching their valley, they said, ‘This cloud will give us rain!’ ‘No indeed! It is what you wanted to hasten: a storm-wind bearing a painful punishmen
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Then when they beheld it as an overpeering cloud tending toward their valleys they said: yonder is an overpeering cloud bringing us rain. Nay it is that which ye sought to be hastened: a wind wherein is a torment afflictive
Ahmed Ali   
So when they saw it as a cloud advancing towards their valleys, they said: "This is just a passing cloud that will bring us rain." "No. It is what you were trying to hasten: The wind which carries the grievous punishment
Aisha Bewley   
When they saw it as a storm cloud advancing on their valleys they said, ´This is a storm cloud which will give us rain.´ No, rather it is what you desired to hasten — a wind containing painful punishment,
Ali Ünal   
Then (as the events unfolded) they saw that (which they were threatened with) as a dense cloud in the sky advancing towards their valleys, and they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain." No; it is what you have (derisively) asked to be hastened: a wind bearing a painful punishment
Ali Quli Qara'i   
When they saw it as a cloud advancing toward their valleys, they said, ‘This cloud brings us rain.’ ‘Rather it is what you sought to hasten: a hurricane carrying a painful punishment
Hamid S. Aziz   
So when they saw it (the threat) as a cloud in the sky advancing towards their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud which will give us rain." "Nay! It is (the calamity) which you sought to hasten on, a blast of wind in which is a painful p
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
So when they saw it (the punishment) as a cloud moving toward their valleys, they said: this is a cloud bringing us rain. No, but his is what you wanted it to be rushed, a wind with a painful punishment in it
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Then when they saw a cloud traversing the sky, and approaching their valleys, they said, “This cloud will give us rain.” “No, it is that which you were asking to be hastened, a wind carrying a terrible penalty
Musharraf Hussain   
When they saw the punishment coming, it was a cloud moving towards their valleys; they said, “This cloud will bring us rain.” Hud said, “Yes, it’s what you eagerly wanted, a sandstorm carrying painful torment.
Maududi   
When they saw the scourge advancing towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud that will bring much rain to us." "By no means; it is what you had sought to hasten ? a wind-storm bearing a grievous chastisemen
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Then when they saw the dense cloud heading towards their valleys, they said: "This is a dense cloud that will bring to us much needed rain!" No, this is what you had asked to be hastened; a violent wind wherein there is a painful retribution.
Mohammad Shafi   
Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud coming toward their valleys, they said, "Here is a cloud bringing us rain. But it is what you sought to hasten — a wind wherein is painful torment

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Then, when they saw the torment like clouds spread in the sides of the sky coming towards their Valleys, said, this is a cloud which will rain over us. Not so, rather it is that which you sought to hasten a windstorm wherein is a painful torment.
Rashad Khalifa   
When they saw the storm heading their way, they said, "This storm will bring to us much needed rain." Instead, this is what you challenged (Hood) to bring; violent wind wherein there is painful retribution.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
And when they saw it as a sudden cloud heading for their valley they said: 'This is a cloud that will bring us rain! ' 'Rather, ' (he replied): 'it is that which you have sought to hasten, a wind in which there is a painful punishment
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
So when they saw it -- a cloud advancing towards their valleys, they said: This is a cloud bringing us rain. Nay, it is that which you sought to hasten, a wind wherein is painful chastisement
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
So when they saw/understood it an obstructing cloud approaching/coming (to) their valleys, they said: "That obstructing cloud (is) raining on us." No/rather it is what you hurried/hastened with it, a wind/smell in it (is) a painful torture
Bijan Moeinian   
When they saw that the punishment is approaching their valleys, they said: “Here comes the cloud with much needed rain in for us.” No way; it is the punishment that you were challenging your Prophet to bring upon you
Faridul Haque   
So when they saw the punishment coming towards their valleys, spread like a cloud on the horizon, they said, “That is a cloud which will shower rain upon us”; said Hud “In fact this is what you were being impatient for; a windstorm carrying a painful punishment.”
Sher Ali   
Then, when they saw the punishment coming towards their valleys in the form of a cloud, they said, `This is a cloud which will give us rain.' We said, `Nay, but it is that which you sought to hasten - a wind wherein is a grievous punishment
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
So when they saw that (torment) advancing on their valleys like a cloud, they said: ‘This is the cloud that is going to rain upon us.’ (Nay, not that,) rather this (cloud) is that (torment) which you were restlessly seeking to hasten. (This) is the storm in which is (approaching) a grievous punishment
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Then, when they saw this (punishment they were threatened with) in the form of a cloud (spreading in the sky) heading towards their valleys, they said, `This is a cloud which will rain over us.' (They were told,) `It is no such thing, rather it is that (punishment) which you sought to hasten. (It is) a hurricane carrying a woeful punishment
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Nay, but it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened! a wind wherein is a painful torment

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Then, when they saw it as a sudden cloud coming towards their valleys, they said, 'This is a cloud, that shall give us rain!' 'Not so; rather it is that you sought to hasten -- a wind, wherein is a painful chastisement
George Sale   
And when they saw the preparation made for their punishment, namely, a cloud traversing the sky, and tending towards their valleys, they said, this is a traversing cloud, which bringeth us rain. Hud answered, nay; it is what ye demanded to be hastened: A wind, wherein is a severe vengeance
Edward Henry Palmer   
And when they saw a traversing cloud approaching their valleys they said, 'This is a cloud to give us rain.' 'Nay, but it is what ye sought to hasten on - a wind in which is grievous torment
John Medows Rodwell   
So when they saw a cloud coming straight for their valleys, they said, "It is a passing cloud that shall give us rain." "Nay, it is that whose speedy coming ye challenged a blast wherein is an afflictive punishment:
N J Dawood (2014)   
And when they saw a passing cloud heading for their valleys, they said: ‘This is a passing cloud that will bring us rain. ‘By no means!‘ he said. ‘It is what you have sought to hasten: a hurricane bringing a woeful scourge

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
When they saw a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, “This cloud will give us rain.” No, it is what you wanted hastened. [It is] a wind in which is a terrible punishment.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
When they saw it (a cloud) as a disturbance advancing on their valleys, they said: "This is some storm which will bring us rain." Rather it was what you sought to hasten up for yourselves, a wind containing painful punishment,
Ahmed Hulusi   
And when they saw the enormous cloud (the suffering of which they were warned) approaching their valley, they said, “This cloud brings us rain.” No, that is the thing for which you were impatient! It is the wind containing severe suffering.
Mir Aneesuddin   
Then when they saw the (punishment in the form of) a cloud coming towards their valleys, they said, “This is a cloud which will give us rain.” No, it is that which you sought to be hastened on, wind in which is a painful punishment,
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
And when they saw a cloud drift coming their way they expressed glad feeling because their valley had suffered drought and they said: " This is a cloud whose rain shall bring a rainbow of hope, joy and prosperity. But that was a joy in which they could not rejoice. This, " said Hud, " is what you have challenged to be hastened on; " " it is but a storm charged with a condign punishment bearing impetuously upon you, "

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Then, when they saw the (Penalty in the shape of) a cloud traversing the sky, coming to meet their valleys, they said, "This cloud will give us rain!" "Nay, it is the (Calamity) ye were asking to be hastened!- A wind wherein is a Grievous Penal ty
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Then when they saw it (as) a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This (is) a cloud bringing us rain." Nay, it (is) what you were asking it to be haste a wind in it (is) a punishment painful