Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad
He answered: "I have gained insight into something which they were unable to see: and so I took hold of a handful of the Apostle's teachings and cast it away: for thus has my mind prompted me [to act]."
M. M. Pickthall
He said: I perceived what they perceive not, so I seized a handful from the footsteps of the messenger, and then threw it in. Thus my soul commended to me
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
He replied: "I saw what they saw not: so I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Messenger, and threw it (into the calf): thus did my soul suggest to me."
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
He said, “I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful ˹of dust˺ from the hoof-prints of ˹the horse of˺ the messenger-angel ˹Gabriel˺ then cast it ˹on the moulded calf˺. This is what my lower-self tempted me into.”
Safi Kaskas
He said, “I gained insight into what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the messenger’s track and threw it in. This is what my soul tempted me to do.”
Wahiduddin Khan
He said, I perceived what they did not see. So I took a handful [of dust] from the footprint of the Messenger and threw it in [the calf]. That is what my inner self prompted me to do
Shakir
He said: I saw (Jibreel) what they did not see, so I took a handful (of the dust) from the footsteps of the messenger, then I threw it in the casting; thus did my soul commend to m
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
He said: I kept watch over what they keep not watch, so I seized a handful of dust from the foot prints of the Messenger and cast it forth. And thus my soul enticed me.
T.B.Irving
He said: "I noticed something they do not notice, so I snatched a handful from the messenger´s footprints and flung it away. Thus my soul has lured me on."
Abdul Hye
(Samiri) said: “I saw what they did not see, so I seized a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Messenger (angel) and then threw it (into the casting of the calf). This my inner soul suggested to me.”
The Study Quran
He said, “I saw that which they saw not. So I took a handful [of dust] from the footsteps of the messenger, and I cast it. Thus did my soul prompt me.
Talal Itani & AI (2024)
He answered, “I saw what they didn’t see, so I grabbed a handful of the messenger’s trace, and I threw it. That’s what my inner self prompted me to do.”
Talal Itani (2012)
He said, 'I saw what they did not see, so I grasped a handful from the Messenger's traces, and I flung it away. Thus my soul prompted me.'
Dr. Kamal Omar
(Samiri) said: “I perceived what the people perceived not therein. I received a portion from the teaching of the Messenger but I discarded it away and thus commended to me my Nafs .”
Moses cursed him: "Get out of here! Now through out your life, you will say to other people: 'Touch me not’; and you will not escape your appointed doom. Behold this god to whom you had become a devoted worshipper: we will burn it and scatter its ashes into the sea."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
Said he, "I beheld what they did not behold; so I grasped a handful (Literally: I grasped a grasp) (of dust) from the messenger's track; then flung it off. Thus my self instigated (that) to me."
Muhammad Sarwar
He replied, "I had the skill (of carving) which they did not have. I followed some of the Messengers's (Moses) tradition, but I then ignored it. Thus, my soul prompted me (to carve a golden calf with an artificial hollow sound)
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
He said, .I perceived something they did not perceive. So I picked up a handful from under the footstep of the messenger. Then, I cast it. And thus my inner self tempted me
Shabbir Ahmed
He answered, "I have gained insight into something which they have not. So I took hold of a handful of the Messenger's teachings and cast it away. This is what my mind prompted me to do."
Dr. Munir Munshey
(Saamari) said, "I realized what others failed to. So I collected a handful (of dust) from the footmarks of the prophets and tossed it on the calf. That is what my self prompted me to do!"
Syed Vickar Ahamed
He replied: "I saw what they did not see: So I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the messenger, and threw it (into the calf): Thus did my soul tell me."
He said, "I saw what they did not see, so I took a handful [of dust] from the track of the messenger and threw it, and thus did my soul entice me."
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
He said: "I noticed what they did not notice, so I took a handful from where the messenger was standing, and I cast it in. This is what my soul inspired me to do."
Abdel Haleem
He replied, ‘I saw something they did not; I took in some of the teachings of the Messenger but tossed them aside: my soul prompted me to do what I did.’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
He said: l saw that which they saw not; so I seized a handful from the footstep of the messenger, and then cast it; Thus my soul embellished the affair to me
Ahmed Ali
He said: "I saw what they did not see. I picked up a handful of dust from the messenger's tracks and threw it in, for the idea seemed attractive to me."
Aisha Bewley
He said, ´I saw what they did not see. So I gathered up a handful from the Messenger´s footprints and threw it in. That is what my inner self urged me to do.´
Ali Ünal
He answered: "I have seen something which they were unable to see, and so I took a handful (of dust) from the trail of the messenger (the archangel Gabriel) and cast it into the molten ornaments: thus did my soul prompt me to act."
Ali Quli Qara'i
He said, ‘I saw what they did not see. I took a handful [of dust] from the messenger’s trail and threw it. That is how my soul prompted me.’
Hamid S. Aziz
Said he, "I beheld what they beheld not, and I grasped a handful of dust from the footprint of the messenger and cast it; for thus my soul induced me."
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
He (Sumeri) said: “I saw something that they did not see, so I grabbed a handful from the messenger's track/artifact and threw it (in the fire), and that is how my soul/mind seduced me.”
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
He replied, “I saw what they saw not. So I grabbed a handful from the footprint of the messenger and threw it. This is what my soul suggested to me.
Musharraf Hussain
He said, “I saw what they didn’t see, I picked up a handful of dust from the trail of the Messenger and threw it at the statue of the calf; unfortunately that’s what seemed pleasing to me.”
Maududi
He answered: "I saw what the people did not see. So I took a handful of dust from the trail of the Messenger, and I flung it (into the fire). Thus did my mind prompt me."
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
He said: "I noticed what they did not notice, so I took a handful from where the messenger was standing, and I cast it in. This is what my soul inspired me to do."
Mohammad Shafi
He said, "I saw what they did not see. And I took a handful of traces from the messenger and flung it. And this is what my own self prompted me to do."
Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
He said, 'I saw that the people did not see, so I took a handful of dust from the foot step of the angel, then cast it, and this looked fair to my soul
He said, "I saw what they could not see. I grabbed a fistful (of dust) from the place where the messenger stood, and used it (to mix into the golden calf). This is what my mind inspired me to do."
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
He replied: 'I saw what they did not see and seized a handful of dust from the foot print of the messenger and so I cast it this my soul prompted me to do.
Maulana Muhammad Ali
He said: I perceived what they perceived not, so I took a handful from the footprints of the messenger then I cast it away. Thus did my soul embellish (it) to me
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira
He said: "I saw with what they did not see/know with it, so I grasped/clutched a handful/grasp from the messenger's trace/mark , so I discarded/rejected it, , and as/like that my self enticed/tempted for me."
Bijan Moeinian
He replied: “Well, I saw angel Gabriel (that the others did not see) and I was inspired to take a handful of his foot print’s dust and throw upon the statue [making it sacred!]”
Faridul Haque
He said, "I witnessed what the people did not witness – I therefore took a handful from the tracks * of the angel, then threw it ** - and this is what seemed pleasing to my soul." (* The marks left behind by the mount of Angel Jibreel. ** Into the mouth of the calf.
Sher Ali
He said, `I perceived what they perceived not. I had only adopted part of what the Messenger (Moses) inculcated, but I threw even that away. Thus it is that my mind commended to me.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
He said: ‘I saw what these people had not seen. I took a handful (of dust) from the footstep of the angel (that visited you); then I cast it (into the model of the calf), and this way my (lower) self made (it) attractive to me.
Amatul Rahman Omar
He said, `I perceived that which they did not perceive. (My perception and insight being stronger than theirs.) I had adopted only some of the traditions (and the teachings) of the Messenger (- Moses), but that (too) I cast away. That is what my mind made fair-seeming to me.
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
(Samiri) said: "I saw what they saw not, so I took a handful (of dust) from the hoof print of the messenger (Jibraels (Gabriel) horse) and threw it (into the fire in which were put the ornaments of the Firauns (Pharaoh) people, or into the calf). Thus my inner-self suggested to me."
New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame
He said, “I saw that which they did not see so I took a handful of the footsteps of the messenger then I cast it [into the calf] and thus has my soul made it seemly for me.”
Munir Mezyed
The Samaritan said: “I saw what they did not see: (I saw Gabriel riding a horse), so I took a handful from the footprints of the Messenger, and cast it (into the molten ornaments). This is what my Inner Self induced me to do."
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
He said: I saw what they did not see and took hold of a handful of the trace of the messenger and threw it in, and this is what my soul suggested to me.
Linda “iLHam” Barto
He replied, “I could see what they could not see [in the vision of an artist]. I took a handful from the footprint of the messenger, and I threw it [into the molten gold for the golden calf]. This is what my soul suggested to me.”
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation
He said, “I perceived what they did not perceive, so I grasped a handful from the messenger’s traces and I flung it away, and thus my soul prompted me.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab
He said: "I noticed something they do not notice, so I snatched a handful from the messenger's footprints and flung it away. Thus my soul has lured me on."
Samy Mahdy
He said, “I sighted what they did not sight, so I withheld a handful among the Messenger’s traces, and I flung it away. And thus, my soul was facilitated for me.”
Sayyid Qutb
He answered: 'I have gained insight into something which they were unable to see; and so I took a handful of dust from the trail of the messenger and flung it away; for thus has my mind prompted me to act.'
Ahmed Hulusi
(Samiri) said, “I perceived what they perceived not! So, I took a little of the Rasul’s product (by using the force of the letter B he informed us about) and threw it (into the blend of molten gold)... This is what my (inner) self (the force within my essence) prompted me to do.”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
He said: 'I perceived what they did not perceive, so I took a handful of dust from the messenger's track, then I threw it (into the Calf); thus my self prompted me'
"I have seen", said Samiri, "what they failed to see -meaning the Spirit Jabril (Gabriel)- and so I took a handful of dust from the track of the Messenger of Allah and I tossed it toward the calf, for so did my soul prompt me -a made- up excuse for his unforgivable sinful act-
Mir Aneesuddin
He said, "I saw that, which they did not see, so I took a handful from the footstep of the messenger then I threw it and thus did my soul incline me (to do)."
The Wise Quran
He said, 'I saw what they did not see, and I grasped a handful from the footprint of the messenger and cast it; and thus my soul commended to me.'