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Muhammad Asad   
“Nay,” they say, “[Muhammad propounds] the most involved and confusing of dreams!” “Nay, but he has invented [all] this!” - “Nay, but he is [only] a poet!” - [and,] “Let him, then, come unto us with a miracle, just as those [prophets] of old were sent [with miracles]?”
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Yet they say, “This ˹Quran˺ is a set of confused dreams! No, he has fabricated it! No, he must be a poet! So let him bring us a ˹tangible˺ sign like those ˹prophets˺ sent before.”
Safi Kaskas   
But they continue to quibble, “These [revelations] are only confused dreams,” or, “He has just invented it,” or, “He is merely a poet.” “So [they say] let him bring us a sign like those who were sent previously.”

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
بَلۡ قَالُوۤا۟ أَضۡغَـٰثُ أَحۡلَـٰمِۭ بَلِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُ بَلۡ هُوَ شَاعِرࣱ فَلۡیَأۡتِنَا بِءَایَةࣲ كَمَاۤ أُرۡسِلَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ ۝٥
Transliteration (2021)   
bal qālū aḍghāthu aḥlāmin bali if'tarāhu bal huwa shāʿirun falyatinā biāyatin kamā ur'sila l-awalūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Nay, they say, "Muddled dreams; nay, he (has) invented it; nay, he (is) a poet. So let him bring us a sign like what was sent (to) the former."

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
“Nay,” they say, “[Muhammad propounds] the most involved and confusing of dreams!” “Nay, but he has invented [all] this!” - “Nay, but he is [only] a poet!” - [and,] “Let him, then, come unto us with a miracle, just as those [prophets] of old were sent [with miracles]?”
M. M. Pickthall   
Nay, say they, (these are but) muddled dreams; nay, he hath but invented it; nay, he is but a poet. Let him bring us a portent even as those of old (who were Allah's messengers) were sent (with portents)
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
"Nay," they say, "(these are) medleys of dream! - Nay, He forged it! - Nay, He is (but) a poet! Let him then bring us a Sign like the ones that were sent to (Prophets) of old!"
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Yet they say, “This ˹Quran˺ is a set of confused dreams! No, he has fabricated it! No, he must be a poet! So let him bring us a ˹tangible˺ sign like those ˹prophets˺ sent before.”
Safi Kaskas   
But they continue to quibble, “These [revelations] are only confused dreams,” or, “He has just invented it,” or, “He is merely a poet.” “So [they say] let him bring us a sign like those who were sent previously.”
Wahiduddin Khan   
Some say, These are his confused dreams. Others say, He has invented it himself, and yet others say, He is a poet. Let him bring us a sign as previous messengers did
Shakir   
Nay! say they: Medleys of dreams; nay! he has forged it; nay! he is a poet; so let him bring to us a sign as the former (prophets) were sent (with)
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Nay! They said: Jumbled nightmares! Nay! He but devised it! Nay! He is but a poet! Let him bring us a sign as the ancient ones were sent!
T.B.Irving   
"Rather", they say, "it´s a jumble of dreams! In fact, he has made it all up! Indeed, he´s a poet. Let him bring us a sign such as the first men were sent with."
Abdul Hye   
Nay, they say: “(These revelations of the Qur’an are) strange false dreams! Nay, he (Muhammad) has invented it! Nay, he is a poet! Let him then bring us a sign as the ancients (previous prophets) did!”
The Study Quran   
Yet they said, “Confused dreams! Nay, he has fabricated it! Nay, he is a poet! Let him bring us a sign like those of old were sent!
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
They even say, “A jumble of dreams,” or “He made it up,” or “He is just a poet.” “Let him bring us a sign, just as the ancients received.”
Talal Itani (2012)   
And they said, 'A jumble of dreams,' and, 'He made it up,' and, 'He is a poet,' 'let him bring us a sign, like those sent to the ancients.'
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Nay, they said (regarding the original Divine Book Revealed afresh): “Disturbing thoughts, wild imaginations! Nay, rather he has forged it! Nay, he is a poet! Let him come to us with a credential, the way the previous (Prophets) were sent.”
M. Farook Malik   
Rather, some of them say, "this Qur’an is jumble of dreams!" Others say: "He has made it all up!" And yet others say: "He is a poet!" Let him bring to us a sign as did the former Messengers."
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
"No indeed, " they said, "Jumbled dreams! No indeed, he has fabricated it; no indeed, he is a poet! Then let him come up to us with a sign, as the earliest ones were sent (as Messengers)."
Muhammad Sarwar   
They have said, "It, (the Quran), is only the result of some confused dreams. He is only a poet. He should show us some miracles, as the ancient Prophets had done."
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Further they said, .(The Qur‘an is) a mixture of jumble dreams. Rather, he (the prophet) has fabricated it. Rather, he is a poet. So, let him bring a sign to us, as the earlier ones were sent with
Shabbir Ahmed   
"Nay," they say, "Muddled dreams! Nay, he has but invented it! Nay, he is but a poet! Let him then bring us a miracle (as we have heard), like the ones that were given to Prophets of old!"
Dr. Munir Munshey   
And they said, "Vague meaningless dreams, or he has made it up, or he is a poet. Else, let him present to us a miracle like the earlier (messengers) did."
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
They (the disbelievers) say, "No, (they are) confused (songs) of dreams! No, he wrote it (by himself)! No, he is (only) a poet! Let him then bring us a Sign like those that were sent to (prophets) of old!"
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
But they say, "[The revelation is but] a mixture of false dreams; rather, he has invented it; rather, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign just as the previous [messengers] were sent [with miracles]."
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
They said: "No, these are just bad dreams; no, he made it up; no, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign like those who were sent before."
Abdel Haleem   
Some say, ‘Muddled dreams’; others, ‘He made it up’; yet others, ‘He is just a poet, let him show us a sign as previous messengers did.’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Aye! they say: a medley of dreams; aye! he hath fabricated it; aye! he is a poet; so let him bring us a sign even as the ancients were sent with
Ahmed Ali   
Yet they say: "These are only confused dreams," or rather: "He has invented them;" or: "He is only a poet. Let him therefore bring a miracle to us as the earlier (apostles) were sent with."
Aisha Bewley   
Furthermore they say, ´A muddled jumble of dreams!´ and, ´He has invented it!´ and, ´He is a poet!´ and, ´Let him bring us a Sign like those sent to previous peoples.´
Ali Ünal   
(Confused about which source they should attribute the Qur’an to) they say, "No, but Muhammad offers some jumbles of dream images he has. No, but he fabricates all this! No, but he is a poet. If he is true in his claim, then let him come to us with a sign (a miracle), just as the previous Messengers were sent with miracles!"
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Rather they said, ‘[They are] confused nightmares!’ ‘Rather he has fabricated it!’ ‘Rather he is a poet!’ ‘Let him bring us a sign, like those sent to the ancients.’
Hamid S. Aziz   
"Nay!" they say, "Muddled dreams; nay! He has forged it; nay! He is a poet; but let him bring us a sign as those of yore were sent."
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
But they said: “Confused dreams, or he made it up, or he is a poet, so he should bring us a miracle like it was sent to the earlier (prophets).”
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
“No,” they say, "A medley of dreams." "No, he fabricated it". "No, he is a poet". "Let him bring us a sign like the ones that were sent to those in the past.
Musharraf Hussain   
They replied, “These are just confused dreams; he’s made them up. In fact, he’s a poet, so let him bring us a miracle like the prophets of the past brought.
Maududi   
They say: "Nay, these are confused dreams; nay, he has forged it; nay, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign, even as the Messengers of the past were sent with signs."
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
They said: "No, these are just bad dreams; no, he made it up; no, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign like those who were sent before.
Mohammad Shafi   
But they variously said, "Just a confusing mixture of dreams!" "But he has forged it." "But he is a poet." "Let him then bring to us a sign just as the earlier prophets were sent with."

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
On the contrary, they said, 'these are the perturbed dreams rather it is his own fabrication, nay, he is a poet. Then let him bring any sign to us as the former was sent with
Rashad Khalifa   
They even said, "Hallucinations," "He made it up," and, "He is a poet. Let him show us a miracle like those of the previous messengers."
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Some say: 'No, it is only mixed dreams. ' 'No, he has forged it himself', or, 'no, he is a poet! Let him bring us a sign, just as the ancient ones were sent asMessengers.
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Nay, say they: Medleys of dreams! nay, he has forged it! nay, he is a poet! so let him bring to us a sign such as the former (prophets) were sent (with)
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
But they said: "A confused mixture of dreams with no basis, rather he fabricated/cut and split it, rather he is a poet, so he should come/bring us with a verse/evidence/sign, as/like the first/beginners were sent."
Bijan Moeinian   
They have called you names saying: “These are his dreams; he has forged it; he is nothing but a poet, etc.” They also say: “Why cannot he come up with a miracle like the previous prophets?”
Faridul Haque   
Rather they said, "These are confused dreams, but in fact he has fabricated it - but in fact he is a poet; so he must bring us some sign, like those who were sent before."
Sher Ali   
Nay, they say, `These are but confused dreams; nay, he has forged it himself: nay, he is but a poet. Let him then bring us a Sign just as the former Prophets were sent with Signs.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
But (the wrongdoers go so far as to) say: ‘This (Qur’an) comprises (things seen in) confused dreams. Nay! He has invented it (himself). Nay, he is (in fact) a poet. (If he is a true Prophet,) let him (also) bring us some sign as the former (Prophets) were sent (with signs).
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Nay, they say, `This (Qur'an) is (no revelation), but a jumble of confused dreams, rather he (- the Prophet) has forged it himself; he is a poet. (If it is not) so let him then bring us some sign (of destruction) just as the former (Prophets) were sent with.
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Nay, they say:"These (revelations of the Quran which are inspired to Muhammad SAW) are mixed up false dreams! Nay, he has invented it! Nay, he is a poet! Let him then bring us an Ayah (sign as a proof) like the ones (Prophets) that were sent before (with signs)!"

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Nay, but they say: 'A hotchpotch of nightmares! Nay, he has forged it; nay, he is a poet! Now therefore let him bring us a sign, even as the ancient ones were sent as Messengers.
George Sale   
But they say, the Koran is a confused heap of dreams: Nay, he hath forged it; nay, he is a poet: Let him come unto us therefore with some miracle, in like manner as the former prophets were sent
Edward Henry Palmer   
'Nay!' they say, 'a jumble of dreams; nay! he has forged it; nay! he is a poet; but let him bring us a sign as those of yore were sent.
John Medows Rodwell   
"Nay," say they, "it is the medley of dreams: nay, he hath forged it: nay, he is a poet: let him come to us with a sign as the prophets of old were sent."
N J Dawood (2014)   
Some say: ‘It² is but a medley of dreams.‘ Others: ‘He has invented it himself.‘ And yet others: ‘He is a poet: let him show us a miracle, as did the apostles in days gone by.‘

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Nay they said, “It is but jumbled up dreams. Nay he contrived it. Nay he is a poet. Let him then bring a sign unto us in the like manner that the messengers of the former times were sent [with signs]”
Munir Mezyed   
Nay, but they say: ‘(The Verses of the Qur’ān are no more than) muddled dreams! Nay, but He has forged it! Nay, but he is a poet! Now, therefore let him bring us a Sign (of wonder attributed to divine power) such as the former (Messengers) were sent (with)’.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
But they said: confused dreams, rather he invented it, rather he is a poet, so let him bring us a sign like the messengers sent before.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
But they said, “A jumble of dreams; rather, he fabricated it; rather, he is a poet, so let him bring us a sign like those sent to the ancients.”
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
“Bunk!” they say. “Medleys of dreams! Bunk! He forged it. Bunk! He is only a poet. He must produce a sign like those [miracles] of the past [by the earlier prophets].”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
"Rather", they say, "it's a jumble of dreams! In fact, he has made it all up! Indeed, he's a poet. Let him bring us a sign such as the first men were sent with."
Samy Mahdy   
Nay, but they said, “A jumble of dreams,” nay, but “He slandered it,” nay, but “He is a poet,” “So, let him bring us by a verse, as the former were sent by it.”
Sayyid Qutb   
'Nay,' they say, 'it is but a medley of dreams!' 'Nay, he has invented it himself!' 'Nay, he is only a poet!' 'Let him, then, bring us some sign, as the prophets of old were sent with.'
Thomas Cleary   
"No," they say, "it is a jumble of dreams." "No, he made it up." "No, he is a poet." "Let him produce a sign like what was revealed by the ancients."
Ahmed Hulusi   
And they say, “He only talks of delusive dreams! He is probably making them up... No, he is a poet! (If this isn’t the case, then) let him show his miracle as did the Rasuls before him!”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
�Nay!�, They say: �(These are) medleys of dreams! Nay! he has forged it! Nay! he is a poet! Let him then bring us a sign like the ones that were sent unto (the prophets) of old
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
They -the infidels- went further and fared worse -in their description of the Quran and of the Prophet They said: "confused dreams, no, but he forged it, no, but he is a poet; he must present us with a miraculous sign like those with which were equipped the prophets of old"
Mir Aneesuddin   
Say, "My Fosterer knows what is spoken in the sky and the earth and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
The Wise Quran   
Nay, they say, 'A confusion of dreams; Nay, he has invented it; Nay, he is a poet; So let him bring us a sign as those of old were sent.'

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
"Nay," they say, "(these are) medleys of dream! - Nay, He forged it! - Nay, He is (but) a poet! Let him then bring us a Sign like the ones that were sent to (Prophets) of old!"
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Nay, they say, "Muddled dreams; nay, he (has) invented it; nay, he (is) a poet. So let him bring us a sign like what was sent (to) the former.
OLD Transliteration   
Bal qaloo adghathu ahlamin bali iftarahu bal huwa shaAAirun falya/tina bi-ayatin kama orsila al-awwaloona