←Prev   Ayah Ghafir (The Forgiver, The Forgiving One) 40:21   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but God took them to task for their sins, and they had none to defend them against God
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might and ˹richer in˺ monuments throughout the land. But Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.
Safi Kaskas   
Have they not traveled through the land and seen the fate of those [who lived] before them? They were mightier than they are, and they left more impact on the land, but God seized them for their transgressions, and they had no protector from God.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
۞ أَوَ لَمۡ یَسِیرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَیَنظُرُوا۟ كَیۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ كَانُوا۟ هُمۡ أَشَدَّ مِنۡهُمۡ قُوَّةࣰ وَءَاثَارࣰا فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقࣲ ۝٢١
Transliteration (2021)   
awalam yasīrū fī l-arḍi fayanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu alladhīna kānū min qablihim kānū hum ashadda min'hum quwwatan waāthāran fī l-arḍi fa-akhadhahumu l-lahu bidhunūbihim wamā kāna lahum mina l-lahi min wāqi
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Do not they travel in the earth and see how was (the) end (of) those who were before them? from They were [they] superior to them (in) strength and (in) impressions in the land, but seized them Allah for their sins, and not was for them against Allah any protector.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
Have they, then, never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before their time? Greater were they in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but God took them to task for their sins, and they had none to defend them against God
M. M. Pickthall   
Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those who disbelieved before them? They were mightier than these in power and (in the) traces (which they left behind them) in the earth. Yet Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength, and in the traces (they have left) in the land: but Allah did call them to account for their sins, and none had they to defend them against Allah
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might and ˹richer in˺ monuments throughout the land. But Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no protector from Allah.
Safi Kaskas   
Have they not traveled through the land and seen the fate of those [who lived] before them? They were mightier than they are, and they left more impact on the land, but God seized them for their transgressions, and they had no protector from God.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? They were stronger than them and made a more impressive mark upon the land, yet God destroyed them for their sinsthey had no one to defend them against Hi
Shakir   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those who were before them? Mightier than these were they in strength-- and in fortifications in the land, but Allah destroyed them for their sins; and there was not for them any defender against Allah
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Journey they not through the earth and look on how had been the Ultimate End of those who had been before them? They, they had been superior to them in strength and in traces they left on the earth, but God took them for their impieties and there had not been for them one who is a defender from God.
T.B.Irving   
Have they not travelled around the earth and seen what the outcome was for those who preceded them? They were even stronger than they are and left more remains on earth. God seized them because of their sins and there was no one to shield them from God.
Abdul Hye   
Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength and in traces (they left) in the land. But Allah seized them for their sins. They had none to protect them from Allah.
The Study Quran   
Have they not journeyed upon the earth and observed how those before them fared in the end? They were greater than them in strength and left firmer traces upon the earth; yet God seized them for their sins, and they had none to shield them from God
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Didn’t they journey through the earth and see what was the end of those before them? They were stronger than them, and had more impact on the earth. Yet, God seized them for their sins, and they had no protector against God.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Have they not travelled through the earth, and seen the consequences for those before them? They were stronger than them, and they left more impact on earth. But God seized them for their sins, and they had no defender against God
Dr. Kamal Omar   
What! And they have not travelled through the land that they might see what was the final end of those who went before them. They were more than them in power and landmarks on the earth, so Allah seized them for their sins. And there was not unto them a saviour against Allah
M. Farook Malik   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? They were far greater in power than these and left great traces in the land: but Allah seized them for their sins and there was none to protect them from Allah
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And have they not traveled in the earth and so (could) look into how was the end of the ones who were before them? They were stronger (Literally: more valiant, more strict) in power than themselves and (left) more tracks in the earth; yet Allah took them (away) for their guilty (deeds), and in no way did they have any protector from Allah
Muhammad Sarwar   
Have they not travelled through the land to see the terrible end of those who lived before them. They had been mightier than them in power and in leaving their traces on earth. God punished them for their sins. They had no one to save them from God's torment
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Have they not traveled through the earth and seen how was the fate of those who used to be before them? They were stronger than these in power and in traces left on the earth, but Allah seized them because of their sins. There was no one to save them from Allah
Shabbir Ahmed   
Have they, then, never traveled in the land and seen the outcome of those who lived before their times? They were mightier than these, and in the impact they left on earth as evident from their ruins. But Allah took them to task for their trailing behind in humanity. And then they had no defender against the Laws of Allah. (30:9)
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Have they not moved about in the land? Did they not observe the fate of those (who had lived) before them? They were stronger and left more enduring monuments (and influences) on the earth. But Allah grabbed them for their sins and there was no one to protect them from Allah
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the end of those before them? Those (people) were even superior to them in strength, and (see) in the little (that they have left) in the land: But Allah did call them to account (and explain) for their sins, and they had nobody to help them against Allah
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those who were before them? They were greater than them in strength and in impression on the land, but Allah seized them for their sins. And they had not from Allah any protector
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Have they not roamed the Earth and seen how was the consequence of those who were before them They used to be stronger than they, and had built more in the land. But God seized them for their sins, and they had no protector against God
Abdel Haleem   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen how those who lived before them met their end? They were stronger than them and made a more impressive mark on the land, yet God destroyed them for their sins- they had no one to defend them against Him
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Have they not travelled about in the land so that they may behold of what wise hath been the end of those who were before them? They were mightier than these in strength and in the traces in the land. Yet Allah laid hold of them for their sins, and from Allah they had none as protector
Ahmed Ali   
Have they not travelled on the earth that they could see what happened to those before them? They were greater in strength than they, and have left behind them traces on the earth. Yet they were seized by God for their sins, and had none to protect them against God
Aisha Bewley   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen the final fate of those before them? They were greater than them in strength and left far deeper traces on the earth, yet Allah seized them for their wrong actions and they had no one to protect them from Allah.
Ali Ünal   
Have they never traveled about the earth that they may see what was the outcome for those (who obstinately disbelieved in Our signs) before them? They were greater than them in power and in the marks (they left) on the land. Then God seized them for their sins, and they had none to protect them against God
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Have they not traveled over the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? They were greater than them in might and with respect to the effects [they left] in the land. But then Allah seized them for their sins, and they had no defender against Allah[’s punishment]
Hamid S. Aziz   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen the nature of the consequences for those who disbelieved before them? Mightier than these were they in strength, and in the traces they made in the earth. Yet Allah destroyed them for their sins; and they had
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Or have they not traveled on the earth to see what the end of those who were before them was? They were more powerful than them and had more effects (and more marks) on the land, but God punished them for their sins and there was no protector (and defender) for them against God.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Do they not travel through the earth and see what the end of those before them was? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces they have left in the land, but God called them to account for their wrongdoing, and they had none to defend them against God
Musharraf Hussain   
Haven’t they travelled about in the land to see the fate of those before them? They were far stronger than them, and they left behind many remains on the land. So Allah punished them for their sins; no one can protect them from Allah.
Maududi   
Have they not journeyed in the land that they might observe the end of those who came before them? They were even greater in strength than they and left behind more splendid traces in the land. Then Allah seized them because of their sins and they had none who could protect them from Allah
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Have they not roamed the earth and seen how was the consequence of those who were before them? They used to be stronger than they, and had built more in the land. But God seized them for their sins, and they had no protector against God
Mohammad Shafi   
Have they not travelled on the earth to see what happened to those who lived before them? Those were stronger than these in power and influence on the earth. Yet Allah seized them for their sins, and none could defend them from Allah

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Have they not traveled in the earth, so that they may see how has been the end of those before them? They were greater than them in strength and in marks, they left in the earth; Yet Allah seized them for their sins. And there was none to save them from Allah.
Rashad Khalifa   
Did they not roam the earth and note the consequences for those before them? They used to be stronger than they, and more productive on earth. But GOD punished them for their sins, and nothing could protect them from GOD.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? They were stronger than themselves in might and left firmer traces in the earth, but Allah seized them for their sinning, and they had none to protect them from Allah
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? Mightier than these were they in strength and in fortifications in the land, but Allah destroyed them for their sins. And they had none to protect them from Allah
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Do they not walk/move/ride in the land/Planet Earth , so they see/wonder about how was those who were from before them's end/turn (result)? They, they were, stronger than them (in) strength/power, and tracks/historical remains in the earth/Planet Earth, so God punished/took them because (of) their crimes, and (there) was not for them from a protector/preserver from God
Bijan Moeinian   
Have this disbelievers not left their towns to see what happened to the other disbelieving nations before them? They were much stronger and more productive but made God punish them for their misconducts. When God’s punishment came upon them, there was none to save them
Faridul Haque   
So did they not travel in the land in order to see what sort of fate befell those before them? Their strength and the signs they left behind in the earth, exceeded them - so Allah seized them on account of their sins, and they had no one to save them from Allah
Sher Ali   
Have they not traveled in the earth that they could see what was the end of those before them? They were mightier than these in power and they left firmer marks in the earth. But ALLAH seized them for their sins, and they had no one to protect them from ALLAH
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And have they not travelled in the land so that they could see what was the end of those who were before them? They were far mightier in power than these and (also) greater in their remains and signs (which they left behind) in the earth. Then Allah seized them for their sins, and there was none to protect them from (the torment of) Allah
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Have they never travelled in the land that they could see how (evil) was the end of their predecessors? They were mightier than these in power and in respect of leaving stronger marks (- monuments etc.) in the land. But Allah took them to task (and destroyed them) for their sins and they had no saviour from (the punishment of) Allah
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces (which they left) in the land. But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allah

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
What, have they not journeyed in the land and beheld how was the end of those before them? They were stronger than themselves in might and left firmer traces in the earth; yet God seized them in their sins, and they had none to defend them from God
George Sale   
Have they not gone through the earth, and seen what hath been the end of those who were before them? They were more mighty than these in strength, and left more considerable footsteps of their power in the earth: Yet God chastised them for their sins, and there was none to protect them from God
Edward Henry Palmer   
Have, they not journeyed on in the earth and seen how was the end of those who journeyed on before them? They were stronger than them in might, and their vestiges are in the land, but God caught them up in their sins, and they had none to guard them against God
John Medows Rodwell   
Have they never journeyed in this land, and seen what hath been the end of those who flourished before them? Mightier were they in strength than these Meccans, and their traces remain in the land: Yet God took them in their sins, and there was none to defend them against God
N J Dawood (2014)   
Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what was the fate of those who have gone before them, far greater in prowess? God smote them for their sins, and from God they had no protector

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the ending of those who were before them. They were stronger than them in power and [stronger] in traces left in the earth but Allah seized them for their sins and there was no protector for them from Allah.
Munir Mezyed   
Have they -(the Pagan Arabs)- not travelled through the land and seen what was the dreadful fate of those who were before them? They were more powerful than them in strength and in leaving behind their traces on earth. But Allâh destroyed them for their iniquitous deeds. They had none to defend them or to save them from the retribution of Allâh.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Do they not travel on earth and see what the outcome was like for those before them? They were greater in power and impact on earth than them, then Allah seized them on account of their sins, and they had no defence against Allah.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Have they not traveled throughout the earth and seen what became of those before them? They were superior to them in strength and in their impact in the land. But Allah called them to account for their sins. They had no one to defend them against Allah.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Have they not journeyed through the earth and looked at how the outcome was for those before them? They were superior to them in strength and in the traces which they left in the land, but Allah seized them for their misdeeds, for they had no shield from Allah.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Have they not travelled around the earth and seen what the outcome was for those who preceded them? They were even stronger than they are and left more remains on earth. Allah (God) seized them because of their sins and there was no one to shield them from Allah (God).
Samy Mahdy   
Have they not walked on the earth, so observed how it was a consequence of those who were before them? They were stronger than them in power, and traces in the earth. So, Allah took them with their misdeeds, and there was not for them any protector from Allah.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Did they not travel throughout the earth and see the end of those before them? Those (before them) were mightier than them in strength and more advanced in terms of what they formed on earth... But Allah seized them with the product of their own mistakes... And there were none to protect them from Allah (their essential reality).
Mir Aneesuddin   
Did they not travel in the earth and see how the end of those before them was ( brought about )? They were severer than them in strength and ( in constructing ) memorials in the earth, but Allah caught them for their sins, and there was no one to guard them from Allah.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Have they not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds' eyes to see what was the end of those who preceded them, who were far mightier and whose diligence never wearied, They left more material indicating prosecution with activity anal perseverance; but Allah seized them with a calamity and reduced them into a useless form in requital of their iniquities, and no tutelary did they have to protect them from Him
The Wise Quran   
And did they not travel in the earth and see how the end of those who were before them was? They were stronger than them in strength and traces in the earth; and God seized them for their sins, and there was no guardian for them against God.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength, and in the traces (they have left) in the land: but God did call them to account for their sins, and none had they to defend them against God
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Do not they travel in the earth and see how was (the) end (of) those who were before them? They were [they] superior to them (in) strength and (in) impressions in the land, but Allah seized them for their sins, and not was for them against Allah any protector
OLD Transliteration   
Awa lam yaseeroo fee al-ardi fayanthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu allatheena kanoo min qablihim kanoo hum ashadda minhum quwwatan waatharan fee al-ardi faakhathahumu Allahu bithunoobihim wama kana lahum mina Allahi min waqin