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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? More numerous were they, and greater in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but all that they ever achieved was of no avail to them –
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those who were ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might and ˹richer in˺ monuments throughout the land, but their ˹worldly˺ gains were of no benefit to them.
Safi Kaskas   
Have they not traveled through the land and seen the fate of those who lived before them? They were more numerous than they are, and had greater power, and left more impressive marks on the land. Yet what they achieved was of no use to them.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
أَفَلَمۡ یَسِیرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَیَنظُرُوا۟ كَیۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۚ كَانُوۤا۟ أَكۡثَرَ مِنۡهُمۡ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةࣰ وَءَاثَارࣰا فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَمَاۤ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ یَكۡسِبُونَ ۝٨٢
Transliteration (2021)   
afalam yasīrū fī l-arḍi fayanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu alladhīna min qablihim kānū akthara min'hum wa-ashadda quwwatan waāthāran fī l-arḍi famā aghnā ʿanhum mā kānū yaksibūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Do they not travel through the land and see how was (the) end (of) those who (were) from before them? They were more numerous than them and mightier (in) strength and impressions in the land, but not availed them what they used to earn.

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? More numerous were they, and greater in power than they are, and in the impact which they left on earth: but all that they ever achieved was of no avail to them –
M. M. Pickthall   
Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those before them? They were more numerous than these, and mightier in power and (in the) traces (which they left behind them) in the earth. But all that they used to earn availed them not
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were more numerous than these and superior in strength and in the traces (they have left) in the land: Yet all that they accomplished was of no profit to them
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Have they not travelled throughout the land to see what was the end of those who were ˹destroyed˺ before them? They were far superior in might and ˹richer in˺ monuments throughout the land, but their ˹worldly˺ gains were of no benefit to them.
Safi Kaskas   
Have they not traveled through the land and seen the fate of those who lived before them? They were more numerous than they are, and had greater power, and left more impressive marks on the land. Yet what they achieved was of no use to them.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Have they not travelled in the land to see the fate of those who went before them? They were more numerous and mightier and left greater traces of their power on the earth; yet all that they accomplished was of no avail to them
Shakir   
Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of those before them? They were more (in numbers) than these and greater in strength and in fortifications in the land, but what they earned did not avail them
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Journey they not through the earth and look on how had been the Ultimate End of those before them? They had been more than them and were more vigorous in strength and in regard to the traces they left on the earth. Then, availed them not what they had been earning.
T.B.Irving   
Have you not travelled around the earth and observed what the outcome has been for those who preceded them? They were more numerous and stronger than they are, and they [left greater] remains on earth. Yet whatever they had accomplished did not help them out:
Abdul Hye   
Have they not traveled through the earth and seen how was the end of those from before them? They were more in numbers than them and mightier in strength, and (left behind them) the traces in the land, yet all that they used to earn did not avail them.
The Study Quran   
Have they not journeyed upon the earth and observed how those before them fared in the end? They were more numerous than them, greater than them in strength, and left firmer traces upon the earth. But that which they used to earn availed them not
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Didn’t they travel through the earth and see the fate of those who preceded them? They were more numerous and powerful, leaving a more significant impact on earth, yet their achievements availed them not.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Have they not journeyed through the land, and seen the outcome for those before them? They were more numerous than they, and had greater power and influence in the land. But what they had achieved availed them nothing
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Did they then not travel through the earth so (that) they may see what was the final end of those (who passed) before them? They were more numerous than them, and mightier in strength; and the landmarks and monuments (they left) on the earth. So did not benefit them whatever they used to earn (through their beliefs and deeds)
M. Farook Malik   
Those who have denied the Book WORSHIP/DECIPHERMENT have gone before them? They were more in number and superior in strength than these and they have left behind great traces of their power in the land; yet all that they did was of no avail to them
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Have they then not traveled in the earth so they (could) look into how was the end of the ones before them? They were more numerous than themselves, and more valiant in power, and (left) more tracks in the earth; yet in no way did whatever they used to earn avail them
Muhammad Sarwar   
Have they not travelled through the land to see the terrible end of those who lived before them? They were far mightier in both number and power and in what they had established. Their (worldly) gains were of no benefit to them
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Have they not traveled through the earth and seen how was the fate of those before them? Most of them were more in numbers than these, and superior in vigor and vestiges left on the earth. So then, whatever they used to earn did not work for them at all
Shabbir Ahmed   
Have they not, then, journeyed about the earth and seen what happened in the end to those who lived before them? They were more numerous than these, and greater in power than these are, and stronger in the impact they left upon earth. But all that they ever achieved availed them not, and it failed to make them truly rich
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Have they not moved about in the land? Do they not see the fate of the people who lived before them? They were stronger and more in number. They have left their traces and vestiges in the land. What they earned (in this life) did not help them at all
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the end of those before them? They were more in number than them and (even) stronger in might and in the traces (they have left behind) in the land: Yet all that they did was of no use to them
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Have they not roamed the Earth and noted the consequences for those who were before them They used to be greater in number than them and mightier in strength, and they had built more in the land. Yet, all that they had earned could not avail them
Abdel Haleem   
Have they not travelled through the land and seen how those who lived before them met their end? They were more numerous than them, stronger than them, and made a more impressive mark on the land, yet what they achieved was of no use to them at all
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Have they not travelled in the earth so that they may behold what wise hath been the end of those before them. They were more numerous than these, and mightier in strength and the traces in the land. But naught availed them of that which they had been earning
Ahmed Ali   
Have they not travelled in the land and seen how was the end of those before them who were far more numerous than they and more strong, and have left behind them traces on the earth. And yet nothing of what they did profited them
Aisha Bewley   
Have they not travelled in the land and seen the final fate of those before them? They were more numerous than them and greater in strength and left more and deeper traces on earth, but what they earned was of no use to them.
Ali Ünal   
Have they not traveled about the earth that they might see what was the outcome for those before them (who obstinately disbelieved in Our signs)? They were more in numbers than these, and greater in power and the marks (that they left) on the land, but all that they had earned availed them nothing (in the face of God’s displeasure)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Have they not travelled over the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? They were more numerous than them and were greater [than them] in power and with respect to the effects [they left] in the land. But what they used to earn did not avail them
Hamid S. Aziz   
Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than these and greater in strength and in the traces they made in the earth, but what they earned availed them not
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Have they not traveled on the earth to see what the end of those before them was? They were more than them and were more powerful and had more effects (and more marks) on the land, and what they did was of no use to them.
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 more numerous, and superior in strength, and in the traces they have left in the land. Yet all that they accomplished was of no profit to them
Musharraf Hussain   
Haven’t they travelled about the land and seen the outcome of the deniers of past times? They were greater in numbers, mightier than them and moreover left behind bigger remains on the land, yet all they accomplished will not benefit.
Maududi   
Did they not journey in the land that they may behold the end of those who had gone before them? They were more numerous and greater in strength and left behind more splendid traces in the land. Yet their attainments did not avail them
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who were before them? They used to be greater in number than them and mightier in strength, and they had built more in the land. Yet, all that they had earned could not avail them
Mohammad Shafi   
Have they not travelled on earth to see what happened to those before them? Those were more in number than them, and stronger in power and influence on the earth. But what they earned availed them not

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Have they not traveled in the earth that they may behold how has been the end of those before them? They were more numerous than these, and stronger in might and the traces in the earth, but what did they avail of that which they earned.
Rashad Khalifa   
Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who preceded them? They used to be greater in number, greater in power, and possessed a greater legacy on earth. Yet, all their achievements did not help them in the least.
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 upon the earth; yet, whatsoever they earned did not help them
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Do they not travel in the land and see what was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than these and greater in strength and in fortifications in the land, but what they earned availed them not
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Do they not walk/move in the earth/Planet Earth, so they see/wonder about how was those from before them's end/turn (result)? They were more than them, and stronger (in) strength/power and tracks/historical remains in the earth/Planet Earth, so what they were gaining/acquiring did not enrich/suffice from them (in a thing)
Bijan Moeinian   
Have they not ever traveled to see the ruins of the other civilizations? The latter were more populated, mightier and left more traces behind. Yet all their materialistic achievements did not protect them [after all what kind of materialistic wealth one can take with him while leaving this world?]
Faridul Haque   
Did they not travel in the land to see what sort of fate befell those before them? They were more than these in number, and they exceeded them in strength and the signs they left behind in the earth - so what benefit did they get from what they earned
Sher Ali   
Have they not traveled in the earth that they might see what was the end of those who were before them? They were more numerous than these, and mightier in power and left firmer traces in the earth. But all that which they earned was of no avail to them
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
So have they not travelled in the earth that they could see how they who passed before them met their fate? They were far greater (in number) than these people and mightier in power and (much more advanced) in respect of the remains and traces (as well) that (they) have left behind in the earth (as archeological sites). But whatever they used to earn brought them no benefit
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Have they never travelled in the land so that they could see how (miserable) the end of their predecessors was? They were superior to them in numbers, mightier in force and stronger in respect of the (firm) marks, (fortification and monumental buildings) in the land; yet all their acquisitions were of no avail to them
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Have they not travelled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than them and mightier in strength, and in the traces (they have left behind them) in the land, yet all that they used to earn availed them not

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 that they earned did not avail them
George Sale   
Do they not pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who were before them? They were more numerous than these, and more mighty in strength, and left more considerable monuments of their power in the earth: Yet that which they had acquired, profited them not
Edward Henry Palmer   
Have they not journeyed on in the land and seen how was the end of those before them, who were more numerous than they and stronger in might, and in their vestiges which are still in the land? but of no avail to them was that which they had earned
John Medows Rodwell   
Have they not journeyed in this land, and seen what hath been the end of those who flourished before them? More were they than these in number and mightier in strength, and greater are the traces of their power remaining in the land: yet their labours availed them nothing
N J Dawood (2014)   
Have they never journeyed through the land and seen what was the fate of those who have gone before them? They were more numerous than them, and far greater in prowess and in splendour in the land; yet all their gains proved of no avail to them

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Have they not travelled in the land and looked at how was the ending of those before them. They were more numerous than them and greater in power and in traces in the land but all that they used to earn did not avail them.
Munir Mezyed   
Have they - (the Pagan Arabs)- not travelled through the land to see 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, yet all that which they used to earn did not avail them .
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Do they not travel on earth and see what the outcome was like for those before them? They were more numerous than them and stronger in power and impact on earth, but what they gathered did not benefit them.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Do they not travel throughout the earth and see what happened to those before them? They were more numerous and superior in strength and in their evidence left in the land. Yet all they accomplished did not benefit them.
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 what they had achieved availed them nothing.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Have you not travelled around the earth and observed what the outcome has been for those who preceded them? They were more numerous and stronger than they are, and they [left greater] remains on earth. Yet whatever they had accomplished did not help them out:
Samy Mahdy   
So, 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, it did not avail them what they were earning.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Did they not travel throughout the earth and see the end of those before them! They (the previous people) were greater in number, mightier in strength, and more advanced in terms of what they produced on earth. Yet what they earned did not save them!
Mir Aneesuddin   
Then, did they not travel in the earth and see how the end of those before them was ( brought about )? They were more in number than them and severer in strength and ( in constructing ) memorials in the earth, but that which they used to earn was of no use to them.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Have they not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds' eyes to see the fatal consequence of those who preceded them, who were mightier by force of numbers and far mightier in power and their diligence never wearied! They left more material indicating prosecution with activity and perseverance. Yet all the advantages they availed themselves of did not afford them help nor did they serve their purpose
The Wise Quran   
Have they not travelled in the land and seen how was the end of those before them, they were more numerous than them and stronger in strength, and traces in the land? But of no avail to them was what they had earned.

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 more numerous than these and superior in strength and in the traces (they have left) in the land: Yet all that they accomplished was of no profit to them
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Do they not travel through the land and see how was (the) end (of) those who (were) before them? They were more numerous than them and mightier (in) strength and impressions in the land, but not availed them what they used to earn
OLD Transliteration   
Afalam yaseeroo fee al-ardi fayanthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu allatheena min qablihim kanoo akthara minhum waashadda quwwatan waatharan fee al-ardi fama aghna AAanhum ma kanoo yaksiboona