←Prev   Ayah al-Ma`idah (The Table, The Table Spread) 5:38   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
NOW AS FOR the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off the hand of either of them in requital for what they have wrought, as a deterrent ordained by God: for God is almighty, wise
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
As for male and female thieves, cut off their hands for what they have done—a deterrent from Allah. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
Safi Kaskas   
As for the men and women who steal, cut off their hands as punishment for what they have done. It is a deterrent ordered by God. God is almighty and wise.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَٱلسَّارِقُ وَٱلسَّارِقَةُ فَٱقۡطَعُوۤا۟ أَیۡدِیَهُمَا جَزَاۤءَۢ بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَـٰلࣰا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِیزٌ حَكِیمࣱ ۝٣٨
Transliteration (2021)   
wal-sāriqu wal-sāriqatu fa-iq'ṭaʿū aydiyahumā jazāan bimā kasabā nakālan mina l-lahi wal-lahu ʿazīzun ḥakīmu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And (for) the male thief and the female thief - [then] cut off their hands (as) a recompense for what they earned (as) an exemplary (punishment) from Allah. And Allah (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
NOW AS FOR the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off the hand of either of them in requital for what they have wrought, as a deterrent ordained by God: for God is almighty, wise
M. M. Pickthall   
As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward of their own deeds, an exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
As to the thief, Male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
As for male and female thieves, cut off their hands for what they have done—a deterrent from Allah. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
Safi Kaskas   
As for the men and women who steal, cut off their hands as punishment for what they have done. It is a deterrent ordered by God. God is almighty and wise.
Wahiduddin Khan   
Cut off the hands of thieves, whether they are male or female, as a [deterrent] punishment from God for what they have done. God is almighty and wise
Shakir   
And (as for) the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off their hands as a punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah; and Allah is Mighty, Wise
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And as for the one who is a male thief and the one who is a female thief, then, sever their hands as recompense for what they earned, an exemplary punishment from God. And God is Almighty, Wise.
T.B.Irving   
A thief, whether a man or a woman, shall have his or her hands cut off as a penalty for whatever he or she has earned, as an example set by God. God is Powerful, Wise.
Abdul Hye   
You cut off their hands of male and female thief, as a recompense for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise.
The Study Quran   
As for the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hands as a recompense for what they have earned, as an exemplary punishment from God. Truly God is Mighty, Wise
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
As for the thieves, both male and female, cut off their hands in retribution for what they’ve earned—a deterrent from God. God is Mighty and Wise.
Talal Itani (2012)   
As for the thief, whether male or female, cut their hands as a penalty for what they have reaped—a deterrent from God. God is Mighty and Wise
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And the male thief and the female thief — then you cut off the hands of both of them — as a recompense for what (these) two earned — an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise
M. Farook Malik   
Male or female, whoever is guilty of theft, cut off the hand (that was used in theft) of either of them as a punishment for their crime. This is exemplary punishment ordained by Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And the male thief and the female thief: then cut (off) the hands of both, as a recompense for what they (both) have earned, as a torture from Allah; and Allah is Ever-Mighty, Ever-Wise
Muhammad Sarwar   
Cut off the hands of a male or female thief as a punishment for their deed and a lesson for them from God. God is Majestic and All-wise
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
As for a man or a woman who commits theft, cut off the hands of both to punish them for what they earned,_a deterrent punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise
Shabbir Ahmed   
(Theft is a crime that steals away the sense of security from a society). A habitual thief, male or female, must have their ability (to steal) cut off. This is the reward for their doings, and a deterrent from Allah. Allah is Almighty, Wise
Dr. Munir Munshey   
And cut off the hand of the thief, whether a man or a woman. It is the punishment for what they committed. An exemplary punishment from Allah, and Allah is the Mightiest, the Wisest
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And for the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands: As a repayment or what they committed a punishment from Allah to be seen for their crime: And Allah is Highest in Power (Aziz), All Wise (Hakeem)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah . And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
The male thief, and the female thief, you shall cut from their resources as a punishment for their crime, and to serve as a deterrent from God. God is Almighty, Wise
Abdel Haleem   
Cut off the hands of thieves, whether they are man or woman, as punishment for what they have done- a deterrent from God: God is almighty and wise
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
As for the man-thief and the woman-thief, cut off their hands as a meed for that which they have earned; an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is Mighty, Wise
Ahmed Ali   
As for the thief, whether man or woman, cut his hand as punishment from God for what he had done; and God is all mighty and all wise
Aisha Bewley   
As for thieves, both male and female, cut off their hands in reprisal for what they have done: an object lesson from Allah. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
Ali Ünal   
And for the thief, male or female: cut off their hands as a recompense for what they have earned, and an exemplary deterrent punishment from God. God is All-Glorious with irresistible might, All-Wise
Ali Quli Qara'i   
As for the thief, man or woman, cut off their hands as a requital for what they have earned. [That is] an exemplary punishment from Allah, and Allah is all-mighty, all-wise
Hamid S. Aziz   
The thief, man or woman, cut off their hands (or ability to do evil or means of livelihood). It is the reward of their own deeds, an exemplary punishment from Allah (or one making an example). Allah is Mighty, Wise
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
The male thief and the female thief, cut their hands as an exemplary punishment from God for what they did. God is powerful and wise.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
As well as the male and female thief. So cut off their hands. A punishment by way of example from God, for what they acquired, and God is exalted in power
Musharraf Hussain   
The penalty for thieves, male and female, is to cut off their hands to the wrist, a deterrent from Allah. Allah is Almighty, Wise.
Maududi   
As for the thief -male or female - cut off the hands of both. This is a recompense for what they have done, and an exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
As for the thief, both male and female, you shall cut from their resources – as a penalty for what they have earned – to be made an example of from God. God is Noble, Wise
Mohammad Shafi   
And cut off the hand each of the man who steals and the woman who steals, as an exemplary punishment from Allah for what they have earned. And Allah is Omnipotent, Wise

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And whoso the man or the woman is a thief, then cut off their hands, the recompense for what they have done, a punishment from Allah And Allah is Dominant, Wise.
Rashad Khalifa   
The thief, male or female, you shall mark their hands as a punishment for their crime, and to serve as an example from GOD. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
As for the man or woman who is guilty of theft, recompense them by cutting off their hands for their crimes. That is the punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And (as for) the man and the woman addicted to theft, cut off their hands as a punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is Mighty, Wise
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And the male thief/robber and the female thief/robber, so cut off their (B)'s hands, a reward because (of) what they (B) gathered/acquired , severe exemplary punishment from God, and God (is) glorious/mighty ,wise/judicious
Bijan Moeinian   
The punishment for the theft (committed by male or female) is cutting their hand off. This is a punishment that they have earned and is decreed upon by the Lord. Know that God is Almighty and the Most Wise [do not challenge it by adopting alternative punishments such as imprisonment.]
Faridul Haque   
And cut off the hands of those men or women who are thieves - a recompense of their deeds, a punishment from Allah; and Allah is Almighty, Wise
Sher Ali   
And as for the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut of their hands in retribution of their offence as an exemplary punishment from ALLAH. And ALLAH is Mighty, Wise
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
(After proper judicial trial as per law,) cut off the hands of both the man as well as the woman who steal, in retribution of (the offence) which they have committed, a deterring punishment from Allah. And Allah is Almighty, Most Wise
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And as for the man addicted to theft and the woman addicted to theft, cut off their hands in retribution of (the crime) that they have committed - an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Cut off (from the wrist joint) the (right) hand of the thief, male or female, as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allah. And Allah is AllPowerful, AllWise

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And the thief, male and female: cut off the hands of both, as a recompense for what they have earned, and a punishment exemplary from God; God is All-mighty, All-wise
George Sale   
If a man or a woman steal, cut off their hands, in retribution for that which they have committed; this is an exemplary punishment appointed by God; and God is mighty and wise
Edward Henry Palmer   
The man thief and the woman thief, cut off the hands of both as a punishment, for that they have erred; - an example from God, for God is mighty, wise
John Medows Rodwell   
As to the thief, whether man or woman, cut ye off their hands in recompense for their doings. This is a penalty by way of warning from God himself. And God is Mighty, Wise
N J Dawood (2014)   
As for the man or woman who is guilty of theft, cut off their hands to punish them for what they did. That is the punishment enjoined by God. And God is Almighty and wise

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And the man who steals and the woman who steals, then cut off both the hands of both of them as a just reward for what they have earned and as an exemplary punishment from Allah and Allah is All-mighty, All-wise.
Munir Mezyed   
The thief, male or female, who persists in stealing, cut off (from the wrist joint) the (right) hand as a retribution for what they have gained, an exemplary punishment from Allâh. He is All-Vigorous- All-Wise.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
As for the male thief and the female thief, cut their hands as a penalty for what they did and a warning from Allah, and Allah is mighty and wise.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
As for the [unrepentant] thief, male or female, cut off his/her hands as payment for the crime and as severe, exemplary punishment ordained by Allah. Allah is Almighty, Most Wise!
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And the male thief and the female thief: cutpl their hands as a repayment for what they have earned—a deterrent from Allah, for Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
A thief, whether a man or a woman, shall have his or her hands cut off as a penalty for whatever he or she has earned, as an example set by Allah (God). Allah (God) is Powerful, Wise.
Samy Mahdy   
And the male thief, and the female thief, So cut their hands as a penalty with what they have earned as an exemplary punishment from Allah. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.
Sayyid Qutb   
As for the man or the woman who is guilty of stealing, cut off their hands in requital for what they have wrought, as an exemplary punishment ordained by God. God is Almighty, Wise.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Cut off the hands of thieves, whether male or female, as an exemplary lesson from Allah for what they have done! Allah is the Aziz, the Hakim.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands as a recompense for what they have earned. It is an exemplary punishment from Allah; and Allah is the Mighty, the Wise
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
As to the thief, man or woman, who criminally and inexcusably commits a theft - whether by violence or by stealth, - you must make them suffer the amputation of their hands in requital of their iniquity; a punishment justified by Allah to set an example to others who are tempted to rob people of their property or plunder a person feloniously of something belonging, and Allah is Azizun (Almighty) and Hakimun (Wise)
Mir Aneesuddin   
And the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hands, a reward for that which they earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
As to the thief, Male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from God, for their crime: and God is Exalted in power
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And (for) the male thief and the female thief - [then] cut off their hands (as) a recompense for what they earned (as) an exemplary (punishment) from Allah. And Allah (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise
OLD Transliteration   
Waalssariqu waalssariqatu faiqtaAAoo aydiyahuma jazaan bima kasaba nakalan mina Allahi waAllahu AAazeezun hakeemun