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Muhammad Asad   
IS THEN -HE who was dead [in spirit] and whom We thereupon gave life, and for whom We set up a light whereby he might see his way among men - [is then he] like one [who is lost] in darkness deep, out of which he cannot emerge? [But] thus it is: goodly seem all their own doings to those who deny the truth
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Can those who had been dead, to whom We gave life and a light with which they can walk among people, be compared to those in complete darkness from which they can never emerge? That is how the misdeeds of the disbelievers have been made appealing to them.
Safi Kaskas   
Is a dead person whom We brought back to life and given enlightenment so that he might see his way among men, comparable to someone who is lost in deep darkness from which he cannot emerge? This is how it is. The evil deeds of the unbelievers are made to seem enticing to them,

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
أَوَ مَن كَانَ مَیۡتࣰا فَأَحۡیَیۡنَـٰهُ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُۥ نُورࣰا یَمۡشِی بِهِۦ فِی ٱلنَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُۥ فِی ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ لَیۡسَ بِخَارِجࣲ مِّنۡهَاۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ زُیِّنَ لِلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ مَا كَانُوا۟ یَعۡمَلُونَ ۝١٢٢
Transliteration (2021)   
awaman kāna maytan fa-aḥyaynāhu wajaʿalnā lahu nūran yamshī bihi fī l-nāsi kaman mathaluhu fī l-ẓulumāti laysa bikhārijin min'hā kadhālika zuyyina lil'kāfirīna mā kānū yaʿmalūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
Is (one) who was dead and We gave him life and We made for him light, he walks whereby among the people, like (one) who [similar to him] (is) in the darknesses, not he comes out of it? Thus is made fair-seeming to the disbelievers what they were doing.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
IS THEN -HE who was dead [in spirit] and whom We thereupon gave life, and for whom We set up a light whereby he might see his way among men - [is then he] like one [who is lost] in darkness deep, out of which he cannot emerge? [But] thus it is: goodly seem all their own doings to those who deny the truth
M. M. Pickthall   
Is he who was dead and We have raised him unto life, and set for him a light wherein he walketh among men, as him whose similitude is in utter darkness whence he cannot emerge? Thus is their conduct made fairseeming for the disbelievers
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he can walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Can those who had been dead, to whom We gave life and a light with which they can walk among people, be compared to those in complete darkness from which they can never emerge? That is how the misdeeds of the disbelievers have been made appealing to them.
Safi Kaskas   
Is a dead person whom We brought back to life and given enlightenment so that he might see his way among men, comparable to someone who is lost in deep darkness from which he cannot emerge? This is how it is. The evil deeds of the unbelievers are made to seem enticing to them,
Wahiduddin Khan   
Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he could walk among people be like him who is in utter darkness from which he can never emerge? Thus the deeds of those who deny the truth have been made fair-seeming to them
Shakir   
Is he who was dead then We raised him to life and made for him a light by which he walks among the people, like him whose likeness is that of one in utter darkness whence he cannot come forth? Thus what they did was made fair seeming to the unbelievers
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
Is he who had been lifeless and We gave him life and We made a light for him by which he walks among humanity like he who is in the shadows and is not one who goes forth from them? Thus, it was made to appear pleasing to ones who are ungrateful what they had been doing.
T.B.Irving   
Is someone who has been dead and whom We revived and granted light to so he may walk among people with it, to be compared to someone who is in such darkness he cannot leave it? Thus anything they have been doing seems attractive to disbelievers.
Abdul Hye   
Can he who was dead (by ignorance and disbelief), whom We gave life (by knowledge and belief), and whom We gave a light (belief) of likeness by it (can walk) among people, be like the one who is in the darkness (disbelief) from which can never come out? Thus it is made seem fair to the disbelievers what they used to do
The Study Quran   
Is he who was dead, and to whom We give life, making for him a light by which to walk among mankind, like unto one who is in darkness from which he does not emerge? Thus for the disbelievers, what they used to do was made to seem fair unto them
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
Can the one who was dead, to whom We gave life and a light by which he can walk among people, be like the one who is in deep darkness, from which he can’t emerge? Thus, the deeds of the unbelievers have been made appealing to them.
Talal Itani (2012)   
Is he who was dead, then We gave him life, and made for him a light by which he walks among the people, like he who is in total darkness, and cannot get out of it? Thus the doings of disbelievers are made to appear good to them
Dr. Kamal Omar   
What? And whoever was dead (i.e., was without Faith due to ignorance or disbelief), then We gave him life (by mahead of state him understand the Ayaat in Al-Kitab); and We provided to him a Light (which differentiates the right from the wrong, the clean from the filthy, and the permitted from the prohibited), he moves therewith among mankind — (is he) like the one whose example being (that he is) in darknesses (of disbelief, polytheism and ignorance) from which he can not come out? Thus it is made fair-seeming to the disbelievers which they used to do
M. Farook Malik   
Can a person who was dead (ignorant), and whom We raised to life and gave the Light to walk with among people, be like the one who is in the depths of darkness from which he can never come out? Since they treat both of them alike, the actions of the unbelievers are made lucrative to them
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And is he who was deceased, then We gave him life and made for him a light to walk by among mankind, as one whose likeness is in the darkness (es), (and) he is not coming out of them? Thus whatever the disbelievers were doing was adorned (i.e., made attractive) for them
Muhammad Sarwar   
Can the dead to whom We have given life and light so that they may walk among the people, be considered equal to those who can never come out of darkness? The deeds of the unbelievers are made to seem attractive to them
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Is it (conceivable) that the one who was dead and to whom We gave life, and set for him a light with which he walks among men, (is held to) be like the one whose condition is such that he is in total darkness, never coming out of it? This is how their deeds appear beautified to the disbelievers
Shabbir Ahmed   
(Our Light revives the living dead and makes them walk honorably among mankind.) Is one who was dead and We gave him life with Light that enables him to move among people, equal to one in total darkness from which he cannot come out? (When people have their belief system jumbled up, they lose the power to distinguish between the right and wrong). Hence, the rejecters of the Truth find their own deeds pleasing
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Can he, upon whom We bestowed life _ he was lifeless (and faithless) prior to that _ as well as the light by which he moves, ever be like those who grope about in utter darkness and are unable to emerge? Thus, the deeds of the unbelievers have been made to appear adorable to them
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Can he who was dead, and to whom We gave life, and a light by which he can walk among men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Therefore, to those who are without Faith, their own actions seem pleasing
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
Is one who was dead and to whom We gave life, and We made for him a light to walk with amongst the people, as one whose example is in darkness and he will not exit from it It is such that the work of the rejecters has been adorned for them
Abdel Haleem   
Is a dead person brought back to life by Us, and given light with which to walk among people, comparable to someone trapped in deep darkness who cannot escape? In this way the evil deeds of the disbelievers are made to seem alluring to them
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Is he who was dead, and We quickened him and appointed for him a light whereby he walketh among mankind, like unto him whose similitude is that he is in darknesses forth from which he cannot come? Even so is made fair-seeming to the infidels that which they are wont to do
Ahmed Ali   
Can he who was lifeless, to whom We gave life, and gave him a light in whose glow he walks among men, be like him who is used to darkness from which he can never emerge? Thus have been their doings made attractive to unbelievers
Aisha Bewley   
Is someone who was dead and whom We brought to life, supplying him with a light by which to walk among people, the same as someone who is in utter darkness, unable to emerge from it? That is how what they were doing is made to seem attractive to the kafirun
Ali Ünal   
Is he who was dead (in spirit), and We raised him to life, and set for him a light by which he moves (without any deviancy) among people, is he like the one who is as one lost in depths of darkness, from which he cannot get out? (But) thus it is: to the unbelievers are the things they have been doing decked out as appealing
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Is he who was lifeless, then We gave him life and provided him with a light by which he walks among the people, like one who dwells in a manifold darkness which he cannot leave? To the faithless is thus presented as decorous what they have been doing
Hamid S. Aziz   
Is he who was dead and We have quickened (given him life) him, and made for him a light, wherein walks amongst men, like him whose likeness is one walking in utter darkness whence he cannot emerge? Thus is their conduct made seemly to the disbelievers
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
Or is someone who was dead and We made him alive and put a light for him to walk among the people with it, like someone who is in darkness and cannot come out of it? That is how what they are doing is beautified for the disbelievers.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life and light, with which he can walk among people, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? So to those without faith, their deeds seem pleasing
Musharraf Hussain   
Take for example a person spiritually dead who We gave a life and a light to walk among people, is he like someone who lives in utter darkness which he never leaves? That is why what disbelievers did appeared attractive to them
Maududi   
He who was dead and whom We raised to life, and We set a light for him to walk among men - is he like the one steeped in darkness out of which he does not come out?. Thus have their own doings been made to seem fair to the unbelievers
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
Is he who was dead and to whom We gave life, and We made for him a light to walk with among the people, as he whose example is in darkness and he will not exit from it? It is such that the work of the rejecters has been adorned for them.
Mohammad Shafi   
Is he whom We raised from the dead and for whom we made a light by which he walks among the people, like him who is in darkness from which there is no way out? Thus what the suppressors of Truth do has been made to look fair to them.

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And will he who was dead, then We gave him life, and made for him a light by which he walks among mankind, become like that who is in darkness from which he is not to come out? Thus, in the eyes of infidels their deeds have been made fair looking.
Rashad Khalifa   
Is one who was dead and we granted him life, and provided him with light that enables him to move among the people, equal to one in total darkness from which he can never exit? The works of the disbelievers are thus adorned in their eyes.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Is he who was dead whom We have revived and given a light with which he walks among people to be compared to him who blunders about in darkness from which he will never emerge? As such what the unbelievers have done appear decorated to them
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Is he who was dead, then We raised him to life and made for him a light by which he walks among the people, like him whose likeness is that of one in darkness whence he cannot come forth? Thus their doings are made fair-seeming to the disbelievers
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
Is who was/is dead/lifeless, so We revived him and We made/put for him a light he walks with it in (between) the people, as who his example (is) in the darknesses (and he) is not with getting out from it? Like that (it) was decorated/beautified to the disbelievers what they were making/doing
Bijan Moeinian   
Is the one who was dead, and then I (God) gave him life (and showered him by the light [of this Qur'an], so that he can walk on the straight path), is equal to the one [disbeliever who is disputing every law of the Lord and] who is wondering in the darkness [by choice] from which he can never escape? Thus [in response to their choice of disbelief,] I make the disbelievers' deeds seeming fair in their eyes [so that they continue their miserable life of confusion going through one trial and error to another one.]
Faridul Haque   
And will the one who was dead and so We raised him to life and set for him a light with which he walks among the people, ever be like the one who is in realms of darkness never to emerge from them? Similarly, the deeds of disbelievers are made to appear good to them
Sher Ali   
Can he, who was dead, then WE gave him life and made for him a light whereby he walks among men, be like him whose condition is that he is in utter darkness whence he cannot come forth? Thus have the doings of the disbelievers been made to seem fair to them
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Can he who was dead (i.e., devoid of faith), then We gave him life (by guidance) and created for him the light (of faith and gnosis), and (now) by means of that, he walks amongst (the rest of) the people (also to spread that light) be like the one who is steeped in the darkness of (ignorance and error in such a way) that he can by no means come out of it? Likewise, the actions disbelievers keep doing are made alluring and attractive (in their sight)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Can he, who was lifeless (before) and to whom We gave life and We provided for him a light whereby he moves about among the people, be like the person whose condition is (as one) consigned to thick darkness from whence he cannot emerge? Thus the deeds of the disbelievers are made fair-seeming to them (by satan)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? Thus it is made fairseeming to the disbelievers that which they used to do

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Why, is he who was dead, and We gave him life, and appointed for him a light to walk by among the people as one whose likeness is in the shadows, and comes not forth from them? So it is decked out fair to the unbelievers the things they have done
George Sale   
Shall he who hath been dead, and whom We have restored unto life, and unto whom We have ordained a light, whereby he may walk among men, be as he whose similitude is in darkness, from whence he shall not come forth? Thus was that which the infidels are doing, prepared for them
Edward Henry Palmer   
Is he who was dead and we have quickened him, and made for him a light, that he might walk therein amongst men, like him whose likeness is in the darkness whence he cannot come forth? Thus is made seemly to the misbelievers what they have done
John Medows Rodwell   
Shall the dead, whom we have quickened, and for whom we have ordained a light whereby he may walk among men, be like him, whose likeness is in the darkness, whence he will not come forth? Thus have the doings of the unbelievers been prepared for them
N J Dawood (2014)   
Can the dead man We have raised to life, and given a light to walk with among people, be compared to him who is in darkness from which he will never emerge? Thus do their deeds seem fair to the unbelievers

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
Is one who was dead then We brought him to life and We made a light for him by which he walks among the mankind like one whose likeness is in the darknesses and he is surely not going to get out of it. Thus all that they used to do has been made seemly for the disbelievers.
Munir Mezyed   
Is he who was dead, then We gave him life and set for him light whereby he may walk among men, be as he whose similitude is sunk in the depths of darkness from whence he cannot come forth? This is how the evil deeds of the spiritually dead and blind have been made more appealing to them.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
Is he who was dead, then We brought him to life and gave him light to walk with amongst people, like him who is as in darkness from which he cannot emerge? This is how their deeds are made appealing to those who reject (the truth).
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
Is he who was lifeless, then We revived him and made for him a light by which he walks among mankind, as one whose likeness is in darkness(es), never emerging from them? Thus whatever the deniers have been doing was adorned for them.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
[Consider] one who was [spiritually] dead and upon whom We gave life. [We gave] a light so he/she may see the way among people. Is he/she like one in depths of darkness from which he/she cannot emerge? Thus their own conduct seems right to the unbelievers.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Is someone who has been dead (disbeliever) and whom We revived and granted light (believe in Allah) to so he may walk among people with it, to be compared to someone who is in such darkness (disbelieve) he cannot leave it? Thus anything they have been doing seems attractive to disbelievers.
Samy Mahdy   
Or who was dead, then We revived him, and set up for him a light with which he walked in the people? Is he like he who is in the darkness, would not exit from it? Thus, it was prettifying for the infidels, whatever they were working.
Sayyid Qutb   
Is he who was dead and whom We have raised to life, and for whom We set up a light to see his way among men, to be compared to one who is in deep darkness out of which he cannot emerge? Thus do their deeds seem goodly to the unbelievers.
Thomas Cleary   
And can those who were dead but We brought to life and gave a light wherewith to walk among humanity be as those who are in the dark and cannot emerge from it? Thus for the ungrateful what they have done is made to seem pleasing to them.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Can the one who We enliven (with the knowledge of the reality) while he is dead and to whom We give the Nur of insight with which he can live among people be equal to the one who is left in darkness from which he can never escape? Thus the deeds of those who deny the knowledge of the reality have been made to seem pleasing to them.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
Is he who was dead (with ignorance and polytheism) and we gave him life (by Our guidance) and provided him with a light by which he walks among the people, as one whose likeness is in the shadows (of ignorance and polytheism) and he cannot come forth from them ? Thus has been made fair seeming for the disbelievers what they were doing
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
Does he who has been destitute of spiritual life and We inspirited with illumination and enlightenment to conduct himself well among the people and Providence his guide, compare with him who is led by the nose by the prince of darkness into deepest dismay where there is no escape! Thus were the infidels deluded with sensuous notions that in vain they wasted their days
Mir Aneesuddin   
Is he who was dead, then We gave him life and made for him a light by which he walks among people, like him whose likeness is (like one) in darknesses from where there is no (way of) coming out? Thus, that which the infidels do, is made fair seeming to them.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he can walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out? Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Is (one) who was dead and We gave him life and We made for him light, he walks whereby among the people, like (one) who [similar to him] (is) in the darknesses, not he comes out of it? Thus is made fair-seeming to the disbelievers what they were doing
OLD Transliteration   
Awa man kana maytan faahyaynahu wajaAAalna lahu nooran yamshee bihi fee alnnasi kaman mathaluhu fee alththulumati laysa bikharijin minha kathalika zuyyina lilkafireena ma kanoo yaAAmaloona