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Muhammad Asad   
And He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons; and [ever since He has willed to create life,] the throne of His almightiness has rested upon water. [God reminds you of your dependence on Him] in order to test you [and thus to make manifest] which of you is best in conduct. For thus it is: if thou sayest [unto men], "Behold, you shall be raised again after death!" - they who are bent on denying the truth are sure to answer, "This is clearly nothing but an enchanting delusion"
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And if you ˹O Prophet˺ say, “Surely you will ˹all˺ be raised up after death,” the disbelievers will certainly say, “That is nothing but pure magic!”
Safi Kaskas   
He created the heavens and the earth in six days and the throne of His majesty of His Mightiness extended over the water. [He created this] in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And If you [Prophet] say, "You will be resurrected after death," the unbelievers will answer, "This is clearly nothing but sorcery."

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِی سِتَّةِ أَیَّامࣲ وَكَانَ عَرۡشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلۡمَاۤءِ لِیَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَیُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلࣰاۗ وَلَىِٕن قُلۡتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبۡعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ لَیَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوۤا۟ إِنۡ هَـٰذَاۤ إِلَّا سِحۡرࣱ مُّبِینࣱ ۝٧
Transliteration (2021)   
wahuwa alladhī khalaqa l-samāwāti wal-arḍa fī sittati ayyāmin wakāna ʿarshuhu ʿalā l-māi liyabluwakum ayyukum aḥsanu ʿamalan wala-in qul'ta innakum mabʿūthūna min baʿdi l-mawti layaqūlanna alladhīna kafarū in hādhā illā siḥ'run mubīnu
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And He (is) the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six epochs, and was (his) throne on the water that He might test [you] which of you (is) best (in) deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you (will be) resurrected from after [the] death," surely would say those who disbelieved, "Not is this but a magic clear."

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
And He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons; and [ever since He has willed to create life,] the throne of His almightiness has rested upon water. [God reminds you of your dependence on Him] in order to test you [and thus to make manifest] which of you is best in conduct. For thus it is: if thou sayest [unto men], "Behold, you shall be raised again after death!" - they who are bent on denying the truth are sure to answer, "This is clearly nothing but an enchanting delusion"
M. M. Pickthall   
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was upon the water - that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. Yet if thou (O Muhammad) sayest: Lo! ye will be raised again after death! those who disbelieve will surely say: This is naught but mere magic
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was over the waters - that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. But if thou wert to say to them, "Ye shall indeed be raised up after death", the Unbelievers would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious sorcery!"
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And if you ˹O Prophet˺ say, “Surely you will ˹all˺ be raised up after death,” the disbelievers will certainly say, “That is nothing but pure magic!”
Safi Kaskas   
He created the heavens and the earth in six days and the throne of His majesty of His Mightiness extended over the water. [He created this] in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And If you [Prophet] say, "You will be resurrected after death," the unbelievers will answer, "This is clearly nothing but sorcery."
Wahiduddin Khan   
Enthroned above the waters, it was He who created the heavens and the earth in six Days [periods], in order to test which of you is best in conduct. If you say, You will [all] be raised up after death, those who deny the truth will say, This is just sheer sorcery
Shakir   
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods-- and His dominion (extends) on the water-- that He might manifest to you, which of you is best in action, and if you say, surely you shall be raised up after death, those who disbelieve would certainly say: This is nothing but clear magic
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days. And His Throne had been upon the waters that He try you—which of you is fairer in actions. And if thou wert to say to them: Truly, you are ones who will be raised up after death. Those who were ungrateful would be sure to say: This is nothing but clear sorcery.
T.B.Irving   
He is the One Who created Heaven and Earth in six days. His Throne rises over the water, so He may test which of you is finest in action. If you should say: "You will (all) be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would say: "This is just sheer magic!"
Abdul Hye   
And it is He Who has created the heavens and the earth in 6 days and His Throne was on the water, so that He may test you which of you are the best in deeds. But if you say (to them): “You shall indeed be raised up after death,” those who disbelieve would be sure to say: “This is nothing but obvious magic.”
The Study Quran   
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, while His Throne was upon the water, that He may try you as to which of you is most virtuous in deed. Yet if thou sayest, “Truly you shall be resurrected after death,” the disbelievers will surely say, “This is naught but manifest sorcery!
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six periods. His throne was over the waters—to test which of you would excel in conduct. If you say, “You will be resurrected after death,” those who disbelieve will say, “This is nothing but obvious sorcery.”
Talal Itani (2012)   
It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test you—which of you is best in conduct. And if you were to say, 'You will be resurrected after death,' those who disbelieve would say, 'This is nothing but plain witchcraft.'
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six aeons and His Throne was on the water so that He may try you, which of you is better in deeds. And if you said to them, surely, you will be the Resurrected people after death, surely will say those who have disbelieved, 'this is nothing but obvious magic.
M. Farook Malik   
He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods - at the time when His Throne was resting on the water - so that He may test to find out which of you is the best in deeds. Now if you tell them:" You shall indeed be raised up after death," the unbelievers would certainly say: "This is nothing but sheer magic!"
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And He (is The One) Who created the heavens and the earth in six days-and His Throne was upon the water-that He might try you, whichever of you is fairer in deeds. And indeed in case you say, "Surely you will be made to rise again even after death, " the ones who have disbelieved will indeed say definitely, "Decidedly this is nothing except evident sorcery."
Muhammad Sarwar   
God created the heavens and the earth in six days. His Throne existed on water so that He could test you and find out those among you who do good deeds. (Muhammad), if you were to tell them that after death they would be brought back to life again, the unbelievers would say, "This is nothing but obvious magic."
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, while His throne was on water, so that He might test you as to who among you is better in deed. And if you say, .You shall be raised after death,. the disbelievers will surely say, .This is nothing but sheer magic
Shabbir Ahmed   
He created the heavens and the earth in six stages and established Himself on the throne of His Almightiness. He has Supreme Control over the origination of life which began in water (21:30). Life is a test for yourselves to see which of you leads a balanced life and is best in conduct. Yet, if you (O Prophet), say, "You will be raised again after death," the rejecters of the Truth will surely answer, "This is clearly nothing but a fabulous delusion!" (45:24)
Dr. Munir Munshey   
And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods of time _ His throne was over water _ in order to test you and to see which of you performs better deeds! In fact, when told that after death they will be raised (back to life), the unbelievers say, "This is definitely magic"
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days— And His Throne was over the Waters, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds (and conduct). But if you were to say to them, "You shall truly be raised up after death;" The disbeliever will surely say; "This is nothing but clear (and open) magic!"
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
He is the One who created the heavens and Earth in six days, and His throne was upon the water, and to test who from amongst you works the best. And when you Say: "You will be resurrected after death." those who rejected will Say: "This is but clear magic!"
Abdel Haleem   
It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six Days––His rule extends over the waters too––so as to test which of you does best. Yet [Prophet], if you say to them, ‘You will be resurrected after death,’ the disbelievers are sure to answer, ‘This is clearly nothing but sorcery.’
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And He it is who hath created the heavens and the earth in six days -and His throne was upon the water--that he might prove you, as to which of you is excellent in work. And if thou sayest: ye shall verily be raised after death, surely those who disbelieve will say: naught is this but sorcery manifest
Ahmed Ali   
It is He who created the heavens and the earth In six spans, and has control over the waters (of life) so that he may bring out the best that everyone of you could do. Yet if you said to them: "You shall certainly be raised from the dead," the unbelievers will say: "This will be nothing but sorcery."
Aisha Bewley   
It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days when His Throne was on the water, in order to test which of you has the best actions. If you say, ´You will be raised up after death,´ those who are kafir will say, ´This is nothing but downright magic.´
Ali Ünal   
He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six days – His Supreme Throne was upon the water – that He might make trial of you to manifest which of you is best in conduct. Yet, if you say (to people), "(Your proper abode is the Hereafter, where you will be either in bliss or suffering according to your conduct in the world. That is why) you are bound to be raised after death," those who persist in unbelief will say: "This is clearly nothing but an enchanting delusion."
Ali Quli Qara'i   
It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days —and His Throne was [then] upon the waters— that He may test you [to see] which of you is best in conduct. Yet if you say, ‘You will indeed be raised up after death,’ the faithless will surely say, ‘This is nothing but plain magic.’
Hamid S. Aziz   
He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne (or authority, control) was (first) upon the Water that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. But should you say, "You will be raised up after death," those
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
He is the One Who created the skies and the earth in six days (stages) while His dominion was on liquid (or on water), so that He tests which one of you does better work. And if you say you will be raised after death, those who disbelieve shall say: “This is only a clear magic.”
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His throne was over the waters, so that He would make evident which of you is best in conduct. But if you were to say to them, “You will indeed be raised up after death,” the unbelievers would be sure to say, “This is nothing but obvious delusion.
Musharraf Hussain   
He created the Heavens and the Earth in six days, His throne is over the water, to test who among you lives morally. Messenger, suppose you were to say, “You will be resurrected after death,” the disbelievers would say, “This is magic.”
Maududi   
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and [before that] His Throne was upon the water that He may test you, who of you is better in conduct If you were to say (O Muhammad): 'All of you will surely be raised after death', then those who disbelieve will certainly say: 'This is nothing but plain sorcery.
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
He is the One who has created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne was upon the water; so as to test who from among you works the best. And when you say: "You will be resurrected after the death," those who have rejected say: "This is but clear magic!
Mohammad Shafi   
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods of time — and His Throne was on ether — that He might test you as to which of you are better in deeds. And if you say, `You shall indeed be raised up after death', those who suppress the Truth would certainly counter, `This is nothing but sheer delusion.

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And it is He who has created the heavens and earth in six days, and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, as to whose work of you is best. And if you say, 'undoubtedly' you shall be raised after death,' then the infidels will surely say 'this is not but a magic manifest.'
Rashad Khalifa   
He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His (earthly) domain was completely covered with water - in order to test you, to distinguish those among you who work righteousness. Yet, when you say, "You will be resurrected after death," those who disbelieve would say, "This is clearly witchcraft."
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was upon the waters that He might try you, (and see) which of you excel in works. If you say: 'After death you shall be raised up, ' the unbelievers will say: 'This is nothing but clear sorcery.
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods; and His Throne of Power is ever on water that He might manifest (the good qualities in) you whoever of you is best in deeds. And if thou sayest, You shall surely be raised up after death, those who disbelieve say: This is nothing but clear deceit
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
And He is who created the skies/space and the earth, in six days/times, and His throne was/is on the water, to test you which of you (is) best/better (in) deed(s), and if (E) you said: "That you are being resurrected/revived from after the death/lifelessness." Those who disbelieved will say (E): "That, this (is) except clear/evident magic/sorcery."
Bijan Moeinian   
God is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six days. His (earthly) domain was completely covered with water. He has provided this [hospitable] world for your trial (so that you prove yourself to Him and learn by going through hardships) and see which one of you will do his best. If you (Mohammad) let them know that they will be raised after death, their only response will be: “This man is talking witchcraft.”
Faridul Haque   
And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne was upon the water - so that He might test you, as to who among you have the best deeds *; and if you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) say, "Indeed you will be raised again after death", the disbelievers will surely say, "This is nothing but clear magic." (* The creation of all things is in order to test mankind.
Sher Ali   
And HE it is who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, - and HIS throne rest on water - that HE might try you which of you is best in conduct. And if you sayest, `You shall surely be raised after death,' those who disbelieve will certainly say, `This is naught but clear deception.
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And He (Allah) is the One Who created the heavens and the earth (the higher and the lower strata of the universe) in six days (i.e., six phases or aeons of creation and evolution). And (before the creation of the earth) His Throne of Authority operated on water, (and from that He brought forth all manifestations of life and created you,) so that He put you to trial to evaluate which of you would be best in action. And if you say: ‘You will be raised after death,’ the disbelievers will certainly say: ‘This is nothing (else) but an obvious magic.
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six aeons and His Throne (of power ever) rests on water (to which the life is due), that He might show whoever of you is best in deeds and conduct. And if you were to say (to them), `You are indeed going to be raised after death,' those who disbelieve will certainly say, `This is naught but an obvious hoax.
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic."

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne was upon the waters -- that He might try you, which one of you is fairer in works. And if thou sayest, 'you shall surely be raised up after death,' the unbelievers will say, 'This is naught but a manifest sorcery.
George Sale   
It is He who hath created the heavens and the earth in six days, -- but his throne was above the waters before the creation thereof, -- that He might prove you, and see which of you would excel in works. If thou say, ye shall surely be raised again, after death; the unbelievers will say, this is nothing but manifest sorcery
Edward Henry Palmer   
He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His throne was upon the water that He might try you, which of you did best. But shouldst thou say, 'Ye will be raised up after death,' those who misbelieve will surely say, 'This is naught but obvious sorcery;
John Medows Rodwell   
And He it is who hath made the Heavens and the Earth in six days: His throne had stood ere this upon the waters, that He might make proof which of you would excel in works. And if thou say, "After death ye shall surely be raised again," the infidels will certainly exclaim, "This is nothing but pure sorcery."
N J Dawood (2014)   
Throned above the waters, He created the heavens and the earth in six days, to find out which of you shall best acquit himself. When you¹ say: ‘After death you shall be raised to life,‘ the unbelievers declare: ‘It is but sorcery manifest.‘

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
And He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six periods while His throne was on the water [before that] so as to try you to see who among you is excellent in action. And if you were to say [to them] that you indeed are going to be raised after the death surely those who disbelieve will say, “This is nothing but manifest sorcery.”
Munir Mezyed   
He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six days – and His Throne (of power & glory) was upon the water- so that He may let you experience hardship in order to identify those among you who strive to do righteous deeds. Yet if it happens that you say unto them: ‘You will indeed be resurrected after death (& judged), those who voluntarily and consciously refuse to Yield to the Truth will say: “This is nothing but an apparent sorcery.’
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
And He is who created the heavens and the earth in six days and His throne was upon water, so that He would test you as to who of you is best in work, and if you say: you are going to be raised after death, those who reject (the truth) will say: this is only plain magic.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
And it is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test you as to which of you is better in conduct. And if yousg were to say, “Youpl will be resurrected after death,” those who denied would most surely say, “This is nothing but evident sorcery.”
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
He is the One who created the skies and the earth in six days. His throne was over the waters, so that He may test which among you are best in conduct. If you were to say, “You will be resurrected after death,” the unbelievers would certainly say, “Obviously, this is a cult.”
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
He is the One Who created Heaven and Earth in six days. His Throne rises over the water, so He may test which of you is finest in action. If you should say: "You will (all) be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would say: "This is just sheer magic!"
Samy Mahdy   
And He is the one who created the skies and the earth in six days, and His Throne was upon the water to try you which of you is best work. And if you said, “You will be resurrected after the death,” those who disbelieved would say, “Surely this is only an obvious magic.”
Sayyid Qutb   
He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six days, whereas His throne has rested upon water, so that He may test you [to make manifest] which of you is best in conduct. Yet if you say to them: 'You shall be raised again after death,' those who disbelieve are sure to say: 'This is nothing but plain sorcery.'
Thomas Cleary   
They know the externals of the life of the world, but they are heedless of the ultimate end.
Ahmed Hulusi   
HU created the heavens and the earth in six stages (the six states of consciousness [heavens] and body [earth]) His Throne (the dimension of Names from which His sovereignty is manifest) is upon water (the essence of the universe; the knowledge – data in the ocean of waves; the data contained within waves of energy comprising the universe). (In terms of man, the qualities denoted by the Names are sovereign over man’s consciousness and body – 80% of man is comprised of water, which is programmed to store data via certain waves of energy.) It is to determine who among you is best in conduct... Indeed, if you say “You will certainly be resurrected after death” the deniers of the knowledge of the reality will say, “This is just clear magic (showing the inexistent as existent).”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth within Six Days(periods), and His Throne was over the water so that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. And, if you were to say to them: 'Verily you shall be raised up after death', the unbelievers would surely say: 'This is(not)but a manifest sorcery'.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
He is it who created the heavens and the earth and brought them into existence in six days* determined by His own unit of time and proclaimed in His calendar; His Throne of supremacy and dominion and of grace and mercy was then set over the water** He created the universe and you people as a part of it in Order to determine which of you performs the better deed and whether his deeds agree with his words and whether his work is imprinted with wisdom and piety! Yet when you O Muhammad say to them that they shall rise again at the Last Day after they had been dead and buried, the infidels shall say: " This is nothing but sheer sorcery assumed by him."
Mir Aneesuddin   
And He it is Who created the skies and the earth in six periods when His throne was on water,* that He may test you as to which of you is best in action. And if you say, “You will be raised up after death,” those who do not believe will definitely say, “This is nothing but clear magic.” * Fluid

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was over the waters - that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. But if thou wert to say to them, "Ye shall indeed be raised up after death", the Unbelieve rs would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious sorcery!"
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And He (is) the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six epochs, and His throne was on the water that He might test [you] which of you (is) best (in) deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you (will be) resurrected after [the] death," surely would say those who disbelieved, "This is not but a magic clear.
OLD Transliteration   
Wahuwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati waal-arda fee sittati ayyamin wakana AAarshuhu AAala alma-i liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu AAamalan wala-in qulta innakum mabAAoothoona min baAAdi almawti layaqoolanna allatheena kafaroo in hatha illa sihrun mubeenun