Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
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Muhammad Asad | | But [since] good and evil cannot be equal, repel thou [evil] with something that is better and lo! he between whom and thyself was enmity [may then become] as though he had [always] been close [unto thee], a true friend! |  |
M. M. Pickthall | | The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend. | |
Shakir | | And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best, when lo! he between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were a warm friend. | |
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985) | | Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! | |
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938) | | Nor can goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate! | |
| Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar | | Not on the same level are benevolence or the evil deed. Drive back with what is fairer. Then, behold he who between thee and between him was enmity as if he had been a protector, a loyal friend. | |
Wahiduddin Khan | | Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend, | |
| T.B.Irving | | A good deed and an evil deed are not alike: repel [evil] with something (that is) finer, and notice how someone who is separated from you because of enmity will become a bosom friend! | |
[Al-Muntakhab] | | Nor does a deed crowned with equity and good will compare with a deed tinted with evil and ill - will. Therefore repel what affects you with distaste and aversion by what is morally and spiritually sublime, and there you will find that he who harbours to you enmity and ill - will has come to be as though he were a friend actuated with the feeling of sincerity. | |
[Progressive Muslims] | | Not equal are the good and the bad response. You shall resort to the one which is better. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend. | |
Abdel Haleem | | Good and evil cannot be equal. [Prophet], repel evil with what is better and your enemy will become as close as an old and valued friend, | |
Abdul Majid Daryabadi | | Nor can good and evil be equal. Repel thou evil with that which is goodly then behold he between whom and thee there was enmity, will be as though he was a warm friend. | |
Ahmed Ali | | Good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with what is good. Then you will find your erstwhile enemy like a close. affectionate friend. | |
Aisha Bewley | | A good action and a bad action are not the same. Repel the bad with something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend. | |
Ali Ünal | | Goodness and evil can never be equal. Repel evil with what is better (or best). Then see: the one between whom and you there was enmity has become a bosom friend. | |
Ali Quli Qara'i | | Good and evil [conduct] are not equal. Repel [evil] with what is best. [If you do so,] behold, he between whom and you was enmity, will be as though he were a sympathetic friend. | |
Amatul Rahman Omar | | And good and evil are not alike. Repel (evil) with that (benign and graceful way) which is best, and lo, the person between whom and you there is enmity will behave as if he were your warm-hearted friend. | |
Hamid S. Aziz | | And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel evil with what is best, when lo! He between whom and you was enmity would be as if he were an intimate friend. | |
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali | | And not equal are the fair deed and the odious deed. Repel with that which is fairest; then, only then, he between whom and you there is enmity will be as if he were an intimate constant patron. | |
Muhammad Sarwar | | Virtue and evil are not equal. If you replace evil habits by virtuous ones, you will certainly find that your enemies will become your intimate friends. | |
Muhammad Taqi Usmani | | Good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with what is best, and you will see that the one you had mutual enmity with him will turn as if he were a close friend. | |
Shabbir Ahmed | | Since good conduct and bad conduct cannot be alike, repel evil words and deeds in a way that is decent. And, behold, he, between whom and you there was enmity, may become as though he was your bosom friend! | |
Syed Vickar Ahamed | | And good deeds and evil deeds cannot be equal. (So) give up (evil) with what is better: Then verily, he (the one) between whom and you, was hatred, will become like your friend and close companion (to you as a Muslim brother)! | |
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International) | | And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend. | |
Farook Malik | | Good deeds are not equal to the evil ones. WORSHIP/DECIPHERMENT Repel other’s evil deeds with your good deeds. You will see that he with whom you had enmity, will become your close friend. | |
| Dr. Munir Munshey | | The good and the bad deeds are not alike. Respond to their bad deeds with good ones, and you will find that the person who was hostile and antagonistic towards you has turned into a bosom buddy. | |
Tahir-ul-Qadri Mohammad | | And good and evil cannot be equal. And remove the evil in a better (way) with the result that he between whom and you was rivalry before becomes your most warmhearted friend. | |
| Dr. Kamal Omar | | And does not become equal (every) good deed, and nor (every) evil, (there are ranks and categories to every action). Repel (the evil) with that which is a better (than normal and usual behaviour) then immediately that one — there is enmity between you and between him — (may become) as if he is (to you) a sincere friend . | |
| Bilal Muhammad (2013 Edition) | | And not equal are benefit and harm. Repel wrong with what is better. Then the two who hated each other will become close friends. | |
Maududi | | (O Prophet), good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with that which is good, and you will see that he, between whom and you there was enmity, shall become as if he were a bosom friend (of yours). | |
Controversial, deprecated, or status undetermined works
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Bijan Moeinian | | (Mohammad), know that goodness and evil are not equal. Therefore resort to the nicest response [to the worse treatment]. It is only then that your worse enemy may turn to be your best friend one day. | |
| Faridul Haque | | And the good deed and the evil deed will never be equal; O listener! Repel the evil deed with a good one, thereupon the one between whom and you was enmity, will become like a close friend. | |
| Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah | | Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel with that which is most just, and see, the one whom there is enmity between you will be as if he were a loyal guide. | |
Maulana Muhammad Ali | | And not alike are the good and the evil. Repel (evil) with what is best, when lo! he between whom and thee is enmity would be as if he were a warm friend. | |
| Muhammad Ahmed - Samira | | And the good/goodness does not become equal/alike and nor the sin/crime, pay/push/repel with which it is best , so then who (is) between you and between him animosity as though/as if he (is a) concerned guardian/ally . | |
Sher Ali | | And good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with that which is best. And lo, he, between whom and thyself was enmity, will become as though he were a warm friend. | |
Rashad Khalifa | | Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend. | |
| Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi) | | And the good deed and the evil deed will never be equal; O listener! Repel the evil deed with a good one, thereupon the one between whom and you was enmity, will become like a close friend. | |
Hilali & Khan | | The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. | |
