←Prev   Ayah al-Imran (The Family of Imran, The House of Imran) 3:110   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
YOU ARE indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind: you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and you believe in God. Now if the followers of earlier revelation had attained to [this kind of] faith, it would have been for their own good; [but only few] among them are believers, while most of them are iniquitous
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are faithful, but most are rebellious.
Safi Kaskas   
You are the best community brought forth for the good of mankind, promoting what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most are defiantly disobedient.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُون
Transliteration (2021)   
kuntum khayra ummatin ukh'rijat lilnnāsi tamurūna bil-maʿrūfi watanhawna ʿani l-munkari watu'minūna bil-lahi walaw āmana ahlu l-kitābi lakāna khayran lahum min'humu l-mu'minūna wa-aktharuhumu l-fāsiqūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
You are (the) best (of) people raised for the mankind - enjoining the right and forbidding [from] the wrong and believing in Allah. And if believed (the) People (of) the Book surely would have been good for them. Among them (are) [the] believers, but most of them (are) defiantly disobedient.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
YOU ARE indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind: you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and you believe in God. Now if the followers of earlier revelation had attained to [this kind of] faith, it would have been for their own good; [but only few] among them are believers, while most of them are iniquitous
M. M. Pickthall   
Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers; but most of them are evil-livers
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are faithful, but most are rebellious.
Safi Kaskas   
You are the best community brought forth for the good of mankind, promoting what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most are defiantly disobedient.
Wahiduddin Khan   
You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind. You enjoin what is good, and forbid what is evil, and you believe in God. If the People of the Book had also believed, it would have surely been better for them. Some of them are true believers, but most of them are disobedient
Shakir   
You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah; and if the followers of the Book had believed it would have been better for them; of them (some) are believers and most of them are transgressors
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
You had been the best community that was brought out for humanity. You command to that which is honorable and prohibit that which is unlawful and believe in God. And if the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are the ones who believe, but most of them are the ones who disobey.
T.B.Irving   
You are the best community which has been produced for mankind. You command decency and forbid dishonor, and you believe in God [Alone]. If the People of the Book would only believe, it would be better for them; some of them are believers while most of them are perverse.
Abdul Hye   
You are the best people raised for mankind. You command the good, forbid the evil, and you believe in Allah. And had people of the Scripture believed, it would have been better for them; some of them are believers, but most of them are transgressors.
The Study Quran   
You are the best community brought forth unto mankind, enjoining right, forbidding wrong, and believing in God. And were the People of the Book to believe, that would be better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are iniquitous
Dr. Kamal Omar   
You are the best ummah raised up for mankind. You shall enjoin Al-Ma’ruf and you shall forbid against Al-Munkar; and you shall Believe in Allah. And had the people of Al-Kitab Believed (in Al-Kitab) it would have been better for them. Among them are Believers but most of them are Al-Fasiqun
Farook Malik   
Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
You are the best community that ever emerged for humanity: you advocate what is moral, and forbid what is immoral, and believe in God. Had the People of the Scripture believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are the believers, but most of them are sinners
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
You have been the most charitable nation brought out to mankind: you command beneficence, and forbid maleficence, and believe in Allah. And if the population of the Book (Or: Family of the Book; i.e., the Jews and Christians) believed, it would indeed have been charitable for them; (some) of them are the believers, and the majority of them are the immoral
Muhammad Sarwar   
You are the best nation that ever existed among humanity. You command people to good and prohibit them from evil, and you believe in God. Had the People of the Book accepted the faith (Islam), it would certainly have been better for them. Some of them have faith, but most of them are evil doers
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
You are the best ‘Ummah ever raised for mankind. You bid the Fair and forbid the Unfair, and you believe in Allah. If the people of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them, there are believers, while most of them are sinners
Shabbir Ahmed   
Since you have been empowered by the Qur'an, you are the best suited Community that has been raised up for the good of mankind. It is your duty to enjoin the Right and forbid the Wrong, since you accept the Final Word of God as the Criterion (3:4). The Qur'an clearly educates you on the Permanent Moral Value System and decrees authoritatively what the otherwise vague terms of 'right' and 'wrong', and 'good' and 'evil' might mean. Now if the People of the Scripture had attained this kind of belief, it would have been for their own good. But only few among them are believers, while most of them are drifting away from the Truth
Dr. Munir Munshey   
You are indeed the best of people ever brought forth for mankind. You enjoin (virtue and) the right (conduct), and you forbid the wrong (and the indecent). Had the people of the book believed, it would have been for their own good. Some among them are the believers, but most of them are evildoers
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
You are the best of Peoples ever, evolved from (Mankind and) for Mankind enjoining what is right, preventing what is wrong, and believing in Allah; And if only the People of the Book had faith, it would be best for them: Among them are some who have faith, but most of them are those who exceed the bound with evil in their minds
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah . If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
You were the best nation that emerged for the people, you ordered towards kindness and deterred from evil, and believed in God. If the people of the Scripture believed it would have been better for them; from amongst them are believers, but most remain wicked
Abdel Haleem   
[Believers], you are the best community singled out for people: you order what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in God. If the People of the Book had also believed, it would have been better for them. For although some of them do believe, most of them are lawbreakers
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
O Ye are the best community sent forth unto mankind; ye command that which is reputable and ye prevent that which is disreputable. and ye believe in Allah If the people of the Book believe, surely it were better for them. Of them are believers, and most of them are transgressors
Ahmed Ali   
Of all the communities raised among men you are the best, enjoining the good, forbidding the wrong, and believing in God. If the people of the Book had come to believe it was best for them; but only some believe, and transgressors are many
Aisha Bewley   
You are the best nation ever to be produced before mankind. You enjoin the right, forbid the wrong and have iman in Allah. If the People of the Book were to have iman, it would be better for them. Some of them are muminun but most of them are deviators.
Ali Ünal   
(O Community of Muhammad!) You are the best community ever brought forth for (the good of) humankind, enjoining and actively promoting what is right and good and forbidding and trying to prevent the evil, and (this you do because) you believe in God. If only the People of the Book believed (as you do), this would be sheer good for them. Among them there are believers, but most of them are transgressors
Ali Quli Qara'i   
You are the best nation [ever] brought forth for mankind: you bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and have faith in Allah. And if the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them [some] are faithful, but most of them are transgressors
Hamid S. Aziz   
You were the best of nations brought forth unto man. You bid what is reasonable, and forbid what is inappropriate (indecent, wrong), believing in Allah. Had the people of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. There are believers among th
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
You are the best group that are brought out for the people, instructing to the right (acceptable) and prohibiting from wrong (unacceptable), and believing in God. And if the people of the book believed, it was better for them, some of them are believers while most of them are disobedient
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
You are the best of communities evolved for humanity, advocating for what is right, protesting against what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the people of the Book had faith, it would be best for them. Among them are some who have faith, but many of them are transgressors
Musharraf Hussain   
You are the best community to emerge for humanity, so long as you enjoin the common good, forbid evil and believe in Allah. Had the People of The Book believed, it would be better for them. Some of them believe, but most of them are evildoers.
Maududi   
You are now the best people brought forth for (the guidance and reform of) mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed it were better for them. Some of them are believers but most of them are transgressors
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
You were the best nation that emerged for the people, you ordered kindness and prohibited vice, and believed in God. If the people of the Book believed it would have been better for them; from among them are the believers, but the majority are the wicked.
Mohammad Shafi   
You are a better people, picked up for mankind, to enjoin what is right and to forbid what is wrong, and to believe in Allah. And had the People of the Book believed, it would certainly be better for them. Among them are some who believe, but most of them are dissolute.

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
You are the best among all those nations appeared unto mankind, you command! To good, and forbid evil, and keep faith unto Allah. Had the people of the Book believed, then it was good for them. Some of them are Muslims and most of them are infidels.
Rashad Khalifa   
You are the best community ever raised among the people: you advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and you believe in GOD. If the followers of the scripture believed, it would be better for them. Some of them do believe, but the majority of them are wicked.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
You are the best nation ever to be brought forth for people. You order honor and forbid dishonor, and you believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have surely been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are evildoers
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
You are the best nation raised up for men: you enjoin good and forbid evil and you believe in Allah. And if the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are believers but most of them are transgressors
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
You were (the) best nation , brought out to the people, you order/command with the kindness/known , and you forbid/prevent from the awfulness/obscenity , and you believe with God, and if The Book's people believed, (it) would have been/would be best for them, from them (are) the believing/believers, and most of them (are) the debauchers
Bijan Moeinian   
You (Mohammad and his followers) are the best community ever appeared among the mankind as you invite people to do good, forbid them of evil deeds and believe in God. If the people of the Scripture would also believe in God, it would be good for them. Some of them believe but most of them are the sinners
Faridul Haque   
You are the best among all the nations that were raised among mankind - you enjoin good deeds and forbid immorality and you believe in Allah; and if the People given the Book(s) believed it would be better for them; some of them are believers (Muslims) and most of them are disbelievers. (The best Ummah is that of Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him.
Sher Ali   
You are the best people raised for the good of mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil and believe in ALLAH. And if the People of the Book had believed, it would have, surely, been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are transgressors
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
You are the best community brought forth for (the guidance of) mankind: you enjoin righteousness, forbid evil and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book also embraced faith, that would certainly have been in their favour. There are some amongst them who believe, whilst the majority of them are disobedient
Amatul Rahman Omar   
You are the noblest people raised up for the good of mankind. You enjoin equity and forbid evil, and you believe truly in Allah. Had the people of the Scripture (also) believed, it would surely have been best for them. Some of them are believers, yet most of them are disobedient
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Maroof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fasiqoon (disobedient to Allah - and rebellious against Allahs Command)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
You are the best nation ever brought forth to men, bidding to honour, and forbidding dishonour, and believing in God. Had the People of the Book believed, it were better for them; some of them are believers, but the most of them are ungodly
George Sale   
Ye are the best nation that hath been raised up unto mankind: Ye command that which is just, and ye forbid that which is unjust, and ye believe in God. And if they who have recieved the scriptures had believed, it had surely been the better for them: There are believers among them, but the greater part of them are transgressors
Edward Henry Palmer   
Ye were the best of nations brought forth unto man. Ye bid what is reasonable, and forbid what is wrong, believing in God. Had the people of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. There are believers among them, though most of them are sinners
John Medows Rodwell   
Ye are the best folk that hath been raised up unto mankind. Ye enjoin the Just, and ye forbid the Evil, and ye believe in God: And if the people of the Book had believed, it had surely been better for them! Believers there are among them, but most of them are perverse
N J Dawood (2014)   
You are the noblest community ever raised up for people. You enjoin justice and forbid the reprehensible and believe in God. Had the People of the Book accepted the Faith, it would surely have been better for them. Some are true believers, but most of them are ungodly

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
You [who are truly surrendered to God’s will] are the best people evolved from humanity. You promote what is righteous and prohibit what is evil and believe in Allah. If only [all] the people of the Book had faith, it would be better for them. Among (the people of the Book) are some who [truly] have faith, but many of them are wretched sinners.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
You are the best community which has been produced for mankind. You command decency and forbid dishonor, and you believe in Allah (God) [Alone]. If the People of the Book would only believe, it would be better for them; some of them are believers while most of them are perverse.
Sayyid Qutb   
You are the best community that has ever been raised for mankind; you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in God. Had the people of earlier revelations believed, it would have been for their own good. Few of them are believers, while most of them are evildoers.
Ahmed Hulusi   
You are the best community from among mankind. You judge with the Truth and reality, you advise abstinence from things that are contrary to religion, and you believe in Allah with the comprehension that your essence comprises the Names. Had those to whom the knowledge of reality was given (the People of the Book) also believed, it would have been good for them. Some are people of faith, but the majority are deniers of the reality.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
You are the best nations brought forth for (the benefit of) mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah; and if the People of the Book had believed, it would surely have been better for them. Some of them are believers while most of them are transgressors
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
You Muslims have been the best people* that have evolved from mankind for mankind. You enjoin equity and you recourse to general principles of justice. You forbid all that is wrongful and obscene and you conform your will to Allah’s blessed will
Mir Aneesuddin   
You are the best community raised for humanity. You enjoin that which is recognised (as good) and forbid that which is not recognised (as good) and you believe in Allah; and had the owners of the book (too) believed, it would have been better for them, among them there are believers, but most of them are transgressors.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors
OLD Literal Word for Word   
You are (the) best (of) people raised for the mankind - enjoining the right and forbidding [from] the wrong and believing in Allah. And if believed (the) People (of) the Book surely would have been good for them. Among them (are) [the] believers, but most of them (are) defiantly disobedient