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Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
[To this end,] God sets forth a parable: A man who has for his masters several partners, [all of them] at variance with one another, and a man depending wholly on one person: can these two be deemed equal as regards their condition? [Nay,] all praise is due to God [alone]: but most of them do not understand this
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Allah sets forth the parable of a slave owned by several quarrelsome masters, and a slave owned by only one master. Are they equal in condition? Praise be to Allah! In fact, most of them do not know.
Safi Kaskas   
[To this end], God presents an example: [consider] a man owned by quarreling partners, and another [who is] devoted exclusively to one master, are they considered equal in status? All praise be to God! But most of them do not know.

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَاءُ مُتَشَاكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُون
Transliteration (2021)   
ḍaraba l-lahu mathalan rajulan fīhi shurakāu mutashākisūna warajulan salaman lirajulin hal yastawiyāni mathalan l-ḥamdu lillahi bal aktharuhum lā yaʿlamūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
sets forth Allah an example - a man about him partners quarreling and a man (belonging) exclusively to one man - are they both equal (in) comparison? All praise (be) to Allah! Nay, most of them (do) not know.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
[To this end,] God sets forth a parable: A man who has for his masters several partners, [all of them] at variance with one another, and a man depending wholly on one person: can these two be deemed equal as regards their condition? [Nay,] all praise is due to God [alone]: but most of them do not understand this
M. M. Pickthall   
Allah coineth a similitude: A man in relation to whom are several part-owners, quarrelling, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in similitude? Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Allah puts forth a Parable a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! but most of them have no knowledge
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
Allah sets forth the parable of a slave owned by several quarrelsome masters, and a slave owned by only one master. Are they equal in condition? Praise be to Allah! In fact, most of them do not know.
Safi Kaskas   
[To this end], God presents an example: [consider] a man owned by quarreling partners, and another [who is] devoted exclusively to one master, are they considered equal in status? All praise be to God! But most of them do not know.
Wahiduddin Khan   
God sets forth a parable: there are two menone belonging to many masters, all disagreeing with one another, and the other belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to God! But most of them have no knowledge
Shakir   
Allah sets forth an example: There is a slave in whom are (several) partners differing with one another, and there is another slave wholly owned by one man. Are the two alike in condition? (All) praise is due to Allah. Nay! most of them do not know
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
God propounded a parable of a man owned by quarreling ascribed associates and a man belonging to another man. Are they both equal in likeness? The Praise belongs to God. But most of them know not.
T.B.Irving   
God has compared one man who has quarrelsome partners with another man dealing peacefully with [still another] man. Are either of them comparable? Praise be to God! Yet most of them do not realize it.
Abdul Hye   
Allah puts forth an example: a captive belongs to many partners disputing with one another (like one who believes in many false deities), and a captive belongs entirely to one master (like one believes in one Allah). Are these 2 equal in comparison? All the praise be to Allah! But most of them don’t know.
The Study Quran   
God sets forth a parable: a man in whom quarreling partners share, and a man belonging to one man: are the two equal in likeness? Praise be to God! Nay, but most of them know not
Dr. Kamal Omar   
Allah did bring a parable: a man, in him are share-holders, those who have disputes among themselves (and do not agree on a joint or uniform approach); and (on the other side is) a man completely subservient for one person (alone). Are they both equal when a parable is brought (to explain their position)? Selective Praise suits Allah (Alone). Nay, majority of them do not know
Farook Malik   
Allah cites you a parable - there is a slave man who is shared by many masters, each pulling this man to himself (like the man who worships other deities along with Allah), and there is another slave man who belongs entirely to one master (like the man who worships Allah Alone)- are the two alike in comparison? Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not know
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
God cites the example of a man shared by partners at odds, and a man belonging exclusively to one man. Are they equal in status? Praise be to God, but most of them do not know
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
Allah has struck a smilitude: a man in whom associates are at variance with each other, and a man wholly submissive to (one) man. Are the two equal (in likeness)? Praise be to Allah; no indeed, (but) most of them do not know
Muhammad Sarwar   
God tells a parable in which there is a company of quarrelsome people and only one of them is well disciplined. Can they be considered as equal? It is only God who deserves all praise. In fact, most of them do not know
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
Allah has given an example: There is a man (enslaved and) owned by some partners having rivalry with each other, and (on the other hand,) there is a man solely owned by a single man. Can they be equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! (The truth stands established). But, most of them do not know
Shabbir Ahmed   
Allah gives you another example: There is a man who deals with several disputing supervisors, compared to a man who deals with only one consistent supervisor. Are these two equal as regards their condition? All Praise is due to Allah (the One Master of all mankind!) Nay, but most of them know not (the Bliss of strict Monotheism (12:39))
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Allah quotes an example. (There are two slaves), one belongs to many partners pitted against each other, while the other belongs entirely to one master. Can these two men fare equally? All praise is for Allah! But most people do not realize
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
Allah puts forth a parable (the story with meaning and guidance in it)— A slave belonging to many different partners, (false gods) disputing with one another and a slave belonging only to one master : Are those two equal in comparison? All the Praises (and thanks) be to Allah! But most of them do not know
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
Allah presents an example: a slave owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah ! But most of them do not know
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
God cites the example of a man who has partners that dispute with each other, and a man who has given to dealing with only one man. Are they the same Praise be to God; most of them do not know
Abdel Haleem   
God puts forward this illustration: can a man who has for his masters several partners at odds with each other be considered equal to a man devoted wholly to one master? All praise belongs to God, though most of them do not know
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Allah propoundeth a similitude: man having several partners,"quarelling, and a man wholly belonging to one man. Are the two equal in likeness? All praise Unto Allah. But most of them know not
Ahmed Ali   
God advances the example of a man who is owned (as slave in common) by a number of men at loggerheads, and another man who is owned by only one. Are these two alike in attribute? God be praised; yet many of them do not know
Aisha Bewley   
Allah has made a metaphor for them of a man owned by several partners in dispute with one another and another man wholly owned by a single man. Are they the same? Praise be to Allah! The fact is that most of them do not know.
Ali Ünal   
God strikes a parable: a man in (the employment of) many partners who continuously dispute with one another, and another man employed by one person: are those two equal in likeness? All praise and gratitude are for God (the only Sovereign Lord of the creation). But most people have no knowledge (of the meaning of this truth)
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Allah draws an example: a man jointly owned by several contending masters, and a man belonging entirely to one man: are the two equal in comparison? All praise belongs to Allah! But most of them do not know
Hamid S. Aziz   
Allah sets forth a similitude: There is a slave who belongs to several partners, differing (or quarrelling) with one another, and there is another slave wholly owned by one man. Are the two alike in condition? (All) praise is due to Allah. Nay! most of t
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
God gave an example of a man belonging to quarreling partners and a man fully belonging to a man. Are the two examples equal? All praise belongs to God. No, but most of them do not know
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
God puts forth a parable of a person belonging to many partners at odds with each other, and a person belonging entirely to one man. Are those two equal in comparison? Praise God, but most of them do not understand
Musharraf Hussain   
Allah gives this example: can a servant devoted to many masters who are at odds with each other be the same as the one who is devoted to only one master? All the praises belong to Allah! Unfortunately, majority don’t know
Maududi   
Allah propounds a parable: there is a man whose ownership is shared by several quarrelsome masters, each pulling him to himself; and there is another who is exclusively owned by one man. Can the two be alike? All praise and thanks be to Allah. But most of them are unaware
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
God puts forth the example of a man who has partners that dispute with each other, and a man who has given to dealing with only one man. Are they the same? Praise be to God; most of them do not know.
Mohammad Shafi   
Allah quotes an example: a man shared by several contending masters, and another submitting to one man. Can the two be alike? All praise to Allah! But most of them know not

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
Allah sets an example, a servant belonging to several rude masters and one belonging solely to one master. Are they both equal in condition? All praise to Allah, but most of them know not.
Rashad Khalifa   
GOD cites the example of a man who deals with disputing partners (Hadith), compared to a man who deals with only one consistent source (Quran). Are they the same? Praise be to GOD; most of them do not know.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
Allah has struck an example of a man shared by disagreeing partners, and a man who is owned by just one man, are the two equally alike? Praise belongs toAllah, but most of them do not know
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
Allah sets forth a parable: A man belonging to partners differing with one another, and a man (devoted) wholly to one man. Are the two alike in condition? Praise be to Allah! Nay, most of them know not
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
God gave an example/proverb (of) a man, adversaries/ill-mannered/quarrelsome partners (subject of controversy is) in him, (and) a man peaceful/secure/without blemish , to a man, do they (B) become equal/alike (in) an example/proverb? The praise/gratitude (is) to God, but most of them do not know
Bijan Moeinian   
God hereby cites the following example: “Is the one who is pulled by contradictory orders in peace or the one who receives only consistent order from one source?” [In other words, who is more rational in discussion? the one who refers to contradicting sources or the one who uses nonambiguous Qur’an as his source of reference?]. Praise be to God. What a pity that most of them do not get it
Faridul Haque   
Allah illustrates an example - “A man having several wicked masters as partners, and another man belonging wholly to just one master; are the two equal in comparison?” All praise is to Allah; in fact, most among them do not know
Sher Ali   
ALLAH sets forth a parable - a man belonging to several partners, who disagree with one another, and a man belonging wholly to one man. Are the two equal in condition? All praise belongs to ALLAH. But most of them know not
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
Allah has given an example of such a (slave) person that is owned by many partners who are ill-mannered and mutually quarrelsome as well. And (on the other side) there is a person who is a slave only to one master. Can they both be alike? (Not at all!) All praise belongs to Allah alone. But most of them do not know (the truth of the Oneness of Allah)
Amatul Rahman Omar   
Allah describes the condition of a man belonging to several partners contending with one another; and (there is) another man devoted wholly to one person. Are the two alike in condition? (No how can they be?) All true and perfect praise belongs to Allah. But most of them do not know (this truth)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
Allah puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners (like those who worship others along with Allah) disputing with one another, and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master, (like those who worship Allah Alone). Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks be to Allah! But most of them know not

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
God has struck a similitude -- a man in whom partners disagreeing share, and a man the property of one man. Are the two equal in likeness? Praise belongs to God! Nay, but most of them do not know
George Sale   
God propoundeth as a parable a man who hath several companions which are at mutual variance, and a man who committeth himself wholly to one person: Shall these be held in equal comparison? God forbid! But the greater part of them do not understand
Edward Henry Palmer   
God has struck out a parable, a man who has partners who oppose each other and a man who is wholly given up to another; shall they be deemed equal in similitude? praise be to God! nay, but most of them know not
John Medows Rodwell   
God setteth forth the comparison of a man with associates at variance among themselves, and of a man devoted wholly to a man. Are these to be held alike? No, praise be to God! But the greater part of them understand not
N J Dawood (2014)   
God makes this comparison: a man who has many masters who are ever at odds among themselves; and a man devoted to one master. Are they to be held equal? God be praised! But most of them have no knowledge

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Allah presents this parable: A man serves many partners who are at odds with one another. Another man peacefully serves only one master. How do these two compare? Praise Allah! Most people, however, have no knowledge.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Allah (God) has compared one man who has quarrelsome partners [in his ownership] with another man dealing peacefully with [one] man (one owner). Are either of them comparable? Praise be to Allah (God)! Yet most of them do not realize it.
Sayyid Qutb   
God cites the case of a man who has for his masters several partners at odds with each other, and a man belonging wholly to one person. Can they be deemed equal? All praise is due to God alone, but most of them do not understand.
Ahmed Hulusi   
Allah presents an example: A man in the service of quarreling partners and a man who has submitted to only one master... Can they be equal in condition? Hamd belongs to Allah! No, the majority of them do not know!
Mir Aneesuddin   
Allah sets forth the example of a man who is under (the control of many) partners differing with each other, and (another) man wholly (under the control) of one man, are the two equal in likeness? Praise is due only for Allah, no, the majority of them does not know.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
Allah cites an instance of a man -a slave- who serves many masters who are quarrelsome and unable to find the concord for their perpetual discord, consequently, he is perplexed and at a loss. And another slave who serves only one master and by consequence he has peace of mind and he knows what pleases and what displeases his master and proceeds accordingly. Do they compare! yet most people do not realize this fact

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
God puts forth a Parable a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to God! but most of them have no knowledge
OLD Literal Word for Word   
Allah sets forth an example - a man about him partners quarreling and a man (belonging) exclusively to one man - are they both equal (in) comparison? All praise (be) to Allah! Nay, most of them (do) not know