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Muhammad Asad   
And thus, too, [O Muhammad,] have We revealed unto thee a life-giving message, [coming] at Our behest. [Ere this message came unto thee,] thou didst not know what revelation is, nor what faith [implies]: but [now] We have caused this [message] to be a light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our servants: and, verily, [on the strength thereof] thou, too, shalt guide [men] onto the straight way –
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And so We have sent to you ˹O Prophet˺ a revelation by Our command. You did not know of ˹this˺ Book and faith ˹before˺. But We have made it a light, by which We guide whoever We will of Our servants. And you are truly leading ˹all˺ to the Straight Path—
Safi Kaskas   
Accordingly We have revealed to you a Spirit of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or what faith is, but We have made it an enlightenment, guiding with it whom We wish of Our worshipers. You indeed guide to a straight path

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَن نَّشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيم
Transliteration (2021)   
wakadhālika awḥaynā ilayka rūḥan min amrinā mā kunta tadrī mā l-kitābu walā l-īmānu walākin jaʿalnāhu nūran nahdī bihi man nashāu min ʿibādinā wa-innaka latahdī ilā ṣirāṭin mus'taqīmi
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration by Our Command. Not (did) you know what the Book (is) and not the faith. But We have made it a light, We guide with it whom We will of Our slaves. And indeed, you surely guide to (the) Path Straight,

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
And thus, too, [O Muhammad,] have We revealed unto thee a life-giving message, [coming] at Our behest. [Ere this message came unto thee,] thou didst not know what revelation is, nor what faith [implies]: but [now] We have caused this [message] to be a light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our servants: and, verily, [on the strength thereof] thou, too, shalt guide [men] onto the straight way –
M. M. Pickthall   
And thus have We inspired in thee (Muhammad) a Spirit of Our command. Thou knewest not what the Scripture was, nor what the Faith. But We have made it a light whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondmen. And lo! thou verily dost guide unto a right path
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
And thus have We, by Our Command, sent inspiration to thee: thou knewest not (before) what was Revelation, and what was Faith; but We have made the (Qur'an) a Light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily thou dost guide (men) to the Straight Way,
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
And so We have sent to you ˹O Prophet˺ a revelation by Our command. You did not know of ˹this˺ Book and faith ˹before˺. But We have made it a light, by which We guide whoever We will of Our servants. And you are truly leading ˹all˺ to the Straight Path—
Safi Kaskas   
Accordingly We have revealed to you a Spirit of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or what faith is, but We have made it an enlightenment, guiding with it whom We wish of Our worshipers. You indeed guide to a straight path
Wahiduddin Khan   
We have thus revealed a Spirit to you [Prophet] by Our command: you knew neither the Scripture nor the faith, but We made it a light, guiding with it whoever We will of Our servants. You are indeed guiding to the straight path
Shakir   
And thus did We reveal to you an inspired book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor (what) the faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants; and most surely you show the way to the right path
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And, thus, We revealed to thee the Spirit of Our command. Thou hadst not been informed what the Book is nor what is belief, but We made it a light by which We guide whomever We will of Our servants. And, truly, thou, thou hast guided to a straight path—
T.B.Irving   
Thus We have revealed a spirit from Our bidding for you. You did not know what either the Book or Faith were, but We have set it up as a Light by means of which We guide any of Our servants whom We wish. You are guiding [men] toward a Straight Road,
Abdul Hye   
Thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad) a revelation (Qur’an) of Our command. You did not know what the book is or what the faith is! But We have made it (this Qur’an) a light, We guide by it whoever We will of Our servants. Surely, you (O Muhammad) are indeed guiding mankind to the Right Way,
The Study Quran   
Thus have We revealed unto thee a Spirit from Our Command. Thou knewest not what scripture was, nor faith. But We made it a light whereby We guide whomsoever We will among Our servants. Truly thou dost guide unto a straight path
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And thus Auhaina (We inspired) to you Ruhan (‘an Inspiration’, ‘a Revelation’, ‘a Spirit’. This is one of the attributes for Allah’s Scripture) proceeding under Our command. You had not been realising what is Al-Kitab and nor Al-Iman (The Faith). But We made this (Al-Kitab) a Light wherewith We guide whom We think proper out of Our Ibad. And verily, you indeed guide to the Permanent, Eternal Path —
Farook Malik   
Thus, have We revealed to you O Muhammad, a Spirit (inspired Book - The Qur’an) by Our command: while you did not know what is The Book and what is the Iman (faith)? But We have made it (The Qur’an) a light whereby We guide those of Our servants whom We please; and surely you are guiding mankind to the Right Wa
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
We thus inspired you spiritually, by Our command. You did not know what the Scripture is, nor what faith is, but We made it a light, with which We guide whomever We will of Our servants. You surely guide to a straight path
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And thus We have revealed to you a Spirit of Our Command. In no way did you realize what the Book was, nor the belief; but We have made it a Light, whereby We guide whomever We decide of Our bondmen. And surely you indeed guide to a straight Path
Muhammad Sarwar   
Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, but We have made the Quran as a light by which We guide whichever of Our servants We want. You certainly guide (people) to the right path
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
In similar way, We have revealed to you a Spirit from Our command. You did not know earlier what was the Book or what was Iman (true faith), but We have made it (the Qur‘an) a light with which We guide whomsoever We will from among Our servants. And indeed you are guiding (people) to a straight path
Shabbir Ahmed   
And thus We have revealed to you (O Prophet) a life-giving Message, by Our Command. You knew not what Revelation is, nor what Faith implies. (That the Power of Faith could revolutionize humanity). But now We have made it a Light, whereby We show the Way to Our servants according to Our Law of Guidance. And, verily, (O Prophet) you shall certainly show them the Straight Path
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Similarly, We sent a spirit _ (Angel Gibraeel) _ towards you by Our command. You knew nothing about the book, or the matters of faith. But We made this book a beacon of guidance. By it, We guide any of Our servants We want. Indeed, you are guiding them to the straight path
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And thus have We by Our Command, sent Revelation to you (O Prophet): You did not know (before) what was Revelation, and what was Faith; But We have made the (Quran), a (Divine) Light, with this We guide such of Our servants as We will; And surely, you (O Prophet) do guide (men) to the Straight Path—
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And thus, We inspired to you a revelation of Our command. You did not know what was the Scripture, nor what was faith. Yet, We made this a light to guide whomever We wish from among Our servants. Surely, you guide to a straight path
Abdel Haleem   
So We have revealed a spirit to you [Prophet] by Our command: you knew neither the Scripture nor the faith, but We made it a light, guiding with it whoever We will of Our servants. You give guidance to the straight path
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
Even so We have revealed Unto thee a spirit of Our command; thou knewest not whatsoever the Book was, nor whatsoever the faith; We have made it a light wherewith We guide whomsoever We will of Our bondmen. And verily thou guidest Unto a straight path
Ahmed Ali   
So have We revealed to you the Qur'an by Our command. You did not know what the Scripture was before, nor (the laws of) faith. And We made it a light by which We show the way to those of Our creatures as We please; and you certainly guide them to the right path
Aisha Bewley   
Accordingly We have revealed to you a Ruh by Our command. You had no idea of what the Book was, nor faith. Nonetheless We have made it a Light by which We guide those of Our slaves We will. Truly you are guiding to a Straight Path:
Ali Ünal   
And thus (in the ways mentioned) We have revealed to you a spirit of Our command (the life-giving Message, the Qur’an). You would not (otherwise) have known what the Book was (with all the knowledge it contains and the way of life it establishes), and what faith was (as described by the Book and with all its principles, requirements, and implications). But We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And certainly you, (by God’s guidance) guide (people) to a straight path –
Ali Quli Qara'i   
Thus have We revealed to you the Spirit of Our dispensation. You did not know what the Book is, nor what is faith; but We made it a light that We may guide by its means whomever We wish of Our servants. And indeed you guide to a straight path
Hamid S. Aziz   
And thus did We reveal to you (Muhammad) an inspired Book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor what the faith was, but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We will of Our servants; and most surely you guide unto the Straight Way
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And like that We revealed to you a spirit by Our command. You did not used to know what the book or the belief/faith is, but We made it (Quran) a light and We guide anyone of Our servants that We want with it. And indeed you guide to a straight path (by this Quran)
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
And so We have, by Our permission, sent inspiration to you. Before, you did not know what revelation was, or what faith was, but We have made it a light with which We guide such of Our servants as We will, and indeed you guide people to the straight way
Musharraf Hussain   
So, We revealed to you the Quran when you didn’t know the details of faith or the Scripture. We made it a light and We guide with it whom We please from among Our servants. And you are guiding them to a straight path,
Maududi   
Even so We revealed to you, (O Prophet), a spirit by Our command. (Ere to that) you knew neither what the Book nor what the faith was. But We made that spirit a light whereby We guide those of Our servants whom We please to the Right Way. Surely you are directing people to the Right Way
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And thus, We inspired to you a revelation of Our command. You did not know what was the Book, nor what was faith. Yet, We made this a light to guide whoever We wish from among Our servants. Surely, you guide to a straight path.
Mohammad Shafi   
And, likewise, have We revealed to you [Prophet Muhammad] a soul of a message, at Our behest! You did not know what the divine Writ is, or what belief means. Nonetheless, We have caused this Message [We have revealed to you] to be a light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our subjects. And, you do certainly guide people to the Straight Path

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And likewise We have revealed to you an invigorative thing by Our command. You did not know the Book before it nor the details of the laws of religion, yes, We made it a light whereby We guide such of Our bondmen as We please. And undoubtedly, you most certainly guides to the straight path.
Rashad Khalifa   
Thus, we inspired to you a revelation proclaiming our commandments. You had no idea about the scripture, or faith. Yet, we made this a beacon to guide whomever we choose from among our servants. Surely, you guide in a straight path.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
As such We have revealed to you (Prophet Muhammad) a spirit (the revelation of the Koran) from Our Ordinance. You did not know what the Book was, nor belief, but We made it a light whereby We guide those of Our worshipers whom We will. And you (Prophet Muhammad), you, surely guide to a Straight Path
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And thus did We reveal to thee an inspired Book by our command. Thou knewest not what the Book was, nor (what) Faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants. And surely thou guidest to the right path -
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
And like that We inspired/transmitted to you, a Soul/Spirit , from Our order/command/matter/affair, you were not knowing what (is) The Book , and nor the faith/belief, and but We made it a light, We guide with it whom We will/want from Our worshippers/slaves , and that you guide (E) to a straight/direct road/way
Bijan Moeinian   
Thus, I (God) have revealed my commandments to you [through Angle Gabriel] while you had no idea about the Book nor the faith. I sent this light (Qur’an) to guide whoever I choose [and deserves to be chosen]. Indeed you (Mohammad) are guiding man to the right path
Faridul Haque   
And this is how We sent the divine revelation to you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him) - a life giving thing, by Our command; neither did you know the Book nor the detailed commands of religion, but We have made this Qur’an a light by which We guide whomever We will from Our bondmen; and indeed you surely do guide to the Straight Path
Sher Ali   
And thus have We revealed to thee the Word by Our command. Thou didst not know what the Book was, nor what the faith. But We have made the revelation a light, whereby We guide such of Our servants as WE please. And, truly, thou guidest mankind to the right path
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
So thus We revealed to you Our Spirit (of hearts and souls) by Our command (that is the Qur’an). And (before the Revelation) you did not know what the Book was, nor did you know (through your own endeavour and insight the details of the injunctions of) faith (which were sent down and determined later).* But We made it a Light. By means of this Light, We give guidance to those of Our servants whom We intend. And assuredly, you alone provide guidance towards the straight path.*
Amatul Rahman Omar   
(Prophet!) just so (as We sent revelations to other Prophets), We revealed to you the Word by Our command. (Before this revelation) you did not know what the Divine Book was nor (which of) the faith (it teaches), but We made it (- Our revelation to you) a light, whereby We guide such of our servants as We will. And truly you are guiding (mankind) on to the straight and right path
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad SAW) Ruhan (an Inspiration, and a Mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? But We have made it (this Quran) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allahs religion of Islamic Monotheism)

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
Even so We have revealed to thee a Spirit of Our bidding. Thou knewest not what the Book was, nor belief; but We made it a light, whereby We guide whom We will of Our servants. And thou, surely thou shalt guide unto a straight path -
George Sale   
Thus have We revealed unto thee a revelation, by our command. Thou didst not understand, before this, what the book of the Koran was, nor what the faith was: But We have ordained the same for a light; We will thereby direct such of our servants as We please: And thou shalt surely direct them into the right way
Edward Henry Palmer   
And thus have we inspired thee by a spirit at our bidding; thou didst not know what the Book was, nor the faith: but we made it a light whereby we guide whom we will of our servants. And, verily, thou shalt surely be guided into the right way,
John Medows Rodwell   
Thus have we sent the Spirit (Gabriel) to thee with a revelation, by our command. Thou knewest not, ere this, what "the Book" was, or what the faith. But we have ordained it for a light: by it will we guide whom we please of our servants. And thou shalt surely guide into the right way
N J Dawood (2014)   
And thus have We inspired you¹ with a spirit of Our will when you knew nothing of the Book or belief; but We made it a light whereby We guide those of Our servants whom We please

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
Thus, We have, by Our command, sent inspiration to you [Prophet Muhammed]. You did not know what revelation was or what faith was, but We made (the Qur’an) a light by which We may guide those among Our servants as We will. Truly, you guide to the Straight Way.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
Thus We have revealed an inspiration(the Quran) of our command for you. You did not know what either the Book (the Quran) or Faith were, but We have set it up as a Light by means of which We guide any of Our servants whom We wish. You are guiding [men] toward a Straight Road,
Ahmed Hulusi   
Thus We have revealed to you a spirit (the sensing of the meanings of the Names in your consciousness) by Our command... And you did not know what the knowledge of the reality and sunnatullah was, or what faith meant! But We formed it (the spirit) as Nur (knowledge) by which We guide to the reality whom We will among Our servants! And indeed, you guide to the reality (the straight path).
Mir Aneesuddin   
And thus ( in the manner listed last above ), We have communicated to you ( through ) the spirit ( angel Jibreel, the message ), by Our command. You did not know what the book was nor ( did you know what ) the belief ( was ), but We made it a light, guiding thereby, whom We will of Our servants, and you are certainly guiding towards the straight path, the book was nor ( did you know what ) the belief ( was ), but We made it a light, guiding thereby, whom We will of Our servants, and you are certainly guiding towards the straight path,
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
Thus did We inspire to you O Muhammad the Quran through the spirit Jibril (Gabriel) who actuated you by Our command. You neither knew what the Book the Quran was nor what Faith was like. But We made it -the Quran- a source of light wherewith We impart knowledge, wisdom and spiritual light to guide into all truth whom We will of Our servants. You (Mohammed) do indeed guide to the path of righteousness

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
And thus have We, by Our Command, sent inspiration to thee: thou knewest not (before) what was Revelation, and what was Faith; but We have made the (Qur'an) a Light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily thou dost guid e (men) to the Straight Way,
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration by Our Command. Not (did) you know what the Book (is) and not the faith. But We have made it a light, We guide with it whom We will of Our slaves. And indeed, you surely guide to (the) Path Straight