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Muhammad Asad   
And [even] before thy time, We never sent [as Our apostles] any but [mortal] men, whom We inspired, [and whom We always chose] from among the people of the [very] communities [to whom the message was to be brought]. Have, then, they [who reject this divine writ] never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before them?-and [do they not know that] to those who are conscious of God the life in the hereafter is indeed better [than this world]? Will they not, then, use their reason
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
We only sent before you ˹O Prophet˺ men inspired by Us from among the people of each society. Have the deniers not travelled through the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? And surely the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter is far better for those mindful ˹of Allah˺. Will you not then understand?
Safi Kaskas   
[Even] before your time, We never sent [as Our Messengers] anyone except [mortal] men, whom We inspired, [and whom We always chose] from among the people of the [very] communities [to whom the message was to be brought]. Have the [unbelievers] not travelled through the land and seen the end of those who went before them? Those who are mindful of God prefer the life to come. Do you [people] not use your reason?

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Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُون
Transliteration (2021)   
wamā arsalnā min qablika illā rijālan nūḥī ilayhim min ahli l-qurā afalam yasīrū fī l-arḍi fayanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu alladhīna min qablihim waladāru l-ākhirati khayrun lilladhīna ittaqaw afalā taʿqilūn
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
And not We sent from before you, but men We revealed to them from (among) (the) people (of) the townships. So have not they traveled in the earth and seen how was (the) end (of) those who (were) from before them? And surely the home (of) the Hereafter (is) best for those who fear Allah. Then will not you use reason?

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
And [even] before thy time, We never sent [as Our apostles] any but [mortal] men, whom We inspired, [and whom We always chose] from among the people of the [very] communities [to whom the message was to be brought]. Have, then, they [who reject this divine writ] never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before them?-and [do they not know that] to those who are conscious of God the life in the hereafter is indeed better [than this world]? Will they not, then, use their reason
M. M. Pickthall   
We sent not before thee (any messengers) save men whom We inspired from among the folk of the townships - Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? And verily the abode of the Hereafter, for those who ward off (evil), is best. Have ye then no sense?
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
Nor did We send before thee (as messengers) any but men, whom we did inspire,- (men) living in human habitations. Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? But the home of the hereafter is best, for those who do right. Will ye not then understand
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
We only sent before you ˹O Prophet˺ men inspired by Us from among the people of each society. Have the deniers not travelled through the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? And surely the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter is far better for those mindful ˹of Allah˺. Will you not then understand?
Safi Kaskas   
[Even] before your time, We never sent [as Our Messengers] anyone except [mortal] men, whom We inspired, [and whom We always chose] from among the people of the [very] communities [to whom the message was to be brought]. Have the [unbelievers] not travelled through the land and seen the end of those who went before them? Those who are mindful of God prefer the life to come. Do you [people] not use your reason?
Wahiduddin Khan   
All the messengers We sent before you [Muhammad] were human beings to whom We made revelations; they were men chosen from the people of their towns. Did they not travel across the earth and see the end of those before them? Those who are mindful of God prefer the life to come. Will you not then understand
Shakir   
And We have not sent before you but men from (among) the people of the towns, to whom We sent revelations. Have they not then travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly the abode of the hereafter is best for those who guard (against evil); do you not then understand
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
And We sent not before thee as Messengers, but men to whom We reveal from among the people of the towns. So journey they not through the earth and look on how had been the Ultimate End of those who were before them? And, truly, the abode of the world to come is better for those who were Godfearing. Will you not, then, be reasonable?
T.B.Irving   
We have not sent anyone before you except men from among the townspeople whom We have inspired. Have they not travelled around the earth and seen what the outcome was for those who preceded them? A home in the Hereafter will be better for those who do their duty. Will they not use their reason -
Abdul Hye   
And We did not send (as Messengers) before you but human. We revealed to them from among the people of the towns. Have they (disbelievers) not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those who were before them? Surely the home of the Hereafter is the best for those who fear Allah. Do you not then understand?
The Study Quran   
And We sent none before thee, save men unto whom We sent revelation among the people of the towns. Have they not journeyed upon the earth and observed how those before them fared in the end? And the Abode of the Hereafter is better for those who are reverent. Do you not understand
Dr. Kamal Omar   
And We sent not before you (as Messengers) except male-adults, We send inspiration to them from amongst the citizens of the townships. Have they not travelled through the land so that they may see how was the final-end of those (who went) before them. And verily, the Home of the Hereafter is the best for those who presented obedience. Do you not then use (your) intellect
Farook Malik   
All the Messengers that We sent before you, O Muhammad, were human beings, to whom We sent Our Revelations after choosing them from the people of their town. Have these unbelievers not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those who passed away before them? From their destiny you should know that the home of the hereafter is better for those who are righteous. Why don’t you understand
Talal A. Itani (new translation)   
We did not send before you except men, whom We inspired, from the people of the towns. Have they not roamed the earth and seen the consequences for those before them? The Home of the Hereafter is better for those who are righteous. Do you not understand
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
And in no way did We send (any Messengers) even before you, except men whom We revealed to of the population of the towns. Have they then not traveled in the earth (and) so have looked into how was the end of (the ones) who were (there) even before them? And indeed the Residence of the Hereafter is most charitable (i.e., better) for the ones who are pious. Do you then not consider
Muhammad Sarwar   
The Messengers whom We sent before you were mere men of the people of the towns. We gave them revelations. Have they (the unbelievers) not travelled sufficiently through the land to see how terrible the end was of those who lived before. The next life is, certainly, better for the pious ones. Will you not then take heed
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
We did not send before you (messengers) other than men from the people of the towns whom We inspired with revelation. Have they not traveled in the land where they could have seen how was the fate of those before them? And surely the abode of the Hereafter is much better for those who fear Allah. Would you, then, still not understand
Shabbir Ahmed   
And even before your time, We never sent (as Our Messengers) but men to whom We revealed Our Messages. We always chose them from among the people of their own communities. Have they then never journeyed about the earth and seen what happened in the end to those who lived before them? And, don't they know that those who walk aright, the life to come is better for them. Will they not then, use reason
Dr. Munir Munshey   
Even prior to you, We sent men from among the townsfolk towards them. To these men, We sent revelations. Have they not moved about in the land and seen the fateful end of those before them? The abode of the afterlife is far superior, and it is for those who are fearful (pious)! So, do they not think
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
And before you, We did not send any except men (as messengers, men) whom We inspired— Living in human homes (and groups). Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? And verily, the home of the Hereafter is the best, for those who do right. Then, will you not understand
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah ; then will you not reason
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
And We have not sent before you except men, to whom We gave inspiration, from the people of the towns. Would they not roam the Earth and see how was the punishment of those before them And the abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who are aware. Do you not comprehen
Abdel Haleem   
All the messengers We sent before you [Muhammad] were men to whom We made revelations, men chosen from the people of their towns. Have the [disbelievers] not travelled through the land and seen the end of those who went before them? For those who are mindful of God, the Home in the Hereafter is better. Do you [people] not use your reason
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
And We sent not before thee any save men unto whom We revealed from among the people of the towns. Have then they not travelled about in the land that they might observe of what wise hath been the end of those before them! And surely the abode of the, Hereafter is best for those who fear! Reflect then ye not
Ahmed Ali   
All the apostles We had sent before you were men of those regions, to whom We sent Our revelations. Have they not travelled on the earth and seen what befell the people before them? Surely the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear straying from the right path. Do you not understand
Aisha Bewley   
We sent none before you but men inspired with revelation from among the people of the cities. Have they not travelled in the land and seen the final fate of those before them? The abode of the Next World is better for those who have taqwa. So will you not use your intellect?
Ali Ünal   
We did not send before you as Messengers any but men to whom We revealed, from amongst the people of the townships (where We raised them). Have they never traveled about the earth and beheld how was the outcome for those who came before them (those who persisted in associating partners with Him and in wrongdoing and transgression)? Assuredly, the abode of the Hereafter is best for those who keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and piety. Will you not, then, reason and understand
Ali Quli Qara'i   
We did not send [any apostles] before you except as men to whom We revealed from among the people of the towns. Have they not traveled over the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? And the abode of the Hereafter is surely better for those who are Godwary. Do you not apply reason
Hamid S. Aziz   
We never sent before you any, save men whom We inspired, from among the people of the townships (or communities). Have they not journeyed in the earth and beheld the consequences for those who were before them? Verily, the abode of Hereafter is surely be
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
And We did not send (messengers) before you, except men from among the people of the towns whom We revealed to them. Did they not travel throughout the earth to see what the end of those before them was? And the home of the hereafter is certainly better for those who control themselves, do you not understand
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
Nor did We send before you any except human beings whom we inspired. People living in human societies. Do they not travel through the earth and see what the end of those before them was? But the home of the hereafter is best for those who do right. Then will you use reason
Musharraf Hussain   
Even before you, Messenger, the men who We sent, and to who We revealed Our signs to, were townsfolk. Have the disbelievers not travelled about the land and seen how the end came to those who rejected Allah’s signs before them? The home in the Hereafter is much better for the mindful. Doesn’t any one of you understand?
Maududi   
The Messengers whom We raised before you, (O Muhammad), and to whom We sent down revelations, were only human beings, and were from among those living in earthly habitations. Have these people not travelled in the earth that they may observe the end of their predecessors? Certainly the abode of the Hereafter is much better for those (who accepted the call of the Messengers and) acted in a God-fearing manner. Will you still not act with good sense
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
And We have not sent before you except men, to whom We gave inspiration, from the people of the towns. Will they not roam the earth and see how was the punishment of those before them? And the abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who are aware. Do you not comprehend?
Mohammad Shafi   
And We did not send before you any but men, from among the same communities, to whom We sent revelations. Have they not then travelled on land and seen for themselves what end those before them met with? And the abode of the Hereafter is certainly better for those who fear Allah. Do you not understand this

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
And all those who were sent as messengers before you were men, whom We revealed, and all were residents of the cities. Have they not journeyed in the land, that they may see, what became the end of those before them? And no doubt, the abode of the Hereafter is better for the duty-bound. Have you not then wisdom?
Rashad Khalifa   
We did not send before you except men whom we inspired, chosen from the people of various communities. Did they not roam the earth and see the consequences for those before them? The abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who lead a righteous life. Would you then understand?
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
We did not send any before you from the inhabitants of the village, but men to whom a revelation was sent. Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? Better is the dwelling in the Everlasting Life for those who keep from evil. Do you not understand
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
And We sent not before thee any but men, from the people of the towns, to whom We sent revelation. Have they not then travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is best for those who keep their duty. Do you not then understand
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira   
And We did not send from before you except men We inspire/transmit to them from (about) the villages'/urban cities' people/relation , did they not walk/move/ride in the earth/Planet Earth, so they see/wonder about how was (the) end/turn (result of) those who (were) from before them, and the end's (other life's) home/house (E) (is) best to those who feared and obeyed, so do you not reason/understand/comprehend
Bijan Moeinian   
All the Prophets that I sent before you, were also human beings (chosen from their own communities) to relay My revelations. Do these people ever travel to see what happened to people who passed away before them? Know that the life after death is much better for those who lead a righteous life. Do you get it
Faridul Haque   
And all the Noble Messengers We sent before you, were exclusively men - towards whom We sent the divine revelations, and were dwellers of townships; so have not these people travelled in the land and seen what sort of fate befell those before them? And undoubtedly the abode of the Hereafter is better for the pious; so do you not have sense
Sher Ali   
And WE sent not before thee as Messengers any but men to whom WE sent revelation, from among the people of the towns. Have they not then traveled in the earth so that they should see what was the end of those before them? And surely, the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who fear ALLAH. Will you not then use you understanding
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
And before you We also sent men alone from amongst the inhabitants of (various) towns to whom We sent Revelations. Have they not travelled in the land so that they might (themselves) witness what was the end of those before them? And surely, the home in the Hereafter has far greater value for the Godfearing. Do you not have reason
Amatul Rahman Omar   
And We sent none (as Messengers) before you but they were men from among the people of the townships to whom We revealed (Our will). Have they not then journeyed in the land and seen how was the end of their predecessors? Indeed, the abode of the Hereafter holds out better promises for those who guard against evil and keep their duty. Will you not then refrain (from disbelief and unrighteous deeds)
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
And We sent not before you (as Messengers) any but men, whom We inspired from among the people of townships. Have they not travelled through the earth and seen what was the end of those who were before them? And verily, the home of the Hereafter is the best for those who fear Allah and obey Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds). Do you not then understand

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
We sent not forth any before thee, but men We revealed to of the people living in the cities. Have they not journeyed in the land? Have they not beheld how was the end of those before them?. Surely the abode of the world to come is better for those that are godfearing. What, do you not understand
George Sale   
We sent not any apostles before thee, except men, unto whom We revealed our will, and whom We chose out of those who dwelt in cities. Will they not go through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who have preceded them. But the dwelling of the next life shall surely be better for those who fear God. Will they not therefore understand
Edward Henry Palmer   
Nor did we ever send before thee any save men whom we inspired, of the people of the cities. Have they not journeyed on in the earth, and beheld how was the end of those before them? But the abode of the future is surely better for those who believe;- what! have they then no sense
John Medows Rodwell   
Never before thee have we sent any but men, chosen out of the people of the cities, to whom we made revelations. Will they not journey through the land, and see what hath been the end of those who were before them? But the mansions of the next life shall be better for those who fear God. Will they not then comprehend
N J Dawood (2014)   
Nor were those We sent before you other than men We inspired from people of the city. Have they not travelled the land and seen what was the end of those who disbelieved before them? Surely better is the life to come for those that fear God. Can you not understand

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
We never sent anyone before you except people whom We inspired, who were of the common people. Do they not travel throughout the land and wonder what became of those before them? The home of the hereafter is best for those who live righteously. Will you not understand?
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
We have not sent anyone before you except men from among the townspeople whom We have inspired. Have they not travelled around t earth and seen what the outcome was for those who preceded them? A home in the Hereafter will be better for those who do their duty. Will you not use your reason -
Sayyid Qutb   
Even before your time, We only sent [as messengers] men to whom We gave Our revelations, choosing them from among their people. Have they not travelled the land and seen what was the end of those [unbelievers] who lived before them? Better indeed is the life to come for those who remain God-fearing. Will you not, then, use your reason?
Ahmed Hulusi   
And We have not disclosed before you any men except those in the city to whom We revealed... Have they not traveled upon the earth and seen how the end of those before them has been... The eternal life to come is surely better for those who protect themselves... Will you not use your reason?
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
And We did not send(apostles)before you but men from the people of the towns whom We did inspire with revelations. Have they not traveled in the earth and seen what was the end of those who came before them And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who are pious. Do you not understand
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim   
We never sent Messengers before you O Muhammad whom We inspired, but were men chosen from among the town dwellers whose deeds were natural to man. Have these people not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds' eyes to see what was the end of those who preceded them! Indeed the abode in Paradise is infinitely better for those who had entertained the profound reverence dutiful to Allah in life below; can you people not reflect
Mir Aneesuddin   
And We did not send (any messenger) before you but they were men from among the people of the cities, to whom We had communicated. Have they not traveled in the earth and seen how the end of those before them was (brought about)? And the home of the hereafter is better for those who guard (against evil). Then do you not have sense?

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
Nor did We send before thee (as apostles) any but men, whom we did inspire,- (men) living in human habitations. Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? But the home of the hereafter is best, for th ose who do right. Will ye not then understand
OLD Literal Word for Word   
And not We sent before you, but men We revealed to them from (among) (the) people (of) the townships. So have not they traveled in the earth and seen how was (the) end (of) those who (were) before them? And surely the home (of) the Hereafter (is) best for those who consciously revere Allah. Then will not you use reason